ASTRO: Mantrap Observatory

Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

Nice setup. I am compiling my target list and then I'll be on my way up to
visit. :-)

Joe



"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...
Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----






----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Any time. Just plan around my Meridian Tree.

Rick

J McBride wrote:

Nice setup. I am compiling my target list and then I'll be on my way up to
visit. :-)

Joe



"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...

Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

nice setup Rick.

you remind me how of my uncle Floyd looked.

He was a cool guy and knew everything...at least from the point of view of a
little kid with an inquisitive mind...






"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...
Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

If I don't get off my butt I'll look more like Santa Claus! Finally
cleared so pulling another all nighter here. No idea when I'll process
them but at least I'm collecting photons. Seeing is horrible. Guide
star is going from 8000 to 13,000 ADU thanks to the seeing tonight.

Rick


Richard Crisp wrote:

nice setup Rick.

you remind me how of my uncle Floyd looked.

He was a cool guy and knew everything...at least from the point of view of a
little kid with an inquisitive mind...






"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...

Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

it's cloudy here with a hole here and there to keep me up waiting for it to
get better....


"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...
If I don't get off my butt I'll look more like Santa Claus! Finally
cleared so pulling another all nighter here. No idea when I'll process
them but at least I'm collecting photons. Seeing is horrible. Guide star
is going from 8000 to 13,000 ADU thanks to the seeing tonight.

Rick


Richard Crisp wrote:

nice setup Rick.

you remind me how of my uncle Floyd looked.

He was a cool guy and knew everything...at least from the point of view
of a little kid with an inquisitive mind...






"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...

Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...
Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".


That is a beautiful site and imaging setup! I'd love to try some icefishing
out there
on that lake :^)

Scott


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----






----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Preston S Justis wrote:

"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
...

Finally a sunny day so took a couple shots of me and the scope. No
tripod (I have three but can't find even one) so just sat the camera on
the shelf making for a funny low angle shot. Wife was in town and
clouds coming in from the north so didn't wait. Shot of me shows that
the fall wood chopping routine was totally wasted after a winter of
sitting in front of the fire. The low angle doesn't help. That's my
story an I'm sticking to it.

The ST-7 off axis guider and the ST-11K are obvious. The eyepiece is
covered with foil and taped so no light gets in during exposures. The
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll. It's
saved me from disaster once so far. Tried moving the roof when I had
the scope pointed up. I was cussing a blue streak about it not moving.
Went out and found I hadn't parked the scope. I took back all my cuss
words.

I needed a bit more counter weight. Rather than ordering another
outrageously priced one I found my old unused Cave Astrola 10 lb.
counter weight was just the right weight and same bore diameter - 1.5".
Looks a bit rusty in with the stainless steel but it was free. And
remember to duck when going out the door. It's only 5' (1.5 meters)
tall. I forgot once! But isn't an observatory for seeing stars?

And George, note the correct way to mount a Telrad!
Unless you are viewing ants that is.

Second pix shows the view from the observatory including my "Meridian
Tree". It's almost exactly on the meridian and goes up about 30
degrees. State says it is on a bluff and you can't cut any tree on a
bluff, nor top it or anything else. So far the beavers aren't
interested in helping me out.

Still a hard lake out there. It's usually liquid by now. I augured a
hole yesterday and it was still 14" thick but getting a bit rotten.
Maybe by May the lake will return.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".



That is a beautiful site and imaging setup! I'd love to try some icefishing
out there
on that lake :^)

Scott


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't seem to have a hankering for ice fishing. Even though the ice
is thick enough to drive a semi on it cracks, moans and jumps around
like a living thing. I much prefer the boat. I get enough cold blowing
my one kilometer road so I can get out. After that I don't need any
more cold for a while.

Rick

"Rick Johnson" wrote
...
Finally a sunny day.........

Amazing!

...the observatory's cool too!


.......
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll......

Neat idea Rick! You must have had concerns about the observatory
staff.......

Do you have one of those weather monitors that will close up if it clouds up
or starts to rain?

Around here it can go from clear to snow in a few minutes. One time I was
sitting on the steps into the dome talking to some folks while an image was
'cooking', and turned around to see snow coming in the slit!

George N

George Normandin wrote:
"Rick Johnson" wrote
...

Finally a sunny day.........


Amazing!

...the observatory's cool too!



.......
flat mirror behind the ST-7 is an optical interlock. Only if the scope
is in its parked position does an IR beam bounce off that mirror and
into a receiver. If the beam isn't seen the roof won't roll......


Neat idea Rick! You must have had concerns about the observatory
staff.......

Do you have one of those weather monitors that will close up if it clouds up
or starts to rain?

Around here it can go from clear to snow in a few minutes. One time I was
sitting on the steps into the dome talking to some folks while an image was
'cooking', and turned around to see snow coming in the slit!

George N

After paying my taxes a couple days ago everything will wait a bit
Somehow the IRS sees pockets full of money I can't find anyplace!

But yes something like the one Cyanogen sells is high on my list. Last
spring I was imaging my movie of P73 going by M57 and still getting data
yet heard this dripping sound that was rain. Low in the east it was
still only dimmed by clouds.

This winter I got snowed on the same way. It was time for another 5
minute sub frame to come in. I turned around to look at the screen and
it was blank. Thinking that odd I went out to see if it was cloudy.
Found snow coming down pretty hard. 5 minutes earlier I got a good
looking subframe!

I took M51 last night while sleeping and the Corona Borealis cluster the
night before the same way. Forecast was good but I sure don't sleep
well until dawn breaks. Then I get up, close down and sleep much
better! So yes I will be adding one in the near future.

At Hyde we have a huge 30 by 15 foot steel roof over the observing deck.
One night a supervisor, the one most hung up on checking the scopes
before "pressing the button" ran the roof right into a near vertical
C14! It takes a 2 HP motor to move the roof. It can't be budged even
by 5 guys pushing -- in a power failure with a storm coming we learned
that but the storm held off long enough and power was restored. It uses
belt drive and when it hit the C14 it broke one of the three 3/4" bolts
out of the concrete pier and bent back the other two but it didn't even
dent the tube of the C14 which it hit about dead center. Had to redo
the pier but the scope was fine. Celestron made one heck of a strong
tube -- Heavy too. It was one of the originals bought in 1975 and took
three to lift onto the fork. Later they were far lighter. Good thing
we had the heavy duty model. That's what made me design the IR system
interlock. I used to do a lot of TTL logic design so that was a no
brainer but getting Chamberlain to let go of their "trade secret"
controller design so I could interface the two was impossible. Finally
found a repair tech who had what I needed. One fifth of Jack Daniel's
and I had my info. Since then they've changed that circuit so hope I
don't have to replace it or I'll have to buy him another bottle.

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".