Steve G0LFP 21st April 2009

Prototype now working on the mount, without the OTA or balance on it! Haven't been able to give it much time tonight, but tomorrow I intend to fly it properly and see how the software behaves. Watch this space as they say. (Who are 'they'?)

Geoff the astro guy, has offered me a new controller. Very kind of him, but I think mine's better :-O I'm using an ATMega644 so I have loads of code space. Just need some toys to fill it with. Answers on a £20 to me @ QTHR.

Steve G0LFP 20th April 2009

Motor refuses to drive my mount, and it looks like the controller has expired already.

I've emailed the vendor, and await his response with interest. I have already got something working on the bench, an AVR, some FETS and a little single line LCD display. I might just have to have a flashing LED just for good measure. I've taken a good look inside the bought one, and it's based on a little 16C PIC.

Steve G0LFP 18th April 2009

Motor Arrived this morning. Well done Royal Mail, not bad service for 2nd class parcel post! It appears to run backwards for my mount, but I can live with that.

Steve G0LFP 16th April 2009

I've ordered a motor and controller to fit on the RA.

Steve G0LFP 5th April 2009

Nice clear night last night, so having had another go at proper alignment of the secondary, the view was sharper and clearer than it had been. I still need to get a proper collimator to do a 'proper' job.

Steve G0LFP 4th April 2009

Counterbalance now fitted. Though maybe a little on the light side, I'll extend the rod that it lives on to give it better stablility.

Steve G0LFP 29th March 2009

The missing counterbalance weight is under way. Today I delivered a CAD drawing of the missing article to my 'man who can'. It's a lump of round stainless steel at the moment. I'm also thinking ahead a little to how I'm going to drive the scope. I've taken some photos of the mount and added them to the gallery. If anyone recognises this mount, please let me know what it is, and if a motor kit is still available for it. If not, I'll just have to get something made! It should be fairly easy to come up with something to drive the RA.

Steve G0LFP 26th March 2009

Another cloudy night! Hopefully I'll know soon whether I've managed to sort out the missing counterweight problem. There was also a missing screw in one of the starfinder rings. This wasn't as easy to replace as I expected. For some strange reason it wasn't a standard metric thread. It looked like an M3 but it was an odd pitch. Now sorted. Tripod section of the mount now has chain to stop the legs from collapsing, no need to be quite so careful moving it now. The camera mount has also arrived, and is fitted to the front of the cheap webcam. I'm considering my options for a CCD cam, and think that maybe a trip to PC World is in order tomorrow to see what they have in with a CCD rather than CMOS. (without breaking the bank!)

Steve G0LFP 22nd March 2009

Added a photo of me refitting the star finder. You can see the size of the thing compared to my 5'10" frame.

Steve G0LFP 21st March 2009

Well... One very happy little G0LFP is now the proud owner of said Orion. It's bigger than it looks in the photo's, I think you can imagine the look on the XYL's face ;-)

Of course, tonight is the first cloudy night in a week isn't it???

Steve G0LFP 20th March 2009

I've agreed the price on an Orion Europa 10". I'm going to take a look at it tomorrow, and depending on its condition, it should be coming home.

Pics of it are added to the gallery.

Steve G0LFP 19th March 2009

The gallery link leads to a collection of first attempts at astrophotography. The photos are made up of stacked images from an AVI caught using a £7 webcam, IRIS and Registax.

You can tell the early ones. they appear flat and lack any detail. Later ones have some detail, but the overall finish is disappointing. This is mainly due to two things, my lack of experience, and the cheapness of the camera.

You can see which were the earliest attempts ;-) It was hard to try and focus the thing, but I'm hoping that when the camera mount arrives, things should improve greatly.

Currently I'm on a borrowed 'scope, a Celestron 114/910 (thanks Robin) until I get one of my own. Then of course I'll get a decent camera to use.

As part of buying my own 'scope, I've had to learn quite a bit, far more than I thought I would. Links to useful info are are the left. If you're reading this and thinking of buying a 'scope.. ...keep reading!

I'll be adding to this mini site as time goes by. Check back soon.

73,

Steve