BajaNomad

observatory finished!

astrobaja - 1-18-2011 at 12:16 PM

Just an FYI that the observatory is 95% finished. Still have to hook up power to the house but for now the roof can be motored on and off via generator. So for those brave enough to venture in our road we are pretty much open!

obs1.jpg - 35kB

DENNIS - 1-18-2011 at 12:28 PM

Congrats, Mike. How is the road?

David K - 1-18-2011 at 12:28 PM

Cool.. How about some picks of that big scope?

mtgoat666 - 1-18-2011 at 12:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
Just an FYI that the observatory is 95% finished. Still have to hook up power to the house but for now the roof can be motored on and off via generator. So for those brave enough to venture in our road we are pretty much open!


cool!

tell us about the telescope -- looks like a monster.

my star gazing is mostly limited to binoculars while camping,... can any guest at your place get a peak at the heavens?

tripledigitken - 1-18-2011 at 12:45 PM

Congrats, the telescope/enclosure looks great. Very nice construction on the carport/shade structure/barn.

Will you be able to post pictures from the telescope????


Ken

DianaT - 1-18-2011 at 12:49 PM

Your website is VERY good and quite complete---love your last rule on the pet policy. :biggrin:
[url=Your website is VERY good and quite complete---love your last rule on the pet policy. :biggring: I also hope you will be able to post photos with the telescope.]Astrobaja's Beautiful Place[/url]

I also hope you can post photos from your telescope!

Diana

[Edited on 1-18-2011 by DianaT]

BajaGringo - 1-18-2011 at 01:16 PM

Congratulations Mike!!!

We'll have to make some plans to get back up there - soon!

astrobaja - 1-18-2011 at 02:30 PM

Thanks everybody! The 30" scope has been living in the horse trailer for almost 2 years now so it will be great to enjoy it once again!

This type of a design is called a truss tube dobsonian, capable of tracking but mainly just for visual use. I do take pictures of the moon and planets for longer exposures the drive is simply not accurate enough. This is the company that makes the scope:
http://www.starmastertelescopes.com/

Certainly anyone staying here will be able to book time with me and the scopes for a tour of some well known deep sky objects as well as planets when visible.

Heres a website with some of my better pics:

http://equuleus.pooki.net/index.html

I take these pics with a type of high speed B&W video camera, then via software I pick the sharpest individual frames out of a sequence and enhance them via photoshop CS.

The road in is passable with 2WD but in low gear and slow, some upgrades the tires might spin a bit but its certainly doable ;>;)

astrobaja - 1-18-2011 at 02:35 PM

I'm sure some of you would want to see what sort of images amatuers do these days with modern CCD cameras so heres the website with the creme de creme of images. Keep in mind the CCD cameras alone run up to and beyond $10, 000 and the scopes used can be up to $20 -30 K!
Imaging can be a VERY expensive hobby and often data can take consecutive evenings for just one image! I don't have the patience for that:spingrin:

http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/gallery/index.html

David K - 1-18-2011 at 05:00 PM

I just love this stuff! I had a telescope when I was 10 and enjoyed astronomy ever since... Still have that scope too... in a big wooden case... it needs s tune up I think!

Here are three of Astrobaja's photos of the next three planets out...










Awesome!

mcfez - 1-18-2011 at 07:46 PM

Wait a minute! I saw you write about this somewhere, and I was reading where you were constructing this station. A year or two ago. Where did I read about this?


BTW....this is soooooooo cool of a project dude.
Superior achievement.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 12:17 AM

Isn't it?!!

Baja Angel just looked at the photos and then the web site and is already planning a family trip for when I am making money again!

capt. mike - 1-19-2011 at 07:14 AM

is there going to be a dome over the telescope bldg?

very impressive i hope to track in there one day.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 10:28 AM

The roof is done Mike, it slides off to one side... as seen in the photo.

astrobaja - 1-19-2011 at 10:35 AM

Yes David thats right, its actually a much simpler design to build plus you get to see the whole sky not just a section. Domes are very expensive to build!

BTW vis a vis your old scope if you want to get it looked at and perhaps refurbished (if its worthwhile) I'd highly recommend Oceanside Photo and Telescope its one of the best stores in the USA.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 10:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
Yes David thats right, its actually a much simpler design to build plus you get to see the whole sky not just a section. Domes are very expensive to build!

BTW vis a vis your old scope if you want to get it looked at and perhaps refurbished (if its worthwhile) I'd highly recommend Oceanside Photo and Telescope its one of the best stores in the USA.


Thanks Mike!
As for OP&T:
Yah, I dropped off my last camera after it broke to get an estimate (they send it out)... it wasn't fixable (they said), sold me a new one, but when I asked for my old one back 'they lost it'... after three times back when they said to return and they would have it, I stopped trying.

Oh well, the new Canon they sold me works well.

astrobaja - 1-19-2011 at 10:45 AM

Hmmm thats not a good story about OPT! Kinda sad these days that all places want to do is sell you "a new one" instead of trying harder to fix what you have!

David K - 1-19-2011 at 11:06 AM

I live about 5 miles east of their store, just off the same street (Mission)!

Mexitron - 1-19-2011 at 12:13 PM

Looks great astrobaja! Can't wait to visit.

sanquintinsince73 - 1-19-2011 at 01:06 PM

Really spectacular photos.