iapa

The shuttering is now removed, and sealant applied yesterday. photo will be posted later.

Would you provide the text of your request; if it worked for you, it may work for us.

Recently retired Technical PM. My view was to use what I know to get finance approved, and to plan it. Reports will also allow me to keep track - and keep my hand in too.

I try to stick to ISO format when putting dates, 2023-01-31T18:54:48+00:00

here is what I presented for CFO to gain approval for my build. Microsoft 365 (Office).pdf

Are we, generally, in the 50-60+yo bracket here. It seems, from what I have read, that many have had a long working life and looking to reap benefits.

Tip: I just use credit card to get the protection and pay off from our “fun money” May be easier for me as I am now retired, have a work pension that we can live on, and money save/put aside for our future enjoyment.

Similarly, Mrs Iapa has actually been prompting me for years to get the observatory installed. Proves that in some cases it can work both ways - sometimes Maybe some of us are just luck in out choices.

SWMBO knits. Yarn comes in around £120-200 for one item produced. I do not ask how much has been involved in that as it far exceeds what I have spent - pre-observatory. One to keep in my back pocket for later

All purchases below are within the bonuses received during the time with my last employer. I bought my first telescope in 2015, an Alt-Az mount with 130 f5 OTA - <£500 - but I thought that a lot. It was over 50yrs before I pulled that trigger; my interest started in my pre-teens. We normally spent that amount in 3 months eating out with friends restaurants. Then, 3 yrs later I installed a concrete block and pier, this cost more than the above, again prevarication on the decision - I should have done it straight way as it made such a difference. We didn’t eat out for a year. Another 4yrs on, with more prevarication, and a lot of prompting by the Chief Finance Office and Estates Manager, repeatedly adding the parts to the supplier shopping list, and removing them, I am finally in the process of having an observatory. I am still quaking at the financial outlay involved. The best of it is, that in those years of prevarication, I have purchased numerous astronomy related items costing more than the above combined costs. Finally, 23yrs ago, I did not balk at buying a Harley Davidson costing more than the total of the above. Morale - consider your priorities. Me, I now work on the basis I will not live forever and will do what my hobby coast; subject to the above named officials.

Hmmm, interesting results, definite improvement. I built a Peltier cooling unit following Martin Pyott’s project. I donated the Astro modified 600D before I f=for to use it properly. Now have a pair of faulty 700D, unmodified. In the name of “science” you have prompted me to do a side by side with those, one cooled, same lenses, same target, concurrent exposures. Don’t hold your breath.

I use the ASI focuser on my Esprit 80, they provide several brackets options. Also have used the sky watcher unit on the equinox 80 and both 200pds and 250pds, adequate with few issues There is a number of videos on utoob for installing to a variety of focusers. At the end of the day, your choice which motor, but I would say essential for observing or imaging

Thanks, this expands very nicely on your comments on my build. Ny network days were to the end of IBM’s Token Ring and early adoption if TCP/IS

At least the documentation does highlight that Bit of a [removed word] with what I can get here,, but, the cloud cover detector should catch that

Base is 2.6mx2.6m square, my back garden isn’t that big (30’ x 70’ I reckon). The pipe to the right of the pier in the photo runs to the house and I will be having armoured cabling installed out to provide power to a consumer unit, and network connectivity will also run through there. I am considering running fibre, but already have reinforced cat 6e cable I can reuse out to the pier initially. Dome is supplied pre-painted Matt black internally. As I managed to find a source for Matt black dual 13A sockets with USB, and even USB-C c/w WiFi extender, I will fit them to keep reflections down. Each of the dual sockets will be on a separate RCD - just because. The consumer unit, if possible will also be matt black. Considering painting the rest similarly, although Steve @Pulsar has suggested it’s not recommended by them, or necessary. But, everything I put in, I intend to be as dark as possible. Lighting will be LED strip, with body motion detector to set it white between 1hr after sunset, and 1hr after sunrise. In between if I go in, it will be red light.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of the prodigy-microfocuser The only “review” I have found is on https://astronomytechnologytoday.com/2021/09/09/pegasus-astro-prodigy-microfocuser/ which seems to just be a reprint of Pegasus’ description

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of the prodigy-microfocuser

This is the one I was looking at, I started by searching on FLO - as any normal person would do in the UK. Discarded the Pegasus as it is an in-door only unit, and I need to know when the rain stops or cloud clears The Lunatico is already in the cart with bells and whistles - why not if I am building a new forever observatory; that advice was from the Chief Finance Officer.

End of day 2 pour completed

Hi, looking for options for environmental monitors. specifically cloud, wind and rain. must be externally mounted to detect when (if) adverse conditions clear. TIA

After a little research I found There’s not that many easily found via Google - ASCOM driver is necessary. My preferred supplier has two devices, which were both on my shortlist One of the above is not suitable as in mounts internal, so, I wont know if the cloud clears That leaves me with the Lunatico unit with optional anemometer. I’ll start a new thread to get feedback and other options

I chose outdoor armoured in the hope it would survive the below -15ºC temps we get once or twice most winters. So far, so good.

TBH I’ve had a CAT6e cable running from the house to mount PC for several years. I chose an armoured outdoor cable.

A suggestion I’ve been looking into. so many choices, and no knowledge

End of day one Pier needs a good clean