Rigging a fully automated, remote ready telescope

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All products mentioned in this video
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❤️ Patreon ❤️
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Contents
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0:00 What is this and who is it for?
2:08 Mount
5:05 Power strip
7:12 Telescope
12:00 Mini PC
13:00 Powerbox
14:14 Rotator
18:16 Focuser
24:57 Squarespace (sponsor)
25:49 Image train
28:00 Powerbox
28:57 Flat panel
32:35 Cabling
38:27 Next week
38:38 Patreon (credits)

This video is sponsored by Squarespace.

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Channel Disclosures
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[StarPicturesMiami]

I don’t have a rig like that but seeing all those different components, looks like it would require a lot of support. I have a Seestar S 50 set up at Starfront with a Mac mini, M2. And have had very little to no problems. Only one cable hanging off the Seestar.

[NikonJax]

Nico you are one of the best "explainers" out there. Detailed enough to be able to replicate without putting me to sleep watching you unbox and put screws in...etc :) Love your videos! It was great meeting you at Neaf :)

[philipfontaine]

Good video. I’m really glad you chose the ioptron gem45, because I have the cem40. And when I first started, I was lost in space with the tech, and really not even familiar with a laptop either. I am now, yrs. later, able to operate it with the hand held device. But most of the time it sits under a plastic cover and gets little use. Astrophotography is still a goal and I also have a Sony A7ii camera ready to go. I hope I’m not too far behind for your channels current curriculum.

[AbdallahAdeeb]

any clue for approximate total cost ?, thanks for the great video

[StuartAnderton]

22:43 Why not just turn the focuser knob to get the flat bit of the focuser aligned?

[terrizittritsch]

Interesting video.. while we don’t use the same scope or mount, I found many of the same products for my observatory such as the digital loggers AC controlled supply, the Pegasus power box, and you’re the only other person I know who’s purchased the wander Astro light panel. I met Dan at NEAF and was attracted to the light panel due to the price as well. I simply could not put down $1000 for one of the other options.

[gregerianne]

This was a terrific video, Nico, and I really liked that you used equipment from all different manufacturers and really focused on more economical solutions. I've haven't done this and I don't have any telescopes in remote locations so forgive me if this is a naive question, but would you also have to think about dew heaters and perhaps thermistors to control it/them? I know in the winter (in VT) I have dew heaters all over the place, even around my autofocuser, guide cam, and even my ASIAir, but I set the heat settings manually before I start my sessions. I wonder, too, if all remote telescope locations (and there seem to be more popping up every day) are created equally, and what sorts of things to look for prior to selecting one to host your telescope(s).

[astrotimber]

Instead of connecting the focus cube to power why don't you just rotate the focus knob on the other side of the telescope? I don't think the rotator will move, my PegasusAstro Falcon is stationary while the filter wheel rotates which in turn rotates the camera.

[Prometey]

Celestron CGX has home position sensor and it was life-saver for very long time.

[bartekchlewicku]

To be sure how cable is moving try to use cable chain tracker. For example IGUS produce very small sizes (e2 Mico or easy chain). There are alson cheapee version on internet but they can stack so you need to move them before instal.

[TheKokanut]

This is really cool but a you break the costs down if you did not already ? Thanks

[smassky]

Neat! Ive got my rig mostly fully automated. But i have to stay near it in case of weather. I do need a second camera to keep an eye on it in case i need to put it in a specific position to align though. And of course to put the solar filter on when i image the sun.

Id like to be able to add flaps to be able to switch between solar filter, dust cover, or light panel, but that may be a bit much for my little scope lol.

When the weather is nice forndays at a time though I just leave everything out, and have to do minimal work to get aligned again.

[mpk]

Hi Nico, there were a few places where I got a little First off, the new losmandy dovetail is pointing in the wrong direction if you want correct balance. You therefore might need risers for the tube tings.🤔 (Ok, just saw your remote installation in the latest video. I guess the scope was not badly back heavy) Secondly, to attach the focuser you should not need to connect the pc. Just screw the tube a little out, put the notch in the correct position and when everything is connected you set the limits in the software. No need to over complicate things.

[rawhead]

A bit late to the game but just wanted to ask if you've not had issues with heat dissipation of the NUC clone. I have three Mele Quieters but because they are fanless and run quite hot, my 3D printed bracket leaves a space between the bracket and the computer. I also attached a heatsink on the other (corrugated) side.

[kuykutz]

Did you get an Internet Rebooter as well? Sometimes the internest at our site goes out and it would mean going there to reboot so i bought a Router rebooter and it has saved me hours of travel and worked every time the internet went out

[astroapostle]

How do you determine when to use extension tubes when adding a camera?

[kennethjackson]

When installing the focuser, is there a reason you powered it on and advanced the motor to align with the knob rather than just turning the back manual focus knob until IT aligned with the focuser?

[Pandamexic]

During the focuser section you said that you need to spin the shaft on the focuser until it lines up. But why didn't you just spin the focuser until it lined up with the shaft instead?

[atopper]

Hi Nico, What kind of filters did you go with? Can we use wider band filters in darker skies?

[Youtuber-kunk]

I didn’t understand your reasoning for not choosing AM5. You basically said it was because you already have one at home.
I would have expected you would chose from better tracking or something like that.