TAG MaxIM
Maintenance / Techniques / Technology
Observatory 2.0 – We control the horizontal and the vertical
The observatory just inherited two computers; the 2010 iMac from the house, and my old 2009 Macbook Pro laptop. Both of them had full hard drives, and needed a refresh, so I […]
Camera / Gear / Technology
Still trying to get the observatory computer working
So after much gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair, I figured out that it’s going to be next to impossible for me to get the rig up and running fully in […]
General / Maintenance / Technology
Mac vs PC for astrophotography
With the observatory down for another week or so, I have been considering re-trying the Mac Mini out as an observatory server. I started researching Mac astrophotography software, with disappointing results. Here […]
MaxIM – you learn something new every day
As I said in my last post, I learned about “Configurations” in MaxIM today. Very nice feature. I also a
Readying myself for sunset
I had a bunch of stuff on my TODO list after last night. So I took care of some of it while the sun was up today. I recharged the deep-cycle battery. […]
ATM / Electronics / Focuser / Gear / General / Maintenance / Observing Reports / Optics / Techniques / Technology
Murphy was an optimist.
Clear Sky Clock said it would be cloudy all night, so of course it stayed 90% clear until about midnight, when it socked in. But I’m getting ahead of myself… I decided […]
G-11 maintenance – Eagle has landed
I sent my Gemini north for Art to look at. He let me know that it arrived OK today. The G-11 that’s here is ready to go; I think it’s polar aligned. […]
CCD Imaging Primer
http://docs.sdaa.org/AISIG/CCD_Imaging_Primer.pdf lots of basic information about equipment and software selection, and a really nice section on image processing.
G-11 Periodic Error analysis
I saved off one of my larger tracking logs last night, and decided to analyze it for Periodic Error in the mount. To help the data, I downloaded PECPrep from SourceForge. After […]
G-11 Guiding Commands: ST-4 relays vs. ASCOM
My autoguiding isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. I have a lot of new gear that I’m trying to figure out; G-11, Gemini, ASCOM, ST-4, MaxIM. Each of these adds […]
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 […]
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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.