Contains:  Gear
October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray

October Solar Eclipse Rig

Revision title: Day of the October 14th Solar Eclipse. McAlester, Oklahoma

October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray

October Solar Eclipse Rig

Revision title: Day of the October 14th Solar Eclipse. McAlester, Oklahoma

Description

******UPDATE*****

The last few pics are the actual equipment that made the trip. I setup on the FAA parking lot next to the McAlester, OK, USA airport. 
A 5G cellular Hot Spot is connected to a router (can be seen on the curb next to the Generator). This provided network and internet services to all computers.
The Samyang 135mm F2 rig was on an Orion Sirius GEM mounting with an ASI533mmPro with an UR/IR 2" filter in the filter drawer. A Spectrum Telescope Glass Solar filter.
The Skywatcher 100ED with reducer/flattener and an ASI533mcPro with an UV/IR 2" filter in the filter drawer.
The Skywatcher 72ED had an ASI1600mmPro with an UV/IR 2" filter in the filter drawer.

I had added a 1TB SSD hard drive to both of the NUC's connected to the Refractors. I was concerned about the amount of data generated. Glad I did. I didn't need much this October but anticipate  much more data generated in April for the Total Solar Eclipse.

SharpCap 4.0 was used to capture the 50frame videos on all three cameras.

Everything was controlled by my Laptop via Windows Remote Desktop via the network.
I setup both mountings about 4am with a Polemaster.
Added the OTA's and balanced after sunrise.
I manually got each mount on the sun. Told Green Swamp to start tracking. I launch Sky Charts and performed a sync on the Sun. All mounting fine control was done within SharpCap. Green Swamp did the meridian flip and put the Sun on the sensor in each rig. Overall I was very happy how everything performed. I am looking forward to April!

********


Rig for October Solar Eclipse.

This is a rig I have cobbled together to image the October Solar Eclipse. This Annular Solar eclipse will only be a partial eclipse visible from my home in Missouri, USA. I will travel (if needed) to reach clear skies, or closer to the centerline.so I want to travel with just a single mounting if I can not view it from home.

The Rig.

Spectrum Glass Solar filters from Ageana Astro on both OTA's
Skywatcher 100ED with 3" FT focuser and motor
Skywatcher 100ED reducer / flattener
ASI533mmPro with a UV/IR Cut filter

Skywatcher 72ED
EAF
ASI2600mmPro with a UV/IR Cut filter

Skywatcher EQ6R-Pro Mounting with Side by Side Saddle plate. ADM 2 axis adjuster on one side (72ED) to aid in OTA alignment. I am not doing side by side DSI, just OTA alignment to do lucky imaging with 2 cameras... I do have an after market CW shaft as this requires 3 weights to balance out.

I also wrapped to OTA's in Emergency Mylar Blankets to help keep the Sun and heat off of them. They both have the dark paint job found on the Skywatcher ED's and I was concerned about having them outside for an extended time during the day. I also added a lightweight sun shade to the front of each OTA to help keep everything downstream cool or at least ambient temp.

Each OTA is wired with the focuser connected to the camera's hub and a USB3.0 cable from  the camera to a USB3.0 hub. A single USB3.0 cable is connected from the hub to a NUC mounted on the tripod's leg. Power is also run to the OTA's and split for each camera. A USB 2.0 cable goes from the NUC to the mounting.

Software.

Green Swamp (EQMOD) for the mounting, I am able to run 2 instances of SharpCap 4.0 on the single NUC, one for each camera. Both instances of SharpCap can connect to Green Swamp and control the mounting. I have two different focus motors so I don't have any confusion because I am not running two EAF's. I have a polar aligned mounting with a Pole Master from the night before. Then, when ready to use. Start the tracking with Green Swamp. Loosen the mounting clutches and get on the Sun. Tighten the clutches and bump the mounting when recentering is needed with Green Swamp or a SharpCap instance. I connect with Microsoft Remote Desktop to the NUC. The NUC is a Quad Core i5, 16GB Ram 512GB SSD with a internal 2TB SSD added for this and April's eclipse....

Comments

Revisions

  • October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    Original
  • October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    B
  • October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    C
  • October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    D
  • October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    E
  • Final
    October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray
    F

D

Title: The October 2024 Solar Eclipse McAlester, OK

Description: This is the setup that actually made the trip to Oklahoma.

Uploaded: ...

F

Title: Day of the October 14th Solar Eclipse. McAlester, Oklahoma

Uploaded: ...

Histogram

October Solar Eclipse Rig, Tim Ray