Automated Observatory 2
Since my telescope can hit the roof, I incorporated two safety switches on the RA and DEC axis, these switches are closed when the telescope is in the "telescope safe" position. I've also incorporated a third safety switch on the drop down wall. So for the roof to open or close all three switches must be in the closed positions.
My second safety feature are design to minimize the chance of rain from entering the obsey when the roof is open. I've went for a total of three rain sensors, all of which are independent of each another. The main rain sensor is integrated into the cloud sensor and so far this has never failed. However, it is dependent on my obsey PC working correctly. I therefore decided that I needed a back up sensor that would trigger an alarm in my house if it detected rain when the roof when open- so I went for a battery powered wireless weather station approach - whilst this works, on testing it I was concerned that it requires quite a bit of rain before the sensor is triggered. I therefore decided on a more sensitive rain alarm sensor which sits on my warm room roof. This sensor also incorporates a heater, so needs to mains powered, it is interfaced it to a battery powered wireless alarm via a battery powered wireless link to my house. For the time being, I've decided not to install a UPS but I do have a mains power detector alarmed in the house.
So, when I'm observing it's normally from a PC screen in the house. I recently decided to purchase CCDNavigator which has recently been upgraded to be ACP Compatible which makes programming an observing session very easy.
Overall, I've been impressed by not only the physical build but also of the quality of the controlling software, which has proved very reliable.
Photo Information
- Taken with Apple iPhone 5s
- Focal Length 4.2 mm
- Exposure Time 1/33
- f Aperture f/2.2
- ISO Speed 32
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