Construction on my observatory commences next week and hopefully will be complete and operational by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, I have uploaded some sample data taken through the Astro Physics RH305 telescope. They are in FITS format (and have been calibrated) and I have used Maxim DL's compression algorithim to reduce the file size. So you need to open the files in Maxim and if you want to open them in a different program just save them out in uncompressed format.
Brett has done a fantastic job building the school observatory I’m involved with and Lars has done an amazing job with continual refinement of the software to operate the roof.
I went to Martin's home to observe the lunar eclipse last Wednesday night.
Martin has a superb observatory with state of the art equipment. Aperture, adaptive optics, narrowband imaging etc etc. I was overwhelmed
If you are interested in remote imaging or renting a spot at the observatory to place your scope, then you should contact Martin and check it out.
Heaven's Mirror Observatory is now operational with two of my systems installed (see attached photo), with two others underway, and two more to be installed early next month.
But the big news is that the CDK17 is up and running and I am now looking for subscribers to the data subscription plan that I am offering. The subscription period will commence on Monday 19 Feb as I will be finalizing the preps on this wonderful instrument up until then (e.g all fresh calibration frames). Please contact me directly for pricing; I have a really good deal to offer.
Together with the good seeing, and my special blend of AOX settings, I was delighted to get FWHM 1.3-1.4.
The re-commissioning of the Riccardi Honders has gone really well and that is now imaging again and on a brand new Paramount ME II; I have also added a 3nm Astrodon NII filter to add a little extra fun. The next subscription period commences 22 March and again, I have a good deal to offer here.
Pier availability - depending on the outcome of recent enquiries, I anticipate one, maybe two pier spots will be still available. As an additional benefit, I am now also providing the pier to anyone who is interested in hosting at no extra cost. So that is one logistical headache out of the way.
I'm just wrapping up the installation of my TEC180/MEII at Martin's new observatory! Wow, what a great observatory this is! The roof is quite spectacular as is the sophisticated automation which commands the roof to close in short order regardless of the position of all the imaging OTAs. The setups are very cleanly installed and the NBN internet has made connecting quite easy and fast. I was in Yass last night and it sure is dark....really dark. I was set up at Martin's property prior to the new observatory and experienced some very excellent seeing...often below 2 FWHM.
Martin has been a great host. It's hard to imagine anyone with more experience or willingness to solve just about any problem! (Take it from me, I've tested his patience.) I think there are a couple of spots still open....It's worth a drive to Yass to check this out if only to see all this gear in action.
The first data subscription period on the RH305 is in its final month and the feedback I have received from the subscribers is that they have been very happy with the quality and quantity of the data provided.
I have received some processed results and with their permission have hosted them on my website here:
The observatory is filling much faster than I anticipated given it only really came on line at the beginning of last month which of course is great. Available hosting space is clearly running out.
Tomorrow I will be accommodating a US customer who has travelled over to do his own install. Should be great fun.
CDK subscription is underway and that scope is producing beautiful images with 1.3 - 1.5 FWHM being quite a common result most nights. I hope that becomes the norm! Of course it wont.
RH305 subscription renews at the end of the month, so again, contact me if you are interested in either of these data plans.
Martin, that looks a great, very professional, setup. I see one of the photos shows a "FIT-PC3" and a "Mount Hub Pro". How do you find them in the Australian heat? I was thinking of adding a mini-pc to my rig, instead of carting my laptop down to the obs each time, would a FIT-PC3 allow me to wirelessly image from my house? Bryan
no issue with either, but my observatory remains very cool during the day when compared to the heat outside.
Regarding the wireless connection, well that simply depends on the distance, and where your AP is. But you could supplement your wireless network by installing a Ubiquiti AP repeater. They have an amazing range given their size so you basically point this outside antenna towards your obs, and have the WIFI on your FIT-PC connect to that.
the next RH305 subscription period has moved right by 1 week with a commencement date of either 6 or 7 April. This is so I can undertake system optimisation plus a hardware upgrade.
there are just 4 places left on this group of subscribers so if you are interested, please PM me.
Here with news of another system now commissioned and about to kick off on a data subscription plan at the end of the month.
This is an RCOS 12.5" with STL11000M (Class 1) and Adaptive Optics. All Astrodon filters with the NBs at 5nm. The system sits on a Bisque Paramount MEII.
Subscription to this system is significantly cheaper than the 2 higher end imaging platforms so please contact me for details.
Meanwhile, I have uploaded a calibrated FIT taken just last night as a 'first light'.