Sunday, May 17, 2015

Imaging Capabilities Installed and Running at New Observatory


Imaging  capabilities have finally been installed at the new observatory! The pic shows the Mallincam Xtreme talking to a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 via a USB hub. The Surface handles both image capture and camera control. Cables are routed via a sleeve and are attached to the fork arms. A "slip loop" of cable allows adjustments of length as the scope slews. The ASI 120MM will also use the same hub when I do RGB imaging. Note the unconventional counterweight clamp--it balances the scope perfectly :) Everything is powered from a large-capacity UPS system.

The scope tripod is resting on wooden blocks. It is perfectly level and the blocks are isolated from the observatory floor. I can't wait for first light (after I give the observatory a good clean!_!
By at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

The Monkey Head Nebula

This image of the Monkey Head nebula has 7 hours of integration (20- and 30-second exposures). Stacking and initial processing in Siril, twe...

  • "Deforking" an ETX
    I had a couple of emails asking how to defork an ETX telescope. The ETX 90 and ETX 125 were optically superb scopes, but the mounts left a...
  • News Update
    To add insult to injury, not only are the skies cloudy, but it is snowing.  The forecast is that it will end by noon, but I'm not hopefu...
  • Messier 106
     After a long break due to an extended period of cloud and rain here in the Carolinas, I was finally able to get some imaging time. As it...