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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