Al Bustan 
Observatory

 

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Observatory Design
Construction-Base
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PC Network

 

The scope is permanently connected to a desktop computer, located inside the observatory, running under Windows XP environment.

The computer monitor and keyboard are mounted on an adjustable stand fixed against one of the observatory base studs.

The software I use mostly in this computer is:

  • The Sky Astronomy (for planetarium purposes)

  • DSLR Focus (to control a Canon EOS 300d digital camera)

  • K3CCDTools (to acquire and process webcam images and to control the guide scope)

The observatory PC is provided with a Centronics wireless card to communicate with a remote computer, located inside the house 40 meters away, via a Linksys Wireless-G ADSL Gateway for Internet and LAN communication.

A normal observation session starts inside the observatory powering up the telescope, setting up the camera, manually opening the shutter and turning the dome to the desired position. Once all adjustments are made and the session starts I move to inside the house and initiate the remote monitoring and control from my home computer. Periodic hourly visits to the observatory are required  to adjust the dome or to aim a different object outside the current shutter range.

Remote control is achieved by running Windows Remote Desktop Connection. I can run remotely all observatory computer applications as if I was sitting at its console. This includes full telescope control and focus adjustment.

The post processing of the images is done in my home computer using ImagesPlus, Photoshop CS, K3CCDTools and Registax.

 

 

 

     

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This site was last updated 2019-02-18                                                                                                  Site created and maintained by Jorge Lázaro