Small and versatile astronomical observatory of square section with sliding roof and access door. See more ideas about astronomical observatory, astronomy and telescope. Its a rolloffroof shed, constructed to house my 12. The available commands will depend on the capability of the observatory and the software driver controlling it. The home farm observatories story started in 2010, when neil then the owner of a telescope shop was approached by a customer in edinburgh to recommend a goodquality, rolloffroof observatory for the new equipment he was to purchase. Remote observatory deep sky glittering lights marco lorenzi. The resulting images are extremely dramatic in appearance yielding insights into the forces and processes in nebulae and other deep sky objects. Supports dome automation from exploradome, ddw and other providers. I may get back to my roof automation once the weather warms up a bit more. Rolloff roof rolloff roof observatory design we create custom plans for rolloff observatories and sell automated roof tracking systems.
In 2010 i built a rolloff roof observatory in my back garden to provide a permanent setup for astrophotography. I used a modified electric hoist, gear motor to drive the the roof. This means that you have to step outside every 20 minutes or so to nudge the dome round a little. In the lesvedome setup window, you have to select the following settings. The system that seems to do it all as one is skyeye, skyalert, skyroof from interactive astronomy. I have started looking at motorising my rolloffroof. Astromc is your master control hub for the observatory. However most dome rotators come with clever controllers andor software that will ensure your domes observing slot is correctly aligned with your telescope, so it shouldnt be problematic once it is set up. The scope has been upgraded to a c14 with the c8 now used as a biaxial guider. The maxdome ii dome controller provides flexible, fully integrated observatory dome control. I am working on a rolloff roof that is 20 x 24 480 sqft.
These are an ideal introduction to the subject of software and hardware design and many of the concepts apply to more complex projects such as camera. Designed 100% with 3d software, our domes meet the highest quality standard for fit and finish between components. At the time, neil found there simply wasnt a supplier that provided customdesigned observatories, nor was. Chris hetlage and chuck farandas programming and software skills in the creation of our m1 oasys rolloff roof observatory automation system.
Observatory plan 8 x room with rolloff roof my design was developed from the many ideas that i found on the amateur observatories website. For dome dimensions, azimuth control, leave the standard values. Remote observatory deep sky glittering lights marco. Design and construction of a roll off roof observatory. Pier tech telescope piers, dome observatories, roll off. Aug 18, 2015 obs automation after reading many postings on this forum i decided to automate my obs, partly because it would be an interesting project and partly because the running rails on my roll off roof needed some attention after many years of service. The roll off roof observatory was built in 1995 to house a c8. Who makes something for the roll off roof that will suit my needs. Its also about using the naked eye to view constellations, etc. Weatherwebcam lake arrowhead cedar glen observatory. As its hard to get access to the real hardware, ill give priority to whichever vendor is willing to help. I would like a way to integrate all sky camera, weather and roof control. Scopedome australia astronomical observatory solutions.
Thanks to the advanced design and low weight of nexdome, the observatory can be assembled in just a few hours. Our controller hosts stored configuration settings and a microprocessor that can automatically open or close the observatory at a specific time or signal e. The building has since been expanded to include a warm room with two computers. Skyalert monitors wind, humidity, rain, temperature, daylight, dew point and cloud conditions and uses the data to create a standard oneline weather data file that can be used by most image automation software packages and observatory roof control systems. The observatory is fitted with the talon6 automation system. D i think it is true to say that vito rotondi and his piertech company have made the difference between me using my telescope and not. Dome parts gmbh, astro domes, rolloff observatories. This page explains its construction and some dos and donts of observatory construction. Skyroof will interface with most roof control motor systems and is specifically designed to connect to the mvo motor control system. It takes the laborious task of dragging all the stuff out, putting all the pieces together, getting a usable alignment dialed in, and trying to not drop or lose anything in the grass into a quick and simple process of opening up the roof and waking up the mount. Dumpster companies have long used paper and pencil to track their rolloff containers, customers, and tipping fees. Willis observatory has 3 ipads to help visitors locate constellations and other objects in the night sky. With over 20 years of residential and commercial construction experience, weve been constructing roll off roof observatories across the entire united states. The current version for the windows 32bit operating system family is the successor of a dos based software that was used for.
These include the purpose of the observatory, appropriate location, dome or roll off, pier design, type of equipment, cooling and ventilation, environmental monitoring, robotic and remote operation and automation systems to name a few. How to automate your observatory skyatnightmagazine. An it and math background, combined with personal construction experience and an expanding knowledge of telescope equipment formed the basis for successful installations. This new software and hardware package boasts many features not found in other observatory automation packages. At backyard observatories we hope you will find all the services and products to suit your observatory needs. Here are the major pieces of the willis observatory. From experience at my previous observatory i know acp quite well i very much liked it, but i think its a bit too pricey for the new projects budget. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with. This new software and hardware package boasts many features not found in other. Heavy rolloff roof automation observatories cloudy nights. When done it will allow my 10 f4 newtonian to be parked sideways with the autostar 497 parkalt patch on the lxd75 mount and still have room for the roof to clear it. The coscpro systems incorporates three channels for observatory automation. If you own a dome and want os x or linux support for theskyx pro, let me know which one and what controller you are using. Astrometrica is a interactive software tool for scientific grade astrometric data reduction of ccd images, focusing on measurements of the minor bodies of the solar system asteroids, comets and dwarf planets.
This kind of automation also opens the door to the exciting. Telestation2 roll off roof observatory is a walk in observatory made of all aluminum, no maintenance required. Unlike wood observatories, the ts2 can be taken apart and reassembled with the same structural integrity. Dome parts gmbh, astro domes, rolloff observatories rolloff. In nov of 2011 i started building a new domed observatory to replace my older roll off roof the project took approximately 2 months and started with the replacement of my old deck.
Returning to the original point about knowing why you are building an observatory, if you only want a place to secure your setup equipment, then you might want to consider a different type of roll off observatory where the building rolls off of the pier. Telestation 5 split roof observatory video youtube. There is a lot of equipment that goes into an observatory. Our company has continually evolved its product lines to offer more options to better suit the diverse needs of our customers. Integrated roller and track system the track assembly consists of a bent steel plated with inverted angle iron welded to the steel plate. The observatory widget shows the status of a connected observatory typically a dome or rolloff roof building and can send commands to the observatory for immediate execution.
Observatory automation putman mountain observatory. The skyroof system is a hardware based pc control designed for rolloff roof observatories. Dome parts gmbh offers troublefree onsite construction services, but setting up the observatory by diyminded hobby astronomers is a real option. Once i started using ccdap4 for automating my imaging runs, it became quickly apparent for the need to automate the roof opening and closing. Astrosmarts computerized observatory system remote controller. I used observatory plans available on the exploradome website. Ascomstandard dome and telescope interfaces support for automadome slave dome rotation to your telescope rotationonly and full shutterandrotation systems available single or dual shutter operation, with sequencing wireless shutter control no unreliable sliding contacts direct. Drivers for the foster systems roll off roof and dome controllers. Remotely initiate remote restart of computer andor software components support for the astromc ascom compliant observatorycontrol class that can be accessed by acp or other programs. The talon ror is a safe control system for observatory automation. I shall use manual control at first but later plan to provide remote control. Now you can use the power of wasteworks to manage your container business. Personal rolloff roof observatory automation youtube.
Software you will need to have installed the latest ascom platform. With over 20 years of residential and commercial construction experience, weve been constructing rolloff roof observatories across the entire united states. The skyx planetarium, image acquisition, focusing, and observatory control ccd autopilot automation astro mc dome controller software from foster systems pixinsight image processing photoshop creative. This works very well if you have an observatory with a rolloff roof, but a conventional domed observatory has to rotate precisely so that the telescope continues to point through the roof aperture. Intended to be of use to others who attempt to build an observatory of their own.
I already have some high power mosfets that will easily handle the current maybe 50a. Skyroof automation of roll off roof skyeye timelapse videos of the night sky skyalert weather station ipads. Computerizied observatory controller procoscpro astro. Same applies to observing or imaging i feel the cold more these days. Heavy rolloff roof automation posted in observatories. Roll off observatories these fine, high quality greenline roll off observatories are meant for the advanced hobby astronomer, astronomical societies, and schools. Feb 10, 2017 piertech telestation 5 automation video. At foster systems, were astronomers who have designed the astromc line of observatory automation equipment and software. Ive recently moved countries and might have the opportunity of helping out with the automation of a local observatory that has a couple of domes. Deerlick astronomy village rolloff roof observatory. Everything else about the design and layout is from 2 years of personal planning prior to my retirement. In 2010 i built a roll off roof observatory in my back garden to provide a permanent setup for astrophotography. Clearly automation is simpler when it comes to a rolloff, because all you have to do is operate a motor to open and close the roof. Sep 05, 2018 this works very well if you have an observatory with a roll off roof, but a conventional domed observatory has to rotate precisely so that the telescope continues to point through the roof aperture.
We are uniquely qualified in this highly specialized field with projects that include a diverse mix of services for residential, educational. This provides some information about my observatory. Rolloff roof astronomical observatories outsideology. Motorised control system for upgrading roll off roofs. Remote observatory solutions and more aagcloudwatcher adapter astrophotografy baader baaderplanetarium deepsky dovetail duoscope filter filterwheel monochrome mountingsystem multipurpose telescope adapter observatoryautomation observatorycontrol plate remotelycontrol rolloff telescopeadapter telescopes.
Automation of my roof is accomplished with the help of a heavy duty garage door opener, cables, and chain. The rolloff structure will have steel and prevent log settling, but will be wrapped with log. I measured and calculated the new pier height and took the pier extension off for reworking. Have bought a reversible winch from ebay and ordered some 6mm nylon rope. Whether its one of our roof controllers or our line of addons such as the astroalert weather monitor, our atpark monitor integration system. Maxdome ii observatory dome control system diffraction. Astronomical observatory proam small hut observatory 2 x 2 meters, with roll off roof. Rolloff roof automation question diy observatories.
Install the ascom platform and lesvedome software on your observatory computer. Our greenline rolloff observatory control systems were developed with remote operation in mind. Systems, were astronomers who have designed the astromc line of observatory automation equipment and software. Our designs are uniquely individualized for your installation. Backyard observatories has been building roll off roof observatories for amateur astronomers, clubs, schools, and government facilities since the spring of 2003. Personal rolloff roof observatory automation marcin k.
All our products are engineered for the specific needs of your automation project. The scripting is mostly already set up within the software and jaime of. My particular area of specialism is emission line imaging using narrowband filters. I am looking at ways to automate my backyard 10x10 roll off so i can run it when i am on travel.
The key to a successful installation that provides years of enjoyment and reliable operation is an expert integration of your observatory, telescope equipment, and location. This works very well if you have an observatory with a rolloff roof, but a. Astronomical observatory proam small hutobservatory 2 x 2 meters, with rolloff roof. I also, used the basic roof roller system design from sky shed. Building of the new stark bayou exploradome observatory 2012. The project site has historic relevance, so its a log stack assembly. The second edition shows how to go about designing the hardware and software to implement an ascomcompatible automatic rolloffroof system and a windows application for full observatory control. I bought my nexstar 11gps about two years ago, and on the very first night i used it, the ota nearly fell off its tripod onto concrete. A myriad of factors were considered in designing the observatory. Open roofhome mount and park mountclose roof using automated sequence with maxpilote software. Software solutions available to automate the business are prohibitively expensive for the small waste hauler looking to play in a highly competitive market. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with their systems. Download installs a driver for the boyd observatories cyberdrive dome control systems. Lesvedome driver can be used to control a roll off roof ror.
Dome style observatories by tim r crawford as we all quickly learn the best telescope set up is the one that gets used and the one that will get used the most is the one permanently located close to home or capable of. Rolloff observatories these fine, high quality greenline rolloff observatories are meant for the advanced hobby astronomer, astronomical societies, and schools. These include the purpose of the observatory, appropriate location, dome or rolloff, pier design, type of equipment, cooling and ventilation, environmental monitoring, robotic and remote. Nexdome, the most affordable and true personal obervatory. The skyx planetarium, image acquisition, focusing, and observatory control ccd autopilot automation astro mc dome controller software from foster systems pixinsight image processing photoshop creative cloud image processing. The observatory computer is the primary machine that runs the imaging sessions and implements all of the automation. Each observatory is built at our facility from scratch and taken apart in sections and delivered to you for easy assembly. I decided to go for a garage door opener driven sy. Observatory solutions is a consulting firm located in southwest colorado that develops customized solutions for astronomical observatories that integrate site design, style and equipment configuration. Observatory automation diy observatories stargazers lounge.
In my observatory there are 3 turnbuckles that were installed to secure the roof to the walls. Built by backyard observatories scott horstman 16 x 24 club model 2 roll off roof observatory 16 x 8 warm room. Ascomstandard dome and telescope interfaces support for automadome slave dome rotation to your telescope rotationonly and full shutterandrotation systems available single or dual shutter operation, with sequencing wireless shutter control no. Rely on our expertise to ensure that your installation is a success. The observatory has a windows 7 class machine that is hardwired to many of the control systems in the observatory, including the paramount, telescope and dome. Most of the equipment in the observatory was fully automated, except for the. To have an efficient remote observatory the automation software is the key factor. May 03, 2016 automation will really come into its own with the medium fov 500mm fl triple imaging rig with esprit 80 ed and 2 x st80 and the widefield triple rig when thats built.
158 1626 1669 1634 1645 1444 1114 705 566 161 1427 533 360 1568 429 700 757 285 329 800 568 1261 1538 171 1341 390 215 961 444 547 299 1287 699 1357 1352 1424 223 1422 785 760 828 1372 720