The Observing Run

Observatory Control:  Here is the basic set-up that I use.

The scopes are permanently mounted (tripod at this stage) in the observatory.  As you can see in the picture above, the LX200GPS 14" is polar mounted and has a Meade 102mm f/10 SCT 'Camera Lens' piggybacked.  This 102mm (4") lens has a standard SCT back so can take all the fittings of Meades SCT range.  I added an f/6.4. focal reducer to the 4".

The observatory is fitted with it's own PC (to the right of the scope on the table) which is connected to the LAN in the residence via a 25 metre Cat 5 LAN line.  This PC is used for Telescope and Camera control and Autoguiding.

The observatory is also fitted with a low LUX IR CCD (with microphone) for monitoring the movement of the scope to prevent damage caused by a runaway slew or tangling of cables.  (These two events happen rarely although the 14" has been prone to some Proc Trap 2 errors)

The Observatory PC runs Windows 2000 Pro and the session is controlled via ACP4.  ACP4 controls the camera via MaxIm DL/CCD with Pinpoint 4 used to auto plate solve the images and FocusMax used to keep the setup focused correctly.  The whole lot is monitored with a VNC client running to allow remote control access to all functionality from the Laptop inside the house.  The Laptop runs Windows XP Home, Guide 8, Astrometrica, AstroPlanner and VNC Viewer.  For precision timing, the Observatory PC uses Dimension 4 to synch time from the Laptop which synchs it's time from the internet at 15 minute intervals.

Also attached to the LAN is a backup PC for the Laptop (my Compaq Laptop is/was prone to shutting down when the CPU overheated - the first CPU fried itself inside 4 months of use).

Setting Up for the night

Step one is to uncover the scope, unlatch and then slide open the roof.  The scope is parked at the end of each session so there is no need to move the scope to home position anymore.  The cameras are installed and the computer powered up.  The scope is switched on and allowed to go through the GPS fix cycle. 

When ready to align, the scope is pointed to a single star using the standard GOTO process (NOT the alignment process), an image is taken, pointing corrected if necessary and the scope position synched.  The camera and autoguider connection is tested, the dew heater is turned on (regardless of whether it is actually required or not) then the observatory door is closed and I move into the house for the remainder of the night to control everything from there.

My observation plans are then run via ACP4 and focus is maintained by focusMax's autofocus routine.  At the end of the session the scope is parked, images are transferred from the Observatory PC to the Laptop for later processing and then observatory powered down and closed up.  If there has been dew, the scope is dried down with a towel and hair dryer as required (without touching the optics)

A typical session looks like this:

ACP4 is used to point the scope to sub arc minute precision (typically under 0.5") after a slew from any point in the sky.   I then manually set the autoguider via AstroArt3 on a suitable star then, using Maxim DL/CCD I set up and execute an image sequence.

Since Cyanogen introduced the Universal driver for the SX range of cameras in late 2005, the lockup problem I had been facing with the Starlight Xpress range of camera has been solved and I am able to run under full automation.   As a result I no longer rely on AstroArt3 and run the sessions using ACP4 and Maxim DL/CCD only.

My imaging with the ST-8E is rarely at Bin 1 and if it is, it is a sub frame image.  This is due to the image size and excessive 43 sec download time for this Parallel camera.  I do, however, run Bin 1x1 withthe ST-9E.  Guiding using the SX MX716 means that I rarely strike a field that does not provide a suitable star.

As you can see on the desktop, additional tools such as FocusMax and PoleAlignMax are kept handy.

● Email Me: higginsdj at bigpond dot com ●