Astronomy

[Sarel.wagner]

And promptly the Boost converter for the mount let them smokes out.... Input side dead short so blew a fuse, the distribution box that is. Infant death syndrome in electronics. It was working for about 10 minutes, no overheating or anything like that, just let the smoke out, a 7133-1 LDO voltage reg. And that would be R6.99 in SA if available.... Another bit of useless e waste

VermorsdeGroetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Second full moon for the month (Blue Moon) today. Also at perigee and in conjunction with Saturn

Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Replacement after the smoke left. Most of my power on this project is now sorted


Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Making good progress with the build here. Also just finished, for testing, another part for monitoring the sky and telescope. Yes a side project, needed that like a poke in the eye. Allsky camera….

Allsky cam map

Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Finished up some more of the telescope wiring yesterday, yay! Managed to overhear my stepper motor a bit, but caught it in time. Now also adjusted the motor current to be in spec. Further testing on the mount with telescopes pointing at the nadir should be final test, will see.



Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Yes a side project, needed that like a poke in the eye. Allsky camera….

This is a Raspberry 4 with 4GB ram and a RPi HQ 12MP camera with a non ideal 6mm lens. Got donated 2 very old CCTV C mount lenses that I want to test. More later.

After 2 days outside Need to build an enclosure still, with a clear dome n all. A bit dirty now.


Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Various screens for the results of the Alaska camera


Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Comet Nishimura C/2023 P1 a non periodic Comet, very low in the Western sky after sunset might be visible, otherwise Oct 15, 16, 17 is good visibility.

SterGroetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Been away for a few days with work down in the mother city, sadly no time to visit the HiFi show
But getting closer to completing the telescope and all them wiring routing. Most cables cut to length and routed properly, no snagging of cables while the mount is tracking or slewing, yay. Few minor things to wrap up, no really, the cable bundles in sleeves. Then a proper test since this is the first time with the motor driven focuser.

Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Another piece of the puzzle, an even smaller keyboard with backlight and build in mouse or trackpad. Also on the back an IR remote with learning capability. Bluetooth and WiFi capable.


Groetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

The passing storm from the allskycam


HappyGroetnismetsterre

 

[Sarel.wagner]

Aand just because....
DIY star camera from a Raspberry Pi.


RPI 4 with 4GB Ram and external SSD for capacity and reliability and speed, WiFi connected. Still need to sort the PSU tho. 180 Degree fisheye lens on the camera.

SterreGroetnis

 

[Sarel.wagner]

The result.... some Startrails Lightning & Cloud, but mostly cloud


Some of the images collected


HappyGroetnis

 

[mygoggie]

Did you build this from a project plan? I would love to build this with my grandson.

 

[Sarel.wagner]

You will find everything here:
https://github.com/thomasjacquin/allsky

You would need this, various places on the net locally: https://www.takealot.com/replacement-dome-lens-for-any-pds-gdome/PLID72992919

Groetnis

 

[mygoggie]

Dankie baie @Sarel.wagner

 

[AlleyCat]

I am a Pentax SLR user and came across the following, maybe it's of interest ? :

https://milkywayphotographers.com/a...trotracer-guide-what-it-is-and-how-to-use-it/