Remote Imaging A Users Perspective

1. Remote ImagingA Users Perspective January 7, 2010 Frank Barnes III

2. Overview: • Background • Locations & Equipment • Remote Imaging Challenges • Software, Hardware, and Tools

3. Background: • December 1999, started imaging with a Celestron Nexstar 5 and a • Nikon CoolPix 800 using eyepiece projection. • March 2000, bought a Celestron C14 with a CI700 mount and added a • Astrometrics SkyWalker 2 GoTo system to the mount. • July 2000, started building my observatory in the back yard, and went • operational in November. • Added various scopes and cameras over the next few years, but the local • light pollution grew by leaps and bounds and I had to start looking for a • better dark site.

4. Background: • October 2004, I attended the first AIC (Advanced Imaging Conference), • and there I met Steve Mandel, the conference founder, and an amateur • astronomer working on researching dust clouds. • I started helping Steve gather the images for that project by running the • equipment located at New Mexico Skies, and two years later, I bought the • equipment from him and still do research with Professor Adolf Witt at the • University of Toledo. • Steve and I partnered in 2007 and put equipment in one of the • observatories at Sierra Remote Observatories about 45 miles outside of • Fresno, Ca in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

5. Background: • 1 year later, Steve changed directions and I bought out his half of the • equipment at SRO. • I later added a second scope and mount to the SRO observatory and that • brought the total to 5 systems that are usually running every night that is • clear at each location.

6. Locations & Equipment: • Twinoaks Observatory - Rock Hill, SC. • My first observatory, located in my back yard. • Definition – Remote Local : Easily accessible by you during an imaging • session to handle any situation that may arise.

10. Locations & Equipment: • Mayhill, NM. • New Mexico Skies Pod 2. • Definition – Remote Manned : Easily accessible by on site personnel • during an imaging session to handle any situation that may • arise.

11. Mandeloscope

13. Witt Scope

15. Locations: • Blue Sky Observatory (Near Shaver Lake, Ca.) • Sierra Remote Observatories - Obs 5. • Definition – Remote Unmanned: Accessible by remote personnel based • on the seriousness of the emergency. May take some time • for them to arrive on site.

20. BSO North BSO South

22. Remote Imaging Challenges: • Power Failure • UPS - sized large enough to close your roof, clam, or slot • and run your communications , computer(s) , and • equipment for an orderly shutdown. • APC Smart 3000, APC Smart 2200 • Generator • Kohler 12RES (12KW Natural Gas)

23. Remote Imaging Challenges: • Weather Failure • Must be able to detect changing conditions that would warrant a • need to end or pause your imaging session. • Clouds (Sky Temperature) • High winds • High Humidity • Loss of feed from weather detector • Boltwood II Cloud Sensor

27. Remote Imaging Challenges: • Equipment Failure • Must be able to recover from a software failure and/or a hardware • failure. • Remotely re-boot your computer system(s) • Power cycle mount, cameras, hubs, etc • Need notifications if/when these failures occur • Roof override system • Remote Eyes • Internet Webcam • Toshiba IK-WB01A_11A

31. Remote Imaging Challenges: • Bugs • They can get into anything and cause a great deal of damage. • Spiders can be most destructive

34. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Software • TheSky6 Pro • Scripting interface • Can control a large number of mounts • Can setup FOVI for a large number of camera/scope combos • Comes with multiple star catalogs and object databases • Supports Image linking for accurate telescope positioning • Supports multiple locations • Interfaces with TPoint for improved telescope pointing

35. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Software • CCDSoft / Maxim DL • Scripting interface • Can control a large number of cameras • Has the ability to take multiple images • Supports a number of Filter Wheels • Drives the guiding camera for long exposures • Supports Image linking with TheSky6 (CCDSoft) or with PinPoint • (Maxim DL) • Interfaces with TPoint for automated map building

36. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Software • Automated Focusing - FocusMax • Supports a wide range of motorized Focusers • Builds a profile of your imaging train and uses that to obtain • excellent focus (V Curve) • Has a scripting interface • Is compatible with CCDSoft and Maxim DL

37. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Software • Remote Automation • CCDAutoPilot4 • CCD Commander • ACP • Write your own

38. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Software • Remote Control • UltraVNC • Radmin • Remote Desktop • PC Anywhere

39. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Hardware • Remote Power Control • Baytech • Http://www.baytech.net/products/rpcseries.shtml • RPC3DE-15 • Web Power Switch • Http://www.webpowerswitch.com • Web Power Switch II

40. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Hardware • UPS • APC • Http://www.apc.com • APC Smart-UPS 3000VA USB & Serial 120V

41. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Hardware • Remote Control Relays • Web Relays • Http://www.controlbyweb.com • WebRelay & WebRelay Dual • Web Cam • Toshiba • Http://www.toshibasecurity.com • IK-WB15A

42. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Hardware • Weather Monitoring • Boltwood Cloud Sensor • Http://www.cyanogen.com/cloud_main.php • Boltwood II • Davis Weather Station • Http://www.davisnet.com • Vantage Pro2

43. Software, Hardware, and Tools : • Tools • CCD Navigator 2 • Http://www.CCDWare.com • AutoMapper II • Http://www.newastro.com/downloads/automap2/default.htm • Filezilla – FTP Server • Http://filezilla-project.org

44. Remote Setups and Protection Review: • Adequate Power and good backup Power • Remote Power control for all devices • Good/Fast network connection • Good reliable roof controller w/overrides • Weather monitor – i.e.: Boltwood II or equivalent

45. Questions ?