Latest News

Rants, raves, ramblings.....things that have happened that affect me, the observatory or the results obtained.

[December, 23 2007] Rain, Rain and more Rain.

There's not been a great deal of observing over the last couple of months.  After a stuttering beginning, it looks like at last the drought may be broken.  In December I have had 3 partial nights to observe targets and even those were in less than ideal conditions.  Not to worry, there is plenty of other work to do.

[July, 15 2007] 'The Dish'.  CWAS at Parkes.

My first visit to the Dish and completed my speaking engagement at the CWAS Astrofest.  A thoroughly wonderful experience and a great bunch of people.  The Dish visit was good to.  See some details and photos of my visit here.

[June, 24 2007] Mathematica and some Science.

I recently purchased a software package called Mathematica that allows me to play with Math without the need to write algorithms or code.  My 'breakthrough' today was the ability to build a 'notebook' that allows me to undertake lightcurve analysis.

[May, 11 2007] Another Binary and a Speaking engagement.

Weather hasn't been too crash hot of late but I have uncovered another binary asteroid CBET 957 - 1830 Pogson.  I have also received and accepted an invitation to speak at the Central West Astronomical Society and David Malin Astrophotography Awards in July to be held at Parkes (The 'Dish')

[January, 28 2007] Asteroid found to be a synchronous binary.

After a long hiatus from some discoveries, Hunters Hill may just have revealed that 2478 Tokai is a classic synchronous binary asteroid.  The target has been jumped on by several observatories and a CBET is planned at the start of the next lunation.

December 12, 2006] Results back on my HET602 Uni Course.

Its official.  The results are out and I managed 89% and just snuck into an HD (High Distinction) grade.  Also enrolled into my next unit for the first semester of 2007 - HET609 Astrophotography and CCD Imaging.  Although the workload for these units is not too high, combined with work and my own research, it is difficult.

[November, 15 2006] New Scope and bad weather.

The observatory now has a mobile scope for video work and occultation's.  Its a Meade ETX105AT.  The scope failed out of the box so it needed just a bit of work to get up and running.  No doubt this is also the reason for the 2 weeks (to date) of bad weather keeping the observatory closed.

[September, 29 2006] Time to bake again.

The ST-8E is showing signs of frost again so it's time to do some baking.  Of late the observatory target list has been hit with a string of long and very long period targets (all the way up to 126.7 hrs for MP 2430).

[September, 14 2006] Hit the 100 Observing nights in a year mark.

Hit the 100 observing nights in a year mark and its only 3/4 the way through the year.  I'll soon hit the 1000 hrs mark - I wonder how many images that means?  Observing statistics for Hunters Hill can be seen here.

[August 12, 2006] Commenced a Supernova search programme?

Tonight I commenced by first Supernova search programme.  The targets selected are those identified by Brian Crooke of Mt Stromlo Observatory north of declination 22 south.  Those targets south of this declination are imaged by other partners in this search.

[July 27, 2006] My first Variable Star Discoveriess?

In the process of reducing my images performing lightcurve work for Minor Planet 1273 Helma, I found one of the Comp Stars was variable.   This triggered me to look over a few more nights worth of Minor Planets using a software package called Muniwin and low and behold I found 3 more seemingly unknown variables.  See details of my potential discoveries here

[July 21, 2006] Joined MicroFUN.

Back in 2002 I was a Service Observer on a project called MicroFUN under PI Dr Darren Depoy.  Well I recently found out that the MicroFUN project team has taken on Amateurs and I recently applied and was accepted so I now have a new string to my bow.  MircoFUNs aim is to image targets in the galactic bulge so observations are seasonal and should not impact my Asteroid work to any great extent.

July 12, 2006] Results back on my HET603 Uni Course.

Its official.  The results are out and I managed 87% and just snuck into an HD (High Distinction) grade.  Also enrolled into my next unit for the second semester this year - HET602 Exploring the Solar System.

[June 26, 2006] Results back on my HET603 Uni Course Project.

Seems like my project supervisor liked what I did - I got 29/30 which, if unaltered means an 86.5% for the unit.  Considering how insane work was this past 6 months I was quite surprised - so I enrolled in my second unit - HET602 - Exploring the Solar System.

[June 18, 2006] Hunters Hill Back online.

Stripped the scope down, cleaned the electronics dried it out and tested it - all working.  Rebuilt the scope and it is working again.  Maybe its condensation?

[June 15, 2006] Hunters Hill Closed - Meade LX200GPS has died.

It's been working for a little over 2 years but now it's dead.  I can only hope the local dealer has some spare parts but I fear the observatory will be out of action for quite some time.

[June 1, 2006] Near the end of my First Masters in Astronomy Module - HET603

It's been a real grind combining the course with my work and my normal research but I am almost there.  Just got to complete my final paper and I'm done (and just over a week to get it done).  Will I pass?

[May 13, 2006] First Automated Variable Star run

Built and ran my first automated Variable Star run for the AAVSO Bulletin 69 stars (those in need of observations).  Test run imaged at 15, 60 and 180 seconds (since I do not know just how bright the target will be) .  I had got 2 images at each exposure but this meant a 20 minute routine for each target.  I'll cut it to a single image next time to get in double the stars.

[May 08, 2006] CBET 507: (4029) Bridges

The discovery of the binary nature of 4029 Bridges was announced on CBET today.  Our survey seems to be nabbing Binaries at a rate of 1 in 10 - I have discovered 3 in just 4 months.....

[April 27, 2006] Another Binary and 13th straight night of observing

The observatory has been open a record 13 consecutive nights and as a result obtained great data on a number of Minor Planets including another suspected Binary.

[March 18, 2006] Chose my HET603 Project - Deep Image

The course requires the completion of a project so I have chosen Deep Image.  The aim is to image as deep as possible then produce a paper on the process and what I found.  Interestingly I am the only course participant doing an observational project - must be a lot of theorists out there.

[March 15, 2006] CBET 431 - Discovery Number 5

The discovery of the binary nature of (17260) 2000 JQ58 has been announced by the IAU after a month of observations and collaboration between Hunters Hill, Ondrejov and Modra observatories.

[March 12, 2006] New Camera for the Observatory

I was fortunate enough to be able to sell by Meade LX-90 and Starlight Xpress MX516 camera and buy an SBIG ST-9E (Parallel).  Some initial problems due to frosting but after a bake and some settle time it seems to have come good and produced some very nice test pictures.  With 20 micro Pixels and at 2"/pixel resolution I am confident that this camera will perform well for routine observations.  I'll keep the ST-8E for any filtered images.

[March 3, 2006] Started the long road to my Masters in Astronomy

I have finally started my Masters in Astronomy.  Its starts with a Certificate, then a Diploma then the Masters.  I'm doing it via Swinburne University Online and taking one unit per semester.  This first unit is HET603 - Stars and the Milky Way.

[February 18, 2006] Another Binary

Weather has been less than ideal and chasing down another target who's lightcurve indicates a possible binary nature.

[February 06, 2006] First CBET - Discovery Number 4

Discovery announcement - CBET 389: 20060206 (6084) BASCOM.  I discovered the Binary nature of Minor Planet (6084) BASCOM ie I discovered a moon around this Minor Planet.  With confirmation and follow-up observations provided by Ondrejov and Modra Observatories, the discovery phase ended last week.  What is interesting about this discovery is that the Camera used to capture my first CBET discovery was funded by the TPS Gene Shoemaker grant whilst the parent object, (6084) BASCOM, was discovered by Carolyn Shoemaker, Genes wife.

[October 27, 2005] First Unattended Session

Well things are certainly looking up (even if the weather isn't.  I finally have everything in place and working and tonight ran my first unattended imaging session.  It worked just fine only requiring me to download my images, park the scope and close the observatory when I woke up in the morning.  This is going to extend my observing by a factor of AT LEAST 2 (when the weather is co-operating)

[October 26, 2005] Almost another one

When you're hot - your hot.  With the clouds not looking like clearing I logged onto the FMO project once more and found another streak.  Unfortunately for me this object had been discovered only the night before (2005 UG₃).  Well it provided a nice confirmation and assisted in nailing down the orbit of these faint objects.

[October 24, 2005] Discovery Number 3

While participating in the SpaceWatch Fast Moving Object (FMO) project, I came across my first real streak.  The observer on duty at the Kitt Peak Observatory's 0.9m scope immediately sent it to the MPC who placed it on the NEOCP page under the temporary designation SW40su.  By the next night it had been confirmed by 3 observatories and designated 2005 UL₁ and I was given discovery credit.  My first NEO discovery.

[October 15, 2005] Targets Galore

Completed 3 more targets for BinAstPhotSurvey.  I don't often get the chance to complete so many targets in a single lunation.   Also completed the draft of a paper for the Minor Planet Bulletin, reviewed by Dr Petr Pravec, Adrian Galad and Don Pray and submitted to Professor Richard Binzel of MIT.  With luck it will be accepted and published with the next edition.

Trails of the new MaxIm driver have been very promising.  I have been able to complete 4 scripted sessions with only minor hands on (due to weather) and no lockups.  I will shortly be able to fulfill the promise of my TPS Grant and double the operational hours of my observatory (weather permitting of course)

[October 7, 2005] All my Christmas' have come at once

Meade have released the latest version of their LX200GPS ROM.  This one contains a fix to the scopes Periodic Error Corrector (PEC) training and playback that will allow users to train the scope for the 3 unique cycles I identified a little over a month ago and had confirmed by fellow user, Andrew Johansen of Melbourne.  This comes on the back of a fix by Cyanogen for the Starlight Xpress (SX) CCD camera drivers used by their product MaxIm DL/CCD, a fix that I have been waiting 2 years for to finally allow me to fully automate the observatory.  Chris has released another beta version of the SX Camera driver but the weather has not been co-operating.

[October 5, 2005] Cyanogens fix for SX Cameras and I finish a new paper for publication

Chris at Cyanogen has finally found the problem with the SX Drivers used by their Camera control software, MaxIm DL/CCD.  Chris posted a beta version of the new driver and I was fortunate enough to get time that night to test it.  It's not perfect but its nice to be finally able to guide reliably with the new SX Universal driver.

I have a final version of my next Minor Planet Bulletin submission related to the lightcurve analysis of several objects.  This was an interesting paper for me (and a good learning exercise).  I have typically just written a paper about my findings and only included collaborative data where specifically asked for.  In this case I have been encouraged to seek out all data for the targets I have observed, have the entire data set re-analysed and present this information.  A good exercise in co-operation between amateurs and professionals and this is the first paper I have produced that incorporates professional observatory data and findings.  Thanks go to Dr Petr Pravec of the Astronomical Institute, Czech Republic and Adrian Galad of Modra Observatory, Slovakia for al their advice and assistance.

[October 2, 2005] New targets and new software

Completed another target for the BinAstPhotSurvey study - (6556) Arcimboldo and began observation of a new BinAstPhotSurvey target, (4949) 1988 WE

Changed Software setup at the observatory.  There are compatibility issues between MaxIm DL/CCD and my Starlight Xpress Cameras that has now lasted 2 years without resolution.  As a result the observatory has discontinued it's use of ACP4 and MaxIm in favour or purpose built software, namely MPO_Connections.  It doesn't support SX cameras - but then again it doesn't pretend to.  The software does benefit from having been written and maintained by someone who actually completes astronomical observations.

[September 15, 2005] New weather station and finally get DSL internet access

The wayward weather station has finally been located ('lost' at the local post office for the last 4 weeks!).  Its now set up and appears to be operating perfectly and the weather is now online - live.

While the weather has been overcast and windy I have dismantled the observatory computer setup and setup 2 further PC's to try and resolve the guide camera timeout issue.   Waiting for a clear night to try each computer setup out.

The observatory finally has ADSL access.  Its only taken 3 years for the Telephone company to upgrade the lines!

[August 29, 2005] Finally, a night of NEO follow-ups

To take a break from lightcurve observations, I completed 22 NEO and NEOCP observations last evening.  18 objects were successfully located and astrometry reported.  This single nights efforts effectively doubled the years total of NEO observations.  The NEOCP observing of the last 2 nights has resulted in 3 MPECs.  This was to be a first full test of my Robotic Observing but I could not get MaxIm to reliably guide the scope so had to revert to AstroArt3 and manually switching between targets.

[August 18, 2005] 2005 Gene Shoemaker NEO Grants announced

I can finally announce it.  The Observatory is a recipient of the 2005 Gene Shoemaker NEO Grants program offered by The Planetary Society.  The Observatory was able to purchase it's SBIG ST-8E and CFW-8 filter wheel with the $4,900 (US) provided under the grant.

● Email Me at higginsdj at bigpond dot com ●