Remote-Astronomy Blog

After Jose has finsihed with  the setup i found that Flats showed some strange shadows is upper left corner. Triggering Jose, we found that the Off Axis Guider is in the light path. Apparently, it moved during transport.

After adding some more expose time, this is the final image.

15x10min Ha

17x10min O3

20x10min S2

total  8:40hrs

Color mapping is R:G:B to HA:O3:S2

8 packages in total, 100kg in weight  finally arrived at E-EyE. First inspection shows no damage. What a relief!  Cannot say that i am fully satisfied with DHL Express. Shipping to E-Eye took 4-5 business days incl. a weekend in between. I would expect that if sent on a friday, it shoud get delivered on monday. Because i send packages with standard DHL as well, at a much lower rate, there wasn't any significant time benefit - maybe one day.

12.02.17

The mount being setup. You can see that i used a small pier extension to add more height to the system. I am hoping that the telescope can move freely without any too strict RA/DE limits.

19.02.17

These are the power distribution and supporting devices. All connected and ready to run a first test.

10Micron 1000HPS Mount

This is not a review of the mount but probably one of the best options when you go for remote imaging. Having tested the 1000HPS for some months, i can say its the best mount i ever had. No requirement of guiding at my focal lenght and the fully automated initialisation are a big plus. When using it mobile, all i do is doing a polar alignment and running the Modelmaker which runs for <10 minutes setting up a 25 stars or more model fully automated. No requirement for a hand-controller.

One of the most useful features for running this mount remotely are its encoders. The mount always knows where it is pointing to, even after a power-cut or switching the mount off without bringing it to a park position before. Additonally, not having the requirement to autoguide, managing imaging sequences becomes much easier. The built-in ability to switch the mount on and off by a relay should be mentioned as well.

Starlight Xpress Trius 694 + ZWO FW + ASI 120MM-S

The rather small Sony CCD fits very well to the TSA. No major issues with tilt or vignetting. 1.25" filters can be used and the ZWO Filterwheel holds 8 of them, so LRGB and Ha/O3/S2 plus a dark filter can be used. With the ZWO OAG the gear is still well below 55mm and attached to the Reducer using a M56 to M48 Adapter.

The ASI 120MM-S and the filterwheel connect to the Trius built-in USB-Hub. By doing this, there is one USB cable doing from the imiging-gear to the comuter only.

As you can see on the pic, there is one USB Cable (Trius) and 5x 12v cables (3x Snapcap, 1x Dew, 1x Trius). The 2nd picture shows the Borg ED 36 wide-field scope with the QHYIII-178.

Lunatico's Dragonfly

Most probably, 90% of the time i needed for preparation was used to plan and configure this unit. Simply spoken, its an IP-based relay to  switch devices on and off. On one side of the device you connect your sources, the other side connects to the devices.

You can use any voltage up to 230v so i am switching the CCD's power-supply on and off (230v). Other devices like the dew-heaters, flat-panel get powered from a 12v source.

The unit also uses sensors so i connected a simple 4€ 12v power supply + 3€ relay  to one of the sensor ports. All my kit is protected from power loss using a UPS (battery). However, this relay is connected before the UPS, so its unprotected. If the observatory loses power, the relay closes and the Dragonfly can run a script to e.g. close the roof, power down the mount, computer, send an alarm etc.

The Cloudwatcher and roof control are not connected at this stage but will be onsite.

Today, exactly one week later, Jose informed me that the three packages arrived! Cannot say that i  slept very well over the last week :)

Next is the scope but will use DHL Express. I do not want the scope to be travelling for a week.

(update) Last pieces sent today, 07.02. . Next will be setting the whole thing up!

E-EyE is a 100% telescope hosting facility in in Extremadura, Spain. What you get is a pier, electics, internet, a software controllable pier and onsite support. So its your kit, you are responsible and is very different from buying  minutes at some other peoples kit. Actually, its just as having a observatory next to your house and you have to deal with all the issues that might come up.

I am not sure how i came across E-EyE, probably a post on Cloudynights. Anyway, i was looking for a remote site for some time. As close as possible to be able to go there - just in case but without customs in between. E-EyE is run by Jose and getting in touch was easy and Jose is very helpful in expaining and delivering the requirements to get started.

There is a checklist that you actually have to go through but is very easy if you are a experienced astronomer.

I was thinking about going down there to install the kit myself but cannot do because of no time. Thats a shame but luckily Jose offers the setup for a reasonable fee. I trust that he will do this right. He offered watching him doing so using video conferencing.

Each observatory is 3x3m, has it's own roof, power and a internet connection. I would need to see this working as i am a bit concerned about what could happen if the roof hasn't been closed by me and bad weather is approaching. Sure, with all that technology like the Cloudwatcher i should be fine but i have had no experience with this yet. Probably i would feel more secure if there would a centrally controlled roof closing mechanism for this.