New Mexico Dreamscope back online

lukas_demetz

Hi all,

finally, weather has been accepptable for some testing in New Mexico.
The Dreamscope has been upgraded with new Chroma filters (yay!), and the whole system is now using the latest iteration of Voyager, the control software we are already using on the FSQ106 in Namibia, and which we plan to use on all systems in the medium term.

So... Enjoy it 🙂 Even the previews look nicer now 🙂

lukas_demetz

In case you wonder, the software that we are using now, Voyager, is this here:

https://software.starkeeper.it/

We still need to optimize some stuff here and there, to reduce some overhead when starting guiding and other "details", but I am really, really impressed. We compared our options (which, to be honest, were not many). DC3 ACP would suit our needs, but has been proved to be unstable (which personally I attribute mostly to it's inherent need of MaximDL for imaging and especially guiding). Other software solutions do not implement any sort of scheduler, so were dismissed as well.

Leonardo, the owner and programmer of Voyager, proved to be extremely helpful in not only setting up the system, but also aiding in the programming of our interface. Sometimes he added a function that we asked for within a few hours. 😃 I am really glad we found him and his software, and I am looking forward to collaborate in the future with him.

As for the next steps, we will gradually transit to use Voyager on all of our systems. We saw that some minor issues may appear so the plan is to switch one system per month (roughly). The next will be the RC360 in Namibia, and afterwards one-by-one the remaining.

Best regards
Lukas

lukas_demetz

We seem to have an issue with the camera, which has been sent now to FLI for servicing. There is a small region on the chip creating odd, wave-shaped artifacts.

fernandoyang

lukas_demetz Fingers crossed.

SkG

Any update on how long the repair is expected to take?

lukas_demetz

Yes.
Look at this:

We took off and inspect the camera and found that the brand new Chroma red filter was starting to flake off around the edges and the flakes were floating around the filter wheel. We cleaned them out and put the camera back with our red baader. We need to send the red Chroma back for replacement. We are thinking it was a reflection as if it was frost, the stars wouldn’t be as sharp as they are and the anomalies shifts in the frame when the scope moves to another target.

So fingers crossed, it might go back into production shortly

SkG

That's a new one! Who would have thought that would happen. But it makes sense. I'm ready to use it again when they are.

lukas_demetz

We will probably switch back to the "old" Baader filters in the meantime. Odd, indeed, especially if you look at the price tag

lukas_demetz

Ok, swapped in the Baader filters and now it is working again 🙂
Phew