Robotic Scope Enclosure with mesaurements

*The BAA Robotic Scope Project Page* *This page is a scrap book of the project. The project and this page are a work in progress. Please direct any comments to pproulx@adelphia.net.* *You are visitor #* If you would like to be a part of this project join our egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BAA_Robotic_Scope/ Your participation and help is welcomed! Last modified 3/25/2003
*Click on the picture for enlargement.......*
This is the first test image taken on the LX200 with new SBIG Camera. The next step is to take some images of a "Classic" object.	Inverted	Normal	The cluster is NGC-2420 it's a small open cluster in Gemini near the Eskimo Nebula. The image is composed of three 10 second exposures for a total integration of 30 seconds.	A quick analysis on it and found the following, field-of-view about 13 x 13 arc-minutes, 1.50 arc-seconds per pixel, and a limiting magnitude of about 14.0.
This is the camera setup for our initial testing with a telephoto lens.			This is the test photo we took to bench test the camera. The famous "Extension Cord" Nebula.
The final installation of the offset plate. (See below)			The scope installed and aligned. Week of 3/23/03.
Bill took the next two pictures the week of Dec. 14, 2002. The temp roof is handling the snow load well.			The caption on this picture was "Look Ma no snow inside". Bill noted however that there is a slight amount of snow in the far right hand corner. This seems to becoming from below. We need some caulk!
The pictures to the right show the temporary roof system for the robotic scope. This will be replaced with a special roll off roof next spring.
Work began on July 13, 2002.
Matt, Alan and Peter. The work begins!			Ted and Alan sitting down on the job!

			Is that an outhouse or an observatory?
Ta-da......	Rick, Peter and Frank at the end of the first phase!		Due North	Due south
A pier modification was need to accommodate for the required clearances for equipment. We thought we had all of the bases covered in the original building placement and design. Being a work in progress we also experimented with a new type of roll off roof.
This is the pier mod. We center the scope by angling the new plate to one side. There is a support that will be welded from the plate to the pier once we agree that the scope is positioned correctly.	This shows the scope is now centered North to South.		This shows that the scope is now centered East to West.	This is the "test" assembly for the casters. If this works we will mount the casters directly to the building when we build the real thing.
Another angle of the "Test" assembly.	Fabricated rails.		Ted the "Master" Welder installing the rail assembly.	View of final rail system.
First test. It works.	Closed.		Test #2 with 12/12 pitch roof installed.	Another angle.
Closed.	Front on view (closed).		This was put together to test this method of mounting and moving the roof. It works fairly well. We need to look at it together and decide if this is the way we move forward.
	North South image train clearance.		Eastern image train clearance.	Western image train clearance.
We ran into a few problems with our original design. The following pictures were used to develop a pier modification shown in previous pictures.
Clearance to the East	Dew Shield issue to the west		Due North	Due south
East without shield 9-3/4" clearance.	West without shield 6" clearance.		We will have a swing through limit north with the image train.	28" to the south wall
Image train 1' East	Image train 9" west		Image train limit at north end of building 3".	Modification or replacement of existing pier will most likely solve all issues.
Raising the pier the height of the OTA is one suggestion.	The OTA is currently set at the height of the walls (East)		The OTA is currently set at the height of the walls (West)	We may need to lower the top plate for image train clearance 10". I have an idea for this (Peter)