Steve Loy

Location settings in both applications are identical and correct.

Hey folks, So, this picture illustrates the issue I am having. In this image, I have selected a Star in Stellarium, and then instructed the Scope to point at it. Once it has finished slewing, you will note that the coords the mount is pointing at do not match the location of the star as far as Stellarium is concerned. Stellarium believes this start is located at Az/Alt - 345 . 56 . 20 / 45 . 30 . 12 The mount believes itself to be pointing Az/Alt - 342 . 53 . 05 / 47 . 55 . 21 I assume I have done something wrong, but I'm not sure what. After every slew I am finding I need to correct to put the target in view... I would also assume that if it was all set correctly... then the Alt az coorods would be matching between the two components, and since they aren't, I reckon I messed up somewhere. Anyone able to offer advice?

Well that’s good to hear. My plan is to transition from SLL to Jocular at some point soon, so I can add in all the annotations and info about the pics. (which I am sure is going to be a further learning experience. )

So, My observatory is now up and running and the other night saw my first foray into trying it out. My first session was spent mostly calibrating and tweaking but I did manage to point at M3 and grab a screenshot. It then occurred to me that as a starter project, to get used to the equipment and setting etc, I should start simple, and what could be more simple that trying to work my way through the messier objects in turn? I realise most of you will have seen the M objects hundreds of times and that they may hold little value anymore, but, I wonder if it would be ok for me to document my journey through the catalogue here? (maybe even putting them in order by reserving posts for objects I need to go back to?) Either way, here is the first Screengrab of my first EEVA session from my New Obs. M3 - Globular cluster

Heya. So almost done. Just a few last steps to complete. Skywatcher 200p with a EQ6 Pro, and an Ultrastar is all in and wired up. I purchases an electronic focuser, but it stopped working after a few days, so not sure if I set it up correctly, I can hear the motor working but the focuser stopped moving, not sure if its just the battery that is low on power. Wiring is all run via a silkflexed baton on the pier, down and then up to Control Laptop Not happy with the masking tape covering the wires on the floor, but I don't want to run them under the rubber tiles as they will cause bulging, so I may just have to live with it for now until I figure out an alternative. Shelf was reinforced with Silkflex and Metal brackets... crude, but it only needs to support the weight of the small control laptop so its fine. (and not visible unless under the shelf) installed a Dehumidifier, and small oil filled radiator to prevent frost, dehumidifier is piped outside. Just cut a small hole in the fibreglass and sealed the pipe in with good old silkflex. Some pipe insulation on the interior and exterior to prevent frost blocking the outlet. Discovered I needed a channel in the rear of the pad, as it wasn't quite level so water was pooling behind the obs, Made me nervous, so one grinder session later... Added a silicone water strip above the door to prevent wind driven drips settling on the top of the door. And finally to make getting to the dome muck free, and make cutting the grass easier, added some stepping stones and a grass level border around the pad using left over stone from the new patio. Software all set up, Dome and scope synced, camera installed. I HIGHLY recommend the new ASCOM device hub. It is quite literally plug and play with just a few measurements to enter and it does the rest for you. Amazing bit of software. I was really worried about getting everything talking, software wise... but it took minutes with the device hub... so easy! Hardware wise, and software wise, its all done, Here she is... Last few things left. 1 - Properly polar align (need a clear night) 2 - Properly focus (Need to resolve the issue with my electronic focuser... might get back in touch with FLO to see if i have set it up wrong) 3 - Perform a full Setup / align of the mount (need 1 and 2 to be sorted, and need a clear night) 4 - Put something nice in the corner pot,. and get a sign made to commemorate my dear Father who made this all possible and will have the Dome named after him. Once these final small things are taken care of, "Don's Dome" will be open for business

Quick update, i have not abandoned this! Real life got in the way of progress... as it often does... In short, it's almost complete, just a few last tweaks... More pictures to follow soon...

Win10, no worries. Thanks for letting me know

Just checking. Is this ready to work natively with an Ultrastar yet?

I haven't tried NINA, but Having just had my pulsar dome built. I can heartily recommend The Ascom Device hub fir easy of use. It’s literally as easy as installing your scope and dome drivers, then instal the device hub… plug some measurements in and the pressing the connect buttons for the scope and dome. It handles all the slaving and what-not. I was really worried about getting the dome and scope to automate in sync but the device hub made it a breeze.

This is looking great. Love how engineered it all looks. You clearly know what you are doing.

Right. After a bit of a delay to progress due to to some issues with the Dome rotation (Kindly rectified by Steve at Pulsar) I am back onto working on this. First Job... install a board ready for the power supply and sockets. Sikaflex to secure two wooden batons vertically to the Wall. Then a board Screwed onto the batons (Method was ruthlessly stolen from Benjam's 2019 Dome construction thread... thankyou sir, hope you don't mind) Then a visit from my tame Builder / Electrician and we have a fully functioning Battlestation Powered Observatory, complete with Ethernet Data connection back to the house (Remember the conduits that go under the new patio?) Next Job, Install the flooring. I Cut a Circle of Waterproof Membrane to 2.2m Diameter, then place in obs and Chalk mark to dimensions. Cut everything out. Then lay over a square of Rubber flooring tiles to act as a template. Cut the rubber flooring out, then Used the membrane as an under layer, followed by the rubber flooring. A little bit of adjusting, and the end result once all done... Then I started on a DIY shelf in the storage alcove. Same principle... Sikaflex two batons, then attach the customer cut shelf on top. I got as far as the batons, and I'm not too happy with them right now. The sides of the bay aren't quite level, so the batons sit wrong. Going to have to reinforce with brackets before I trust them with weight. Thats as far as i am so far. Next jobs... Reinforce the shelf batons. Paint the custom Shelf Install it. After that, we move onto installing all the equipment and software config. lots to do still!

Well I guess I owe you a beer or some-such

So.. Building work on the walls done, and a call from Steve at Pulsar to say he had a cancelation resulted in my dome being delivered / installed today! All up and running. Just a minor hitch in the moulding that I noticed after Steve and Gary had left on one of the dome's quadrants has resulted in a bit of a "clunk" when that joint passes a runner wheel. I Should be able to make it smoother with some Epoxy Putty or the like, so not a big deal I don't think. Waiting for my new mount which is on back order anyway. next job... finish the new patio, (needs a bit more back filling and then hard core and flags to go down. After that, sort the power and data wiring in the new Obs!

Kind of. Mate was actually laying the bricks as he knows what he’s doing (qualified bricky and spark) Though the mortar mix and jointing was all me (I just followed him along, Tidying up so he could focus on the laying. )

Another small update. Concrete in and curing. Shuttering off. New retaining wall half done. Next steps will be water-seal the Concrete pad with a treatment (need a decent gap in the bad weather for that though) and then finish of the building work so it's safe to install the obs.