Automating your backyard observatory Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2024
- In this video I fight with some birds and lose, and I start the project of automating my backyard observatory! The Bear Claw observatory get's a major overhaul while I make a big mess!
Gate opener I used - amzn.to/2SHzZKJ
Ardiuno - amzn.to/3p4iUab
Relay - amzn.to/3i1p3Cz
I do participate in affiliate programs, so by purchasing your equipment through the links below, you are helping support my channel at no extra cost to you. I don't make much from these, but it does help offset the cost of video editing software and music subscriptions etc.
High Point Scientific link - www.pntrac.com/t/SENKSkhPRktD...
OPT link - bit.ly/3mGEJKD
Equipment I use:
Light Panel for flats - amzn.to/3aelcxd
EdgeHD 8 - bit.ly/333Xv6L
Celestron OAG - bit.ly/2PE86SV
Celestron 0.7 Reducer - bit.ly/338gddi
ZWO ASI174MM Mini Guide Camera - bit.ly/33b4omF
Mount: EQ6-R Pro - bit.ly/38eiuqp
Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 81 APO - bit.ly/31Tw5jV
Flattener: William Optics 6aiii - bit.ly/3mzM7r5
William Optics Zenithstar 81 APO + Flattener - bit.ly/37VGIXb
Filter Wheel: ZWO EAF - bit.ly/2TFOmwA
Camera: ZWO ASI294MM Pro - bit.ly/37EpM6w
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro - bit.ly/31Yq2dK
Camera Combo ASI1600MM Pro + Filters + Filter Wheel - bit.ly/37TCEXu
Guide Scope: William Optics 50mm guiding scope - bit.ly/2HS11JX
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini - bit.ly/34Io431
QHY PoleMaster - bit.ly/2UQBdl0
For more information, articles, and everything astrophotography, please visit my website: joesastrophoto.com
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#astrophotography
You have inspired me to buy a gate opener to do this to my observatory. Prepare yourself for lots of questions.
Pretty cool, I'm glad you and @astrobloke are doing all the hard work so newbs like me can see what works what doesn't, thanks for sharing!👍
Thanks AG! Glad we can help out.
Great video, came here via AstroBloke, I am in Utah and have a very similar observatory - no scopes in it yet but looking at gate openers. Thanks for this great video, and love the humor! FYI I am in Utah
yep there are sooo many gadgets that we can buy for our hobby to make things easier. I mean its just money we either give it away when we die or enjoy it now while we are alive.
Thanks Joe, it seems I can never have enough money to do everything I want lol
Hey Joe
I Must have missed this video! But I’ve just watch part one and part two with interest! My wife has finally agreed to let me build an observatory ( I wore her down)🤣 So of course I want to automate it! Yours and Glenn’s videos will be vital to my build! I’m in the planning stage with the ground work and pier at the moment, so a long way to go, but it’s happening 😀 I’ll probably do a video in stages! Great intro btw!Thanks Joe and clear skies!
Thanks Simon, I’m so excited for you! Looking forward to seeing your build!
LOL... great intro, Joe! For my observatory, I haven't fully automated, yet. The garage doors are electric, so they open with the push of a button. But, I still need to manually carry my setup to the end of my driveway before every imaging session. Then, I need to carry it back up to the garage. I sure am glad for the electric door opener, though! 😜
Hahaha! Thanks Jonny, that’s funny!
Ha Ha - Awesome Joe. I am nominating you for an Astro Video Academy award! The intro was great! That automatic opener is a super upgrade. - Cheers Kurt
Thanks Kurt! I had so much making this one.
Great video Joe lol. Love the intro haha
Thanks Caleb!
😂😂cool vid & observatory Joe!!
Thanks Luke, much appreciated!
😂 loved the intro...look like a great addition!
Thanks Russell, so much fun making it!
Nice, rack n pinion is the way to go, love the intro!
Thanks Cap!
Very cool. Just started doing basic automation so this is way cool.
Thanks Rod! I hope it helps out!
Awesome entertaining astrophotography video!!!
Thanks Joe, glad you enjoyed it!
This makes me realise how much I need to improve my setup🤣 great video!
Thanks Rajan! I like your videos as well!
Awesome video Joe. Loved the intro, lol. Glenn's video started me thinking about automating my roof by I would need mine on the inside and the motor sitting sideway. And then BOOM, your video comes along and you've got the motor sitting sideways!! Perfect timing. Will be studying your setup closely while I try and work out if I can do something similar for mine (my roof is unfortunately very heavy).
Thanks Logan! My roof weighs around 800 to 1000lbs and that motor moves it fine. The one I bought was rated for 1300lbs, but I’ve seen some that go up above 5k lbs. I’m still working out the kinks, as I think I want to lower the racks about a 1/4” to ride the pinion a little more center instead of at the top like it is now.
@@JoesAstrophoto ok that’s good to know because my roof is probably around 500kg (1100lbs).
@@LogansAstro I'd probably get the ones around the 2100lb rating then just to be sure. They weren't much more money but do have a higher watt capacity so not sure if that will affect you. I only had 14-2 romex run to the observatory, so about 15 amps, not sure what you have running to yours but just another thing to consider when purchasing, but I don't think it's anything to worry about until you get to the really big ones.
@@JoesAstrophoto ok sounds good. I have full mains power to the observatory ( even has its own switchboard) so should be ok with the higher capacity version.
Hey Joe this will be so great for you and pressing That button.all day will be so cool.
Keeping busy duren the day passes the day quicker and at night when it's clear it'll be alot of fun pressing that button to start your astro imaging for the night.
Hope you do follow up video once complete!
All the best with this and stay safe buddy!!!
Thanks so much BA!
That intro :-) It's funny because it's true!
Thanks Jason, yeah I’ve cleaned my fair share of bird droppings off the telescope lol
Awesome intro
Thanks Garnett, it was really fun to make!
Loved it Joe haha, between you and Glenn I've now got button envy!! 😂
Can't wait to see your arduino solution mate 👍
Thanks Luke, yeah, Glenn got me started with his video lol. The Arduino should be here this week and it gives me something to do while waiting for clear skies to return.
Looking good Joe nice job.👍You and Glenn should have a button pressing competition.
Thanks Ollie, Glenn would win that one hands down lol
@@JoesAstrophoto 🤣you're right he's probably still going now.
Lmao joe, love that intro. Nice install mate. I would liked to have gone for the internal solution but couldn’t easily with the keter shed. That buttons addictive be careful. Now lets get this Arduino sorted 👍
Thanks Glenn! Not sure what I enjoyed more, making the intro or having the automated roof work lol
LOL. About the only thing missing in your intro was some Homer Simpson drool. If you wear out the battery in your button, I'm sure Glenn will have some pointers on how to get it replaced ;)
Thanks James, yeah Glenn got me started with this with his video lol
Where would I find exactly what you purchased. And where could I buy these components?
VERY excited about implementing your solution. Your shed, is constructed just like yours!
I am dumb as a post when it comes to automation. Your configuration is EXACTLY, what I want to build into my observatory!
Awesome!!!
Thanks Tony! I have all links to the equipment I used in the description below and in Part 2 of the video.
Nice upgrade dude! I've donned it similar, and then there was oil leakage from reductor :P
Thanks Uros! Sorry to hear about yours, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
@@JoesAstrophoto It stopped dripping after few years, haha, there's a plastic cup underneath, collected small amount of oil. You have better motor, I miss a soft start.
Hi Joe, Your Aleko opener starts off smoothly! Good Job. I'm envious. I have an Aleko 2750, but it really shakes the interior wall its mounted on and I had to reinforce the roof with a shear panel to keep it from loosening the connections. Do you know of a way for the Aleko to "soft start"? Clear Skies, Paul
Thanks Paul, if I remember correctly there are some potentiometers on the board that increase the start and stopping force. I’ll see if I can find which one’s do what in the docs and report back.
Joe. Great video. Just finishing construction of my 8x10 observatory. Love the fact that you didn’t have to modify your completed observatory to install the rack and pinion gate motor. Do you have a list of parts you purchased to accomplish the install?
Including of course, where you bought the gate motor and teeth track, or does it all come together with the motor.
Looking forward to getting your feedback.
I am just starting the roof, which will mount onto the wheel track , which I have just installed onto the tracks.just like yours.
Sincerely,
Tony V
Thanks Tony, I have a link to the gate motor in the description of this video and also the description of Part 2 video.
Did you do a photo journal video documenting the install? Love to see that. Also, does the tooth track just attach to the beam, or did you have to carve out a trench for it? I am in the final stages of building my roof. Wondering if it would be easier to install the rack and pinion motor and track while I am still building?
Tony V
Hi Tony, I wasn’t able to do a video of the actual install itself, but I just used a 2x4 to mount the rack and some washers as spacers to lower it. I think it would be much easier to install while building than after. Hope that helps!
Sooo Cool! I wonder if there is a way to program it via NINA using the 'Switch' command???
Thanks Pat, I'm just starting to explore the possibilities of it all. I just ordered an arduino and relay shield and found some ASCOM drivers. I would love to be able to integrate with NINA. If you have any ideas I'm all ears!
@@JoesAstrophoto Pat, you can turn on and off outlets with the plug ins in NINA and IFTTT. Just need to figure out a way to have the roof motor automatically activate with power ON.
Joe you answer real fast when asked a question... I am trying NINA for the first time and wanted to take flats. It asked me to put in a directory but cant find on the program where to select it... I have SGP but want to try Nina
Thanks Steve, in NINA if you click on "Options" and then "Imaging" you should see an "Image file path". Here you can populate the path. For example, I have mine set to c:\NINA\ then right below that you have an "Image file pattern" and by clicking on the options below you can customize the way the files are written. I would make sure that you add at the beginning of the pattern "$$TARGETNAME$$" This will create new sub-folders, otherwise you do run the risk of overwriting files. I also include that in my NINA walkthrough video. That video was one of my first ones so it's probably a little dry lol. Hope that helps.
@@JoesAstrophoto Yea that helps , so you also put the flats there in a sub directory also darks in sub directories
@@JoesAstrophoto OK so I made directories and sub directories C:\NINA\Flats\LX200 but where in the NINA program on the flats page do you select the path.. ?
@@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer NINA will create the sub directories automatically based on the pattern string you created and the image file path. Let me know how it goes!
@@JoesAstrophoto oh ok have to try , weather sucks though , thx for getting back ,,, well let you know , may be a few days
Here comes the Sun, when the Fool on the Hill sees the Blackbird spinning around to s*** upon his shoulders… It’s all too much!…
Hahahaha, thanks Jean!
Hey Joe, NEW subscriber!!!!!
Can you tell me the name and make of the operator you purchased for the install?
A part number would be brilliant!!!!!
Tony Veroni CHS FSA
Thanks Tony I appreciate the support! The link is in the description of this video. But I'll add the link here as well. Thanks again! amzn.to/2SHzZKJ
Hey, You may have mentioned this in one of your previous video's. But how tall are your walls in your observatory and how tall is your pier from the floor to the top of the brake rotor adapter? Thanks
Hi J! My walls are 6’4” and pier is 36”, but what matters is that you setup yours so that you get the lowest horizon that you are good with. I set mine up for 20 degrees. Hope that helps.
@@JoesAstrophoto Great point! Your observatory is Awesome. I hope to achieve the same success in the future. I'm enjoying the video's and thank you for your quick reply.
Thanks so much J!
How the setup of arduino going ?
Hi Padraig, I’m almost done with the new video. I have it all working with my motor board, but there is another main board model that comes with lots of motors and I’m working with that now as well. I almost have it with the other model board. I didn’t want to release anything and then have it only work on half the motors out there.
Looking forward to it, I’ll hold off pulling the trigger arduino and kit.
Jealous!!!
Thanks Greg! Hopefully you can build an obsy and or automate it.