7 replies to this topic

[dash220]

Hey guys, and I am so sorry for making you read this!

 

I have been in love with astronomy for the past couple of years and I am currently running in a science exhibition competition about "Robotics", So I am thinking to make an 8inch dob telescope which is automatic (just so i can run in the competition). Keep in mind I have no knowledge about programing Arduino and raspberry pi and all the motors and stuff, I am a beginner in Python and I learn things very quickly

 

So can you guys please help me out with some resources or "Plans" regarding the build? It would really mean a lot. I have 1 month to make it and my entire neighborhood is counting on me.

 

(You can wish to ignore the following text as it is regarding why I chose this specific project)

 

Astronomy is something I really really love and I want to be a physicist someday, so I thought this is the perfect opportunity to get a head start into learning about the things which go behind it! I also think that astronomy is the only field where I am the most flexible and comfortable with so I can present my speech about it perfectly.

[BlueMoon]

 

So can you guys please help me out with some resources or "Plans" regarding the build? It would really mean a lot. I have 1 month to make it and my entire neighborhood is counting on me.

Google: "DIY computerized goto mount" Plenty of resources and information.

Another link on Cloudy Nights: https://www.cloudyni...goto-telescope/

 

 

Keep in mind I have no knowledge about programing Arduino and raspberry pi and all the motors and stuff, I am a beginner in Python and I learn things very quickly

You've bitten off a lot to accomplish in a month's time. Good luck with your endeavors. Cheers.

Edited by BlueMoon, 13 April 2024 - 12:26 PM.

[rblackadar]

If you find that project too big, maybe a good fallback could be to build a motorized focuser for the scope.

[Dale Eason]

Most people would not be able to build a telescope in one month unless they already have the optics and have done it before.  Good luck.  

[HenkSB]

Your best bet for a cheap solution is OnStep.  You will have to create mechanical Alt and Az controls and buy electronics that supports OnStep.  Check the OnStep IO group.  BTW I don't know what you mean by automatic", I presume it is goto.  For any higher-level functionality like plate solving, you need Nina or Ekos.  There are systems where all you have to do is turn it and it will align itself.  That is what I would call automatic.

[geovermont]

I applaud your ambition, but I think this is way too big a project to tackle in one month, especially as you probably have other school work to tend to as well. You can do it, it will just take a very long time. I'm sure that you could quickly settle on some basic design for a non-computerized scope, buy the parts, and sort of get a working scope assembled in time. However, it would be a rush job and would probably be hard to computerize later on. Also, this is a robotics competition, so that's a no-go.

 

Why not break this big project down into a set of realistic steps and proceed to tackle one of them and do it very well--perhaps research the basic software needed to drive the axes on an altazimuth telescope (up-down, left-right) and convert those motions into the motion needed to follow the stars (rotation around a polar axis at appropriate rate). That is a big task by itself. Present the whole project of the computerized scope, but show that you have a realistic grasp of what you are undertaking. If I were a judge I would be quite impressed with someone who took that difficult task on and solved it (and showed a deep understanding of the code that made it work).

 

God luck however you proceed!

Edited by geovermont, 13 April 2024 - 05:53 PM.

[impreza276]

You can use one of Chad Grey's Onstep kits https://graydigitala...ory/onstep-pcb/

[gordtulloch]

Hey guys, and I am so sorry for making you read this!

 

I have been in love with astronomy for the past couple of years and I am currently running in a science exhibition competition about "Robotics", So I am thinking to make an 8inch dob telescope which is automatic (just so i can run in the competition). Keep in mind I have no knowledge about programing Arduino and raspberry pi and all the motors and stuff, I am a beginner in Python and I learn things very quickly

 

So can you guys please help me out with some resources or "Plans" regarding the build? It would really mean a lot. I have 1 month to make it and my entire neighborhood is counting on me.

 

(You can wish to ignore the following text as it is regarding why I chose this specific project)

 

Astronomy is something I really really love and I want to be a physicist someday, so I thought this is the perfect opportunity to get a head start into learning about the things which go behind it! I also think that astronomy is the only field where I am the most flexible and comfortable with so I can present my speech about it perfectly.

I would, for the purposes of your project, not be too worried about the functionality of the telescope, but rather show them how to automate a telescope:

 

1. Build a simple tube on a model dob mount (no optics) - I'm thinking paper towel tube scale.

2. Connect a motor directly to either axis, easiest are probably 28BYJ-48 motors and ULN2003 controllers

3. Get an ESP32 microcontroller to run the show and install microPython on it

4. Use online resources like this video to show you how to make the motors move

5. On reset of the ESP32 have the "telescope" run through a sample slew from home position to somewhere interesting (maybe put a laser pointer in the tube and have an image of a galaxy in your display to demonstrate you're aimed at the galaxy), then return to home position.

 

This seems achievable in the short timeframe you've got til your event. Good luck!