The Sky Shack – first heat
Comments(10)
It was 23 degrees (- 5 C) and getting colder, the sky was clear for the most part; a good night to try out the new sky shack. I went out early, set the scope up and got all the other parts and pieces of equipment into place. About 5 pm it was dark enough so I turned on the heater and did an alignment. The alignment didn’t go so well, entirely my fault, I knew it, but went with it any way and paid the price later. The alignment may have gone better but I my mind was on the heater. I was anxious to see how well it would work. I had set it to low figuring that would give me the best representation of what it could do. I knew it was working when the window in the shack started to fog up. I walked back into the shack and WOW, it was working great.
I got the computer and started it. I didn’t get any images really, but did quite a bit of looking around. To be truthful the lack of images wasn’t for lack of trying. The poor alignment wouldn’t allow the scope to track, heck it wouldn’t even find the objects properly. Like I said earlier, I knew better but went with it.
So after a quite a while of messing around I decided to re-align. This time I was more careful and had it nailed. Just the way it was supposed to be, pick a target and go, the scope was dead on. Perfect. About that time, since it was outside the entire time, the Autostar hand controller decided it had enough of the cold. The hand controllers are known for having a poor temperament when it comes to cold. I was hoping that using the computer to control the scope, it wouldn’t matter if the hand controller didn’t function properly – wrong. The controller was not accepting any commands by me and was preoccupied with turning the scope in a slow circle. So I turned off the scope and looked around a bit more.
I did check out the Orion Nebula and it was outstanding! Next time out it will be my top priority. I also tried out my new OIII filter on it, a big difference, thanks to Andrew at Above the Clouds for that! I can’t wait until I can get out again.
So, the sky shack is a smashing success. I could have sat in there without a jacket and been quite comfy. The window fogging up should be easy to fix, I’ll try wiping it down with mentholated shaving cream, that works quite well on bathroom mirrors (I have no idea why. but it does). If that doesn’t work I will resort to paper towels as I did tonight. The computer screen was quite easy to see though so I sized the window just right.
As far as the hand controller goes, hey I took a chance. I think I can get a longer cable that attaches it to the scope. Long enough in fact to feed it through the shack wall and still have enough to take it back out to the scope if need be. More often than not that’s where I need it, but when not in use it can be inside nice and warm. Another five dollars down the tubes.
All and all I am satisfied.
Glad to hear that the sky shack heater works well.I needed somthing like that last night myself.Brrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
After some testing today, I WILL have the cure for the Autostar this weekend. No hurry though, bad weather for the next week.
I rubberband a hunter’s handwarmer to the back side of my LX 200 controller to keep it from getting too cold. It throws just enough heat to keep the LCD and buttons working, in my case @ 15 deg F. It works good on the eyepiece holders – keeps them clear.
Clear skies!
sounds like a start to a great setup. try rigging a muffin fan to blow air across the window. kinda like the defrost in your car.
I wish I had a sky shack!
I really love space and such, Nice blog man, Keep it up
> try rigging a muffin fan to blow air across the window
Hmmmmm, I think I just happen to have one too, good idea thanks.
If my other idea doesn’t pan out, the handwarmer one will get tried out too.
All you need is a small refrigerator& a microwave and you could call that your next home without tax.Tom,do you happen to have the plans for the “Sky Shack”?If you do & want to share them put a link or something for them.
I don’t have plans on paper but could do that. It might take a little while but I’ll see what I can do.
air movement will help with the condensation on the window. It doesn’t need to be heated, just put a small fan near the window and move it. evaporation comes to mind on the menthol, It evaporates and carries the moisture away with it, for a while, maybe. O K, maybe that’s a bad guess, but at least I offered one. Anyhow, great job, you’re off to a good start. Oh yeah, don’t breath on anything.