Category: AOMO Activity Log

Members: Leigh

Arrive: 2:40 pm

Temp: 4 C

Weather was gusty, rainy and foggy. I entered dome to inspect for leakage and found none.

Spent rest of time counting inventory in file drawers. Removed all the old hard drives, a zip drive and adapter, two floppy drives and two optical drives from drawer marked “Drives”. My reason is to have one of our tech savy members analyze the drives and see if any data on them can or should be recovered. As these drives will probably never be used again I will recommend disposal in a responsible manner.

Departed 4:40pm

Temp: 3 C

Darkness meter: n/a

Members: Mark, Leigh, Wayne, Brett

Arrive: 8:10 pm

Temp: -2 C

Wayne took photos outdoors with his DSLR.

Brett & Mark removed finder scope in order to take measurements for a new finder scope bracket assy. Also removed bracket on top of scope for camera mount in order to make final measurements for accessory mounting plate mounts. Brett machined mounts out of aluminum and they look very good. Plate will allow the mounting of a guide scope and other equipment that members may wish to use in the future.

Re-mounted finder scope and moved telescope to Alnilam to synchonize scope with hand paddle and The Sky6. Mark mounted his DSLR onto the telescope and we attempted to obtain focus. We found we could not bring the camera close enough so we removed the extension tube and mounted the camera directly onto the focuser. Still unable to move camera close enough, we removed the T4 mount ring tube and Mark and Brett performed delicate surgery upon it. (note: need to buy new hacksaw blades, and a vise would be a useful tool for toolroom.) We still had to unlock the main mirror and move it slightly to obtain focus with the focuser near the middle of its travel. We then moved the telescope to M42. Mark took a series of 30 second images.

Brett and Wayne had to leave at 11:10pm.

Mark and Leigh continued taking 30 second images for awhile longer. Determined that the next step would be to remount Sbig camera and see if focus could be obtained without moving main mirror. It was too late to attempt so we started to shut down for the night.

Departed 12:15am

Temp: -1 C

Darkness meter:

Mark & Leigh

Arrive: 8:20pm

Temp: -2 C

I started the evening by moving the line conditioner upstairs into the dome and attached the electronics via the already excisting powerbars to the line conditioner.

Mark opened the dome and we uncovered the telescope and computer cupboard. We started the computer in order to bring up the Sky6.

We attached the focal reducer, focuser and an eypiece to begin. We then took time to re-balance the telescope.

We had difficulty locating our star at first, however after centering the finder scope onto target, we were able to find targets with greater eaze.

We had the telescope and the computer misbehave for some unknown reason. A reboot of both cured both issues.

We were able to direct the telescope with Sky6 to all targets that we picked with no difficulty after the reboot.

We attached the Sbig camera directly to the focuser and then obtained focus by unlocking the main mirror and adjusting the focus knob. We did this with the focuser at the half way point. We were then able to do fine focus with the focuser. We took up to 3 minute photos without guiding and at first blush they do not look too bad. We tightened the lock down of the mirror again.

We found we needed to use an extender to bring the eyepiece to focus without moving the mirror.Departed: 2:45am

Temp: -3 C

Members: Mark & Leigh

Arived: 1:35pm

Temp: 0 C

I checked one by one each circuit breaker to see which circuits were effected when turned off. This was to check the accuracy of the chart. I found the chart to be mostly accurate. Noted however that the line conditioner on the “computer” circuit no longer served it’s purpose as the only outlet it serviced was no longer used for the computers. The socket that it it plugged into is supposed to be independantly grounded. I will have to pull off the plate and check if that is so.

I repaired the outdoor spot light fixture and made adjustments to the lamps aim. I extracted the remains of a broken bulb and removed one good 100 watt spotlight. I then installed in both sockets a 50 watt red spotlight. Tested and found working.

Mark removed the optic train from the back of the telescope. He brought everything down to the office to dismantle. Once apart he laid out the pieces and took photos. Our plan is to try using a focal reducer to bring the telescope to f6.8.

Depart: 3:15pm

Darkness meter:

Arrived: 1900

Present: Leigh, Mark, Rohit Grover, Sam David

Mark set up his Tak and ED80 on his EQ6 to continue imaging of M42.

Rohit and Sam set up their 12″ Dobs to hunt Messier objects. Mark assisted and confirmed finds.

-6 C in Dome

Sky Meter reading 20.26

Departed: 0030