Re: Tale of 2 Occultations (subtitle - Occult4 201)
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George,
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Thanks for this.? It ties in well with my goal of automating the observatory for data collection.? Here's where I think I'm going.
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The basic equipment list is a TI PD10 dome, Paramount MX+ mount, C-14 operating at about f/4, and either Watec 910 or QHY174M-GPS cameras.
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Phase 1, which is almost complete, is to be able to collect data without going outside at night.? It will still be man-in-the-loop.? My dome is 20 yards out the back door, so getting to it isn't that hard if issues arise.? The dome reliably opens/closes its shutter remotely with the 20+ year old salvaged windlass mechanism.? It "semi-reliably" rotates--but has one sticky spot when pointing north (thankfully).? If it gets stuck, you can usually reverse to unstick it, and take the long way around if necessary.? Some fraction of the time I have to go outside to unjam it.? The dome reliably tracks the telescope pointing via file transfer from TSX (latest and greatest 64-bit) and DDW (circa 2002 technology) except with some logic issues at meridian crossing.? Other than the rotation issue, the two remaining problems are (1) issues with both cameras (the Watec 910 as-is requires in person button pressing to change exposure/gain) and the QHY 174 isn't reliable connecting over the USB 3 that goes through my Pegasus Ultimate Power box and (2) my point to point WiFi antenna link to the observatory has quirks (often reverts to the very slow regular WiFi, forcing me to turn that off).? So far I am 3 for 4 operating "remotely"--meaning one of the times I had to go out to the observatory to fix something,
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Phase 2 is next.? That is a three part problem--camera, telescope, and dome.? If I use the Watec camera, I can use Russ's software to control that by scheduling observations (the issue with buttons still applies).? With the QHY, I think you can use the sequence editor in SharpCap to collect images at the required time.? The telescope would just run independently using TSX--I assume that functionality is in there, but I haven't tried to find it yet.? For phase 2, I don't think plate solving is necessary--the MX+ is amazing about getting targets well within the system FOV.? That leaves the big issue how to wake the dome, open the shutter, tell it to follow the telescope and shut back down.? If I can't come up with a way to do that, I may have to break down and pay for the TSX dome control add-in.
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Phase 3 will be to do plate solves and perhaps adding in some weather monitoring.
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Once phase 2 is in place, I will no longer be the limiting factor--and I'll want to try as many with reasonable probability as I can.? If only we could get OW files to drive it all (this is where someone tells me you can already do that).
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BTW, my Astrid kit was lost in the US mail for a week.? Last Tuesday it left Los Angeles for Pennsylvania, and then was not scanned again until today--when it arrived in (drum beat, please) Los Angeles!? But at least it is no longer listed as missing.? When that arrives, it will allow me to do an easier second station locally or to do moderate travel to support other NEUS events.
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Steve
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Steve C