Orion Ranch Observatory Blog

Ok, I just finally upgraded to the latest version of the Gallery 3 software. So far things look normal on the gallery pages, but please let me know if you see something that doesn’t look like it should.

Thanks,

Michael

So a few weeks ago I added one of the last finishing touches to the observatory, adding my new faux wood blinds.  I had to get some replacement parts to install the valance correctly.  Here’s the final result.

So in the process of developing custom automation for all of the components in the observatory, I’ve built the first of several focus motors using a 3-D printer I bought last October (and finally received in February!). The control uses an Arduino Nano to give me USB serial interface to it, with a cheap 5V stepper motor and driver (under $15 total off eBay). I designed and printed the gears and housing using my Robo 3-D printer. The whole assembly is designed to interface to the slow focus knob on my FeatherTouch focuser. I developed the firmware to have full variable speed control with variable acceleration and precision targeting. With the gearing ratios involved, I can position much more accurately than the scope will actually ever resolve to. Currently I only have a simple manual control program for the PC, but I’ll eventually finish writing the ASCOM driver for it as well. Enjoy!

Printing the base of the focus motor assembly on my new Robo 3-D printer.

Finished bottom of the housing that will hold the control PCBs for the focus motor. Not perfect, but good enough!

Printing the enclosure top and motor mount for the focus motor assembly.

Finished motor mount lid.

Various views of the combined top and base of the focus motor housing.

The internal grid was printed at a very low density, but the exterior layers didn’t do a good job of hiding it.

An Arduino Nano control board (blue) provides USB control of a stepper motor driver board (green) that then drives a 5V stepper motor. A power inlet allows running the motor off of a 12V supply for higher impulse current allowing the motor to run considerably faster with higher torque.

Installing the cover on the base. The parts are then heat welded together to create a solid assembly.

The focus motor mounts using two of the three screws on the Celestron focuser and uses two printed gears to drive the fine (10x) focus knob on a FeatherTouch focuser.

I’m proud to announce the completion of the new Orion Ranch Observatory logo. I think this captures the spirit of the observatory and its history, as well as my memories as a child looking up at one of the most easily identifiable constellations. Look for this to start appearing throughout the website as time goes on.

Orion Ranch Observatory Logo

I was always a science nerd growing up, and even though my physics R&D lab in grad school was on the same floor as the astronomy department, I never even had time to take an astronomy class in college! Years later my wife and I are walking through Fry’s and see a cheap little Celestron telescope on clearance for $10. We decide to buy it and said if we ever used it, we’d buy something better. It sat in the foyer for a year or two and one summer evening we’re looking up from the pool and wondering what that bright star is overhead. I said, “Well, we have a telescope; let’s find out.” After fiddling and fiddling with it, I managed to get a great view of Jupiter. However, by the time my wife could look, it was moving out of field. So her response was, “That’s it! We’re buying a better telescope tomorrow!” Thus began a saga starting with a NexStar 8se, and ending up with the recent completion of Orion Ranch Observatory! You can see both the observatory and the culprit that started it all here at www.orionranchobservatory.com.

So I finally took the time to piece together close to a year of time lapse video and create a short construction video of the entire build. I’ve posted the two minute long, 1800X version, and will post a slower 20 minute version later. That one contains the full number of frames but at 6X the speed of the five frame per second version as shot.

Well, close enough! There’s still going to be various touch ups, and plenty of work to do to get things automated to the level I want, not to mention pouring some porches sometime this summer and finishing landscaping, but for the most part the interior is complete, and it’s time to enjoy the results! Of course as I worked to complete everything over the last few months, I brought the “Astronomy Curse” to new heights, with nothing but clouds and no rain for the past three months! ARGH!

Michael

So I’m way behind on keeping up with posts here.  One of the things that I was working on in parallel with the construction of the observatory was a set of custom artwork for adorning my ceiling fan blades to make a custom astronomy ceiling fan.  I’d already picked out the fan and obtained matching custom pulls.  Here’s the completed design.  If you’d like one of your very own, drop me a line here with your contact information and let me know if you’re interested in a complete fan or just the overlays so that you can adorn your own fan.

Michael

Various other custom Orion Ranch Observatory memorabilia are also available:

I’ve had the weather station for a while, but now that I have a relatively reliable permanent internet connection to the observatory, and a server that seems to be running stable, I’ve added web pages for the weather station to the website. You can find them at http://weather.orionranchobservatory.com, or just use the menu link above.  The web interface isn’t rock solid yet, so the updates go down on occasion, but I’ll work on that. Thanks for visiting!

So I haven’t had time to post anything lately, but I’ve been busy with work on the observatory.  I’ve brought everything up to date so there’s lots to look at over on the gallery pages.  I managed to get the last panel of the standing seam roof installed on Sunday right as it started trying to rain on me, so I closed up the observatory until next weekend.  The final step is to add all of the ridge caps, but given that the top ridge will be vented, I can’t do that when there’s chance of rain!

It’s starting to look a lot like the reference image!

I also managed to finally get back and do a bit of astrophotography last month with a pretty decent Trifid Nebula and an acceptable Swan, although in some respects I think my previous attempt has some better detail.

And finally, with all the thunderstorms lately (and very little spotty rain) I thought I’d post some really cool lightning and storm shots. I managed to capture the moon, Venus, and a thunderstorm against the sunset.