Category: General
ATM / Electronics / General / Maintenance
Dome control v2.0 design
The motor control circuit that I constructed for the dome has been working flawlessly for a year and a half, but it’s always been a bit of a proof-of-concept, rather than a […]
Deep Sky / Gear / General / Long Exposure Photography / Maintenance / Telescope
Trixie out, Pumpkin in
I had decided that I would leave Trixie on the mount, and focus on visual astronomy for awhile. I think that the Jr. Astronomer would appreciate learning to use the big scope, […]
Tuning up the mount
Now that the moon’s big again, it’s time for a little maintenance. I had two main things on the to-do list. First, the new drive system has been making a constant high-pitched […]
Camera / Gear / General / Maintenance / Techniques
Starting to get used to the gear
There are a lot of variables in astronomy in general, and in astrophotography in particular. This must be aligned to that must be set like this… so that the rig will just […]
Observatory / Observing Reports / Technology
Dome automation 1.0 – Second light
Since I overexposed my shot of M13 last time (I hope that I can pull in some dim, edge detail…), I had to wait for a few days to appease the astronomy […]
ATM / Electronics / General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome automation 1.0
So, that’s how we do that. Yesterday, I worked on getting the encoder and home switch cables hooked to the Dome Controller, which I hope you’ll recall is a Velleman K8055 board. […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Ready for dome controller
Armed with a good night’s sleep, I was able to figure out a way to quickly fix the home switch setup in the test circuit. Essentially, I had put a current-limiting resistor […]
ATM / Electronics / Maintenance / Observatory
Encoders tested.
I zapped the encoders in the new assembly immediately. So I tore it apart, ordered new bits from Digikey, and breadboarded it. Once I got the interface cable worked out, I now […]
Astro knowledge / Blog / Gear / General / Maintenance / Observing Reports / Techniques / Telescope
Back to basics.
I used to be good at this. Omg, gaggle of geese flying over. Local dogs wigging out. But, I digress. I got Really good at planetary, but had higher hopes, and this […]
Luna returns
What an amazing astrophotography run I had this month. It’s been quite some time since I was feeling so sleep-deprived by the time the 3-day moon showed up. There were even a […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.