Jonk

I've managed to get a script to switch the relays on and off via the cli, and also managed to get a stream of T, H and P from the BME280 which is a start! Loads of stuff about installing libraries and compiling code, which is way above my pay grade. But, progress is progress so I guess I need to ask someone who can write code in C to knock something up for me to do what I need it to do.

Here's August - a couple of decent nights and the return of astro darkness. I actually managed 6 hours of astro dark imaging on the 24th, so that's good!

I did think about a timed heater regardless but I also like having it on 24/7 so a cover isn’t something I’d have. Maybe auto-dimming the dome, like photo-reactive film would help. I’m not sure the sunlight will damage the sensor as it’s not ‘magnified’ but I will eventually fit a filter, either a Lum, LP or maybe UHC to help. It’s the temperature inside that’s something I want to control, but it’s only an idea and may not even work as I imagine.

Thanks Tomatobro, I’ve looked at it and it’s not really suitable. I already have the allsky software running, I just need to move onto the next step of automating internal climate and dew control. Eventually, it should in theory run all year round without any intervention.

@davefi I have been looking for some code for the pi to operate a relay hat based on dew point, both inside and outside the camera dome. I also use Thomas Jacquin’s allsky on a pi4 and was looking to see if you’re willing to share your code or point me to where I can find something to modify to suit. The relay hat I have is a 3 channel waveshare hat https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/RPi_Relay_Board and not being a coder I’m not sure where to start. I’m happy to read code and make subtle changes to suit but I can’t start blank, nor have I found anything suitable yet. Basically, I’d like to achieve the following: 1. 2 sensors, 1 internal, 1 external. 2. Sensors to be dht or 280bme to calculate the dew point and also report temperature and humidty separately, possibly to a text file ‘live’, ie append not add. 3. If internal temperature higher than say 30degC, switch on relay 1 (for tec cooling for example with fan for forced air movement.) 4. If internal dew point approaching, switch off relay 1 and switch on relay 2 ( internal heater and fan for forced air movement) until a set point above the dew point, basically internal climate control to prevent overheating or fogging. 5. If external dew point approaching, switch on relay 2 for heating to avoid dew on the outside of the dome. Of course this is all basically a truth table of events but I don’t see any real reason why this cannot work? Any help from you, or from anyone else would be greatly appreciated.

I would suggest forced ventilation, heating it up more and more isn’t likely to work, and it could possibly increase your thermal noise in the images. It’s very difficult to seal these things, air and therefore moisture will permeate. Silica bags should help too.

I use Sharpcap and for speed and ease of use, I say check it every serious imaging session cos you never know! It only takes a couple of minutes. This is assuming you’re sat in front of it to adjust if necessary.

Sorry to keep going on, and away from it being astro related but I've just sat outside for about an hour with the DSLR on the offchance it visited. And it did! I took 1 shot, 10s iso1600 wide open at 185mm which wasn't near enough, and as the camera display showed the image, the owl took off and flew right over my head - I didn't hear a thing! Here's the best I can realistically do with the photo, it was pretty dark outside.

I moved a cctv camera last night and guess what! He / she’s back! I reckon the temporary hanging basket just to hold the camera boxes up there would make a fine nest, so I reckon it’s thinking of moving in?

Long story short, do it if you can! The 'issue' is in the software, by moving the meridian limit for gotos, we found an issue where in a certain part of the sky, the mount will 'goto' the mirror opposite of the sky when a goto command is issued, (either to a local object in the quadrant or even a couple of pixels away,for example plate solving). We think the issue has always been there, but not found due to the fact you wouldn't normally goto under the pole deep in the west to image, however of course this is possible (likely for comets / other odd things). We've asked Sitech to look into it with a view to removing limits for people who cannot crash into their pier, and they will do eventually. Rembering that Sitech is pretty much one person (Dan Gray) we have to be patient. For more information, there's a discussion on the Sitech groups here and here

Guess whoooooo's back?! 3 nights in a row now...(stretched screenshots). Hopefully I'll be able to capture it with a Milky Way behind it soon.

One of the main reasons I had a bent knee pier made for the mesu, so I don’t need a meridian flip. This brings other software issues however which are being looked at by Sitech as we speak.

I certainly think it’s a tawny owl, quite often hear them but not seen one since we’ve been here.

This just completely made me double take! Just checking the sky and whooooooo did I see?!

Easy, disable the internet on that pc!

Solar noon and it's risen to 60 Degrees C, not great. Looks like a temporary solution is needed, small fans and a bit of airflow. Might also help reduce the internal fogging.

Here's a shot of practically solar transit time... No cooling, heating or anything, just the camera in a 3D printed temporary enclosure, taking a sub every 5 seconds. You can see 58 degrees sensor temperature, plus some internal fogging from last night that hasn't / won't clear. Not sure what the air temperature is at home, probably 22 degrees or so. It proves (what we already know) is that direct sunlight causes the greenhouse effect. This is all on test, not a complete system yet. I'm working on an automatic RPi controller HVAC system for the enclosure, hopefully to regulate the internal temperature, humidy and inevitable external dew.

Do it if you can / need to! I wouldn't mind another, maybe a project for the future, time, space and finances permitted.

I've seen a couple of people on here use this software, so I thought I'd better let you know that it has been updated to version 0.8 -> https://github.com/thomasjacquin/allsky There are a few improvements and bug fixes, and a handful of extra settings to play with. I like the software and am glad of the update, as it appeared to have gone a bit stale. Updating requires a re-clone of the github clone address, which involves deleting the previous allsky folder first, so make sure you back up or note all of your camera settings, ftp addresses etc first!

During the heatwave a couple of weeks ago, my sensor was at 55degC indoors (very warm, 30 degrees + but not in the sun). Also, the allsky software has been updated very recently (yesterday). If you want to update, save all of your configuration information, delete the allsky and allsky-website folders and re-clone from github. Then put your settings back in. There are a few more features and bug fixes, and I'm pleased with the progress.

Very nice, except I would lock the DEC axis before attempting that again! One slip and it's gone.

July has been and gone, and the middle 3rd of the month would have been great had the nights been longer and darker!

Nope, maybe some larger professional observatories have them. Email Lucas and ask him, he might tell you!

I've given up using MS ICE, I don't think it is supported any more and is fairly old now. I currently use Hugin for panoramas, so maybe give that a go?

I've just been back through files doing my weather log and could this be another one?! This is a bit fun!