Perfect timing, been wondering if getting an observatory would be a pain to assemble from star to finish, will be following your series and learn along the way!
I have a Nexdome with full automation. I used to use a CGX but now I use a paramount. But for automation I use TheSkyX with the add ins for camera and dome. The automation program Voyager is fantastic and is much better than any other I’ve tried. Main reason is Voyager works very well with TheSkyX and their X2 drivers. I’ve had loads of problems with ASCOM being too flaky to trust with my gear. The X2 drivers have been rock solid. Also, I have the Nexdome hard wired to an AAG cloudwatcher to close even if the PC locks up. It’s a great lifeline and cheaper then Nexdome rain sensor. Works the same but also provides other conditions to close the dome, cloud, too bright, windy. Nexdome has been great on customer service with me. Best of luck!
Also, the ascom flakiness was with other programs. Voyager uses ascom like a boss and works well. I had trouble with SGP, Prism, and CCD Commander. Voyager is fair priced and does better imho
Must be heart wrenching and exciting also. Getting rid of something that worked! And now replacing it with something more complicated that will take a little time to work as you want it to!!! Good luck and please sort out the power cable. Get one of those hard rubber covers to go over it if you can't bury it in the ground. Safety first.
I've been miserable and frustrated before I had my Sky Shed POD and I've been miserable and frustrated after getting my Obs up. Miserable and frustrated WITH an (any!!) Obs is better! Best of luck with the successor. Great channel, learnt a lot.
Good on ya', mate! Sad to see it go, but hey!, more adventures to follow now that you're moving "up" in scale. Bug proof it this time if you can! Things just got a little tougher here in the Land of the Big Mall so I'll be staying in close touch here. USA will survive this!
Hey Dylan, here in the southeast of the US we have crazy humidity and temperature changes. This causes massive condensation buildup on mirrors etc. when the sun comes up and themps rise quickly. Do you have this same issue on your scopes that stay in the observatory? It causes any dust to quickly turn to dirt/mud on them! Thanks for the videos, I always look forward to them.
Lol.. I wonder who’s backyard the old unit ended up in!! For what it’s worth, automation is great. I’ve got a 6” dome, and it’s great kicking off and letting it go all night without intervention!
Dylan O'Donnell So Diego putting one in his backyard last week was a coincidence! Enjoy the automation journey. It’s annoying and fulfilling at the same time. Just like most of the hobby!
Please don't die , Dylan . You're my very favorite person on TH-cam . Also , I need you to help me perfect the guiding of my CGX . Enjoy your new observatory adventure 🙂
i have the nexdome "still havent installed it" but it is an amazing hardware and Babak has done a great job. with automation things will be much simpler
Hey Dylan How hot does it get in the dome during summer? The reason I’m asking is I recently setup a pier and I’m planning to leave mine out side in the shade with some dust proof cover. I live in India and summer is usually 36°C... Humidity is usually in the low to mid 40s...
It gets ridiculously hot here. It will (and has) damaged computers I leave in there. Dehumidifying and temperature control are getting more and more important.
Thanks for the info... I put a rolling roof over it and it helps keep it below 30°c at the hottest part of summer . I also put in some moisture control CaChloride bottle in a bag and seal it up tight with some Velcro ... I keep the scope inside and just leave the mount out without any wires... Cheers keep safe and Keep uploading👍🏼 Clear skies 🌌
I am glad to see that you are taking down the unsafe combination of Nexdome on top of a SkyShed base. In December 2019 I posted to Cloudy Nights the incident that occurred in Oklahoma City last year during a wind storm that was not taken seriously by the owner. When I learned about it my employment background and safety training helped me to see something that others would miss. I tried to help by pointing this out in what I thought was the premier forum for discussion under the title 'Nexdome on SkyShed POD not safe'. It is not, there is no way to fasten, to secure mechanically to a factor of safety. The maker of SkyShed never endorsed it. You know it is a non fit. People have done it for convenience, not for good sound reasons. I would copy the picture I posted but I will not, the video Mr. Compton posted proudly is long since pulled. My post is still there on CN but closed to comments. I was vilified and my heritage was questioned by several people, including vendors who might be leaning toward another vendor? Would spokespeople be biased as well? Are there monies involved in Cloudy Nights posts? Horrors. I tried to get hold of you at the time through your Canadian friend Trevor but he never responded to me, at all.
g`day dylan you should spray that mortein outdoor barrier stuff so the squatters don't move back in when you put up the new one looks like they cost you some gear damage cheers james D
Probably .. but the Nexdome walls are so much easier to work with, fit better, smoother rotation, better thermal footprint, better finish and UV protection. Just a better fit for my situation here in hot Australia.
Those pics were 4 yrs ago?? Wow they are amazing!!!😍❤️👍 You corrected yourself. 4:05 ......”And remember, everything is meaningless and we were all gonna die anyway..”😅🤣😂😂😂😂
I don't remember the videos before this observatory. I saw this was being built from ground up Good bye POD! Can't wait for what's coming! Clear Skies!
Sorry Dylan, that scope now belongs to the spider xD. Take care my man, it's going to take a while but we'll make it through this. The dinos went out with a bang, we deserve something at least on that level of badass lol.
Yeh he's back already .. thank god we got this done before the lockdown. Ants took over lots of camping equipment and a power tank. Bit scared to unpack the tent.
Most eastern Australian Observatory or 'just' most eastern on mainland Australia ? Did you know, Australia is 6 states, 3 mainland territories (NT, ACT & Jervis Bay) and 7 external territories. So no one has an observatory on Norfolk Island ? Or even a permanent setup that could be considered an observatory? I wonder? unfortunately, googling it did not give me any results.... Then I was wondering about Lord Howe Island, which is part of NSW but way more east than Byron Bay. Google search also failed to help with Lord Howe Island but I still wonder as people fail to understand what is Australia and how fare east we go (similar to NZ)
I just noticed you are not using a pier in the observatory? but apparently as you have stated a tripod must be fine since not having to do many polar alignments. Stay safe Dylan and family down there.
Dude can afford to take his observatory apart during precious observing conditions!!! Some people don't know how lucky they have it... Here in the UK i'm lucky to get 1 clear night in 20.. sigh.
You need a three-story observatory! Get over the houses, trees, etc. Use the top you have on it. Then, you can have the first floor as your heated and air-conditioned control room, the second floor as storage for your telescopes, and then the third floor to pier mount your CGX. That should work out well, right? :p Hey, at least you're out shooting stuff. I lost half my stuff and I have to rebuild most everything I've lost. :( Always enjoy watching your channel.
Ahhh, an adventure into the unknown with Dylan as we explore his backyard .... Dylan you have spiders down under? or is it your private collection you show us?
I am sure you were just kidding about everything being meaningless and we're all going to die anyway, but I am fairly new to your channel and I still have some catching up to do, so I don't know if you have expressed any kind of beliefs, or research into who and what we really are, if not a cosmic accident (or the butt of a cosmic joke). For me, that is the single most important reason I have owned telescopes for the last 40 years or so - to find proof for my bizarre theories of our origin and existence. That, and to just gaze at the beauty up there, and there is a whole lot of it as you well know with your well practiced abilities to document it in very cool images. Have fun & Cheers, Richard
The acknowledgment of your own mortality and your tiny place in the universe allows you to appreciate the present moment all the more, and the present is all you ever have. There's a certain duality of feeling small when looking out into a vast universe but also feeling the wonder of being able to appreciate it and be a part of it. The meaning is where you find it, and too often humans put it into things that don't amount to much.
Unreal. Hmmmm.....since you are starting all over again, why not add a vertical addition to the house? Then you'll never have to deal with scope-separation anxiety again. You can even add two additional bedrooms one for each RASA. Probably too late, since part two is in cue. In the future, please consider your RASAs. You do realize the Edge-HD is in therapy due to abandonment issues? I appreciate your attempt to undo the spin you put out regarding the truth behind Astrophotography. Changing and/or upgrading domes changes nothing. The EDGE-HD is hurting. All the best and enjoy the moment. I am glad you are still the same person you were in the beginning. Time for me to transition home ✌.
Haha I know! Actual automation makes changing my gear less straightforward as there are offsets and scripts that will need to change too. And I can't automate filter changes on the RASA. So my dear old friend EHD may be playing more of a starring role shortly.
Sad but exciting - your can of pesticide made my day! (or night). When you opened your power pack one classic scene from a Heinlein movie came came to mind th-cam.com/video/fgq0ecMHfzc/w-d-xo.html&t=10. Cant wait to see the new build!
Off topic: Dylan, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century Richard Feynman has a similar philosophy of life as you. Watch this lecture he gave reminiscing his time working on the Manhattan Project. He’s funny, he’s self deprecating and a great story teller. Near the end of the talk he reflects on the significance to mankind of the bomb and you will find you have a lot in common with him. th-cam.com/video/uY-u1qyRM5w/w-d-xo.html
This video is such a contradiction. Meaningful progress together with meaningless, loud music that is generally louder than your spoken voice. In my books that's just unpleasant. Good luck on your venture.
Perfect timing, been wondering if getting an observatory would be a pain to assemble from star to finish, will be following your series and learn along the way!
Enjoy while you can, I learn a lot about astronomy thanks to you, thank you very much
"cough" time for a pier "cough"
If you automate, you don’t need to go near it. That somewhat (not completely) mitigates the need for a pier.
Dylan's channel is truly without pier.
Wow that closing remark is just perfect 😂
Got to love the honesty. I'm lazy too( or just busy with life)Will keep watching to see what's next. Stay safe.
I have a Nexdome with full automation. I used to use a CGX but now I use a paramount. But for automation I use TheSkyX with the add ins for camera and dome. The automation program Voyager is fantastic and is much better than any other I’ve tried. Main reason is Voyager works very well with TheSkyX and their X2 drivers. I’ve had loads of problems with ASCOM being too flaky to trust with my gear. The X2 drivers have been rock solid.
Also, I have the Nexdome hard wired to an AAG cloudwatcher to close even if the PC locks up. It’s a great lifeline and cheaper then Nexdome rain sensor. Works the same but also provides other conditions to close the dome, cloud, too bright, windy. Nexdome has been great on customer service with me. Best of luck!
Also, the ascom flakiness was with other programs. Voyager uses ascom like a boss and works well. I had trouble with SGP, Prism, and CCD Commander. Voyager is fair priced and does better imho
Must be heart wrenching and exciting also. Getting rid of something that worked! And now replacing it with something more complicated that will take a little time to work as you want it to!!! Good luck and please sort out the power cable. Get one of those hard rubber covers to go over it if you can't bury it in the ground. Safety first.
Haha, yeh I'm suddenly very unproductive while I work stuff out.
On to bigger and better Dylan good luck with your new project stay safe.
I've been miserable and frustrated before I had my Sky Shed POD and I've been miserable and frustrated after getting my Obs up. Miserable and frustrated WITH an (any!!) Obs is better!
Best of luck with the successor. Great channel, learnt a lot.
Good on ya', mate! Sad to see it go, but hey!, more adventures to follow now that you're moving "up" in scale. Bug proof it this time if you can! Things just got a little tougher here in the Land of the Big Mall so I'll be staying in close touch here. USA will survive this!
Thanks Brian.. good luck!
Great behind the scenes. Looking forward to the follow up video! Cheers.
Looking forward to seeing what you replace it with!
Got me scared. Thought your were getting rid of it and not replacing it. I can breath now.
Congrats on the upgrade mate, looking forward to seeing the automation. Better pull my finger out to do mine now :D
You (probably) won't regret this. I have the full NexDome and love it. I only have rotation automated though - shutter is still manual.
Be kind indeed. Cheers Dylan!
Thanks for the video and the levity, Dylan! Lookin forward to what's next! Cheers from Seattle!
Anytime!
Great little helper, mine would have seen the hammer and "fixed" everything. Best of luck and stay safe.
Hey Dylan, here in the southeast of the US we have crazy humidity and temperature changes. This causes massive condensation buildup on mirrors etc. when the sun comes up and themps rise quickly. Do you have this same issue on your scopes that stay in the observatory? It causes any dust to quickly turn to dirt/mud on them! Thanks for the videos, I always look forward to them.
Good luck! After 5 years of struggles with automation they only advice I can provide is... use Arduino! (Or similar)
Cheers
The new solution has some arduido, some Pi, and something fly :)
@@DylanODonnell ...for a white guy - Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, cinco, seis.
there's always that one bolt...
Dude it wasted 12 hours haha. We got it though. With the right tool.
I live half an hour from the place they make the SkyShed POD. Shallow Lake Ontario.
I thought you had a solid pier mount, seeing you have not polar aligned for how many months. Best of luck on your new mount/ dome.
Thank you very much Dylan!
Lol.. I wonder who’s backyard the old unit ended up in!! For what it’s worth, automation is great. I’ve got a 6” dome, and it’s great kicking off and letting it go all night without intervention!
My mate Mark on the Gold Coast is taking over the old stuff.. so I'm glad it's going to a good home :)
Dylan O'Donnell So Diego putting one in his backyard last week was a coincidence! Enjoy the automation journey. It’s annoying and fulfilling at the same time. Just like most of the hobby!
Please don't die , Dylan . You're my very favorite person on TH-cam . Also , I need you to help me perfect the guiding of my CGX . Enjoy your new observatory adventure 🙂
Thanks bud. I’m fairly committed to dying though. Eventually.
Cool... look forward to the new setup!
It's coming together nicely! Can't wait to share!
i have the nexdome "still havent installed it" but it is an amazing hardware and Babak has done a great job. with automation things will be much simpler
Hey Dylan How hot does it get in the dome during summer? The reason I’m asking is I recently setup a pier and I’m planning to leave mine out side in the shade with some dust proof cover. I live in India and summer is usually 36°C... Humidity is usually in the low to mid 40s...
It gets ridiculously hot here. It will (and has) damaged computers I leave in there. Dehumidifying and temperature control are getting more and more important.
Thanks for the info... I put a rolling roof over it and it helps keep it below 30°c at the hottest part of summer . I also put in some moisture control CaChloride bottle in a bag and seal it up tight with some Velcro ... I keep the scope inside and just leave the mount out without any wires... Cheers keep safe and Keep uploading👍🏼 Clear skies 🌌
I am glad to see that you are taking down the unsafe combination of Nexdome on top of a SkyShed base. In December 2019 I posted to Cloudy Nights the incident that occurred in Oklahoma City last year during a wind storm that was not taken seriously by the owner. When I learned about it my employment background and safety training helped me to see something that others would miss. I tried to help by pointing this out in what I thought was the premier forum for discussion under the title 'Nexdome on SkyShed POD not safe'. It is not, there is no way to fasten, to secure mechanically to a factor of safety. The maker of SkyShed never endorsed it. You know it is a non fit. People have done it for convenience, not for good sound reasons. I would copy the picture I posted but I will not, the video Mr. Compton posted proudly is long since pulled. My post is still there on CN but closed to comments. I was vilified and my heritage was questioned by several people, including vendors who might be leaning toward another vendor? Would spokespeople be biased as well? Are there monies involved in Cloudy Nights posts? Horrors. I tried to get hold of you at the time through your Canadian friend Trevor but he never responded to me, at all.
g`day dylan you should spray that mortein outdoor barrier stuff so the squatters don't move back in when you put up the new one looks like they cost you some gear damage
cheers
james D
I thought you could automate with the hybrid setup?
Probably .. but the Nexdome walls are so much easier to work with, fit better, smoother rotation, better thermal footprint, better finish and UV protection. Just a better fit for my situation here in hot Australia.
Those pics were 4 yrs ago?? Wow they are amazing!!!😍❤️👍
You corrected yourself. 4:05 ......”And remember, everything is meaningless and we were all gonna die anyway..”😅🤣😂😂😂😂
I was waking up hahahaha! Amazing experience but Diego should have told me 😂😂😂!
I don't remember the videos before this observatory. I saw this was being built from ground up Good bye POD! Can't wait for what's coming! Clear Skies!
v3 coming soon :)
The old spray and sniff on the seat at 1:55
Haha was checking another ant colony.
Sorry Dylan, that scope now belongs to the spider xD.
Take care my man, it's going to take a while but we'll make it through this.
The dinos went out with a bang, we deserve something at least on that level of badass lol.
"The dinos went out with a bang, we deserve something at least on that level of badass lol"
Like the Combine invading and the Seven Hour War?
@@mellowhippo Can we just get the zombies?
Nice one Dylan 🙌 awesome upload 👌👓🎓🔭🔬
Diego coming back to Melbourne before the borders close? Sad to see the skyshed go mate, What did the ants get into??
Yeh he's back already .. thank god we got this done before the lockdown. Ants took over lots of camping equipment and a power tank. Bit scared to unpack the tent.
Most eastern Australian Observatory or 'just' most eastern on mainland Australia ? Did you know, Australia is 6 states, 3 mainland territories (NT, ACT & Jervis Bay) and 7 external territories. So no one has an observatory on Norfolk Island ? Or even a permanent setup that could be considered an observatory? I wonder? unfortunately, googling it did not give me any results.... Then I was wondering about Lord Howe Island, which is part of NSW but way more east than Byron Bay. Google search also failed to help with Lord Howe Island but I still wonder as people fail to understand what is Australia and how fare east we go (similar to NZ)
I’ll take the mainland title at least 😂
I just noticed you are not using a pier in the observatory? but apparently as you have stated a tripod must be fine since not having to do many polar alignments. Stay safe Dylan and family down there.
Dylan was that a funnel spider?
I have no idea. Presume no as they like the ground better than cgxs for making their funnel trap.
Small world... I'm doing the SAO course and Michael and I are both doing the same unit right now.
Nice! My graduation was cancelled.. sigh.
@@DylanODonnell Yea, heard about that. Chin up, its all meaningless anyway.
Diego! :D Didn't expect to see my buddy in this video :) Isn't he awesome? :)
Couldn't have done it without him really. Legend :)
Yes I washed my hands 👐 before I watched, I've been washing my hands so often they resemble an 80 year olds!
hey Dylan what is the image at 3:57?
mrtheoden Corona Australis .. my countries nebula ;)
@@DylanODonnell found it, NGC 6726. (I'm an Aussie too, but I didn't recognise the image).
Dude can afford to take his observatory apart during precious observing conditions!!! Some people don't know how lucky they have it... Here in the UK i'm lucky to get 1 clear night in 20.. sigh.
Hows about adding a concrete base and a pier Dylan? Perfect time for that task - not that hard! If I did it so can you :).
I know I know! The concrete is there so would be a bit of work to drill it all up and make it work, but I hear ya!
You need a three-story observatory! Get over the houses, trees, etc. Use the top you have on it. Then, you can have the first floor as your heated and air-conditioned control room, the second floor as storage for your telescopes, and then the third floor to pier mount your CGX. That should work out well, right? :p Hey, at least you're out shooting stuff. I lost half my stuff and I have to rebuild most everything I've lost. :(
Always enjoy watching your channel.
Ouch! Yeh there are *some* budget constraints hah
@@DylanODonnell Oh, I thought Bintel was paying you millions!
Might need council approval for that :P
Ahhh, an adventure into the unknown with Dylan as we explore his backyard .... Dylan you have spiders down under? or is it your private collection you show us?
Loved the doomsday commentary in this one, had me a good couple of giggles...
Awesome! Love it, can't wait to see what's next Dylan!
When is the Part2 gona come????
When I god damn feel like it 😂
@@DylanODonnell LOL!!
Rebuild! Rebuild! Rebuild! The end of time is upon us! So rebuild before species termination! :) Sorry I've been watching the news ... Lol
had me worried there Dylan 😳
2:08 is so funny 😁
What’s the footprint of one of those?
2.2m x 2.2m :)
Dylan O'Donnell is it going on gumtree? A little bit far away for me but haha but good to know one wouldn’t take up to much space.
I am sure you were just kidding about everything being meaningless and we're all going to die anyway, but I am fairly new to your channel and I still have some catching up to do, so I don't know if you have expressed any kind of beliefs, or research into who and what we really are, if not a cosmic accident (or the butt of a cosmic joke). For me, that is the single most important reason I have owned telescopes for the last 40 years or so - to find proof for my bizarre theories of our origin and existence. That, and to just gaze at the beauty up there, and there is a whole lot of it as you well know with your well practiced abilities to document it in very cool images. Have fun & Cheers,
Richard
The acknowledgment of your own mortality and your tiny place in the universe allows you to appreciate the present moment all the more, and the present is all you ever have. There's a certain duality of feeling small when looking out into a vast universe but also feeling the wonder of being able to appreciate it and be a part of it. The meaning is where you find it, and too often humans put it into things that don't amount to much.
A lot of bugs in Australia
you need more beers mate... hahaha
You really should put a concrete pier in the observatory.
Good luck. Remember, measure twice and drink Aussie beer thrice while putting it together.
Observatory has loads of bug infestation.
im not crying, you are crying!
I would of long since burnt down the spider pod
I agree with others. It may be pier time for Dylan.
Why ?
See part 2 :)
What’s next . I can’t wait.....
Was scared until you said your puting a new one in
Unreal. Hmmmm.....since you are starting all over again, why not add a vertical addition to the house?
Then you'll never have to deal with scope-separation anxiety again. You can even add two additional bedrooms one for each RASA.
Probably too late, since part two is in cue. In the future, please consider your RASAs. You do realize the Edge-HD is in therapy due to abandonment issues?
I appreciate your attempt to undo the spin you put out regarding the truth behind Astrophotography.
Changing and/or upgrading domes changes nothing. The EDGE-HD is hurting.
All the best and enjoy the moment. I am glad you are still the same person you were in the beginning.
Time for me to transition home ✌.
Haha I know! Actual automation makes changing my gear less straightforward as there are offsets and scripts that will need to change too. And I can't automate filter changes on the RASA. So my dear old friend EHD may be playing more of a starring role shortly.
When i saw that darn cpu with ants in it, i just realised i dont wanna live anywhere near that place
Australia has some nasty looking spiders 😳
2:13 you missed a lizard!
Sad but exciting - your can of pesticide made my day! (or night). When you opened your power pack one classic scene from a Heinlein movie came came to mind th-cam.com/video/fgq0ecMHfzc/w-d-xo.html&t=10. Cant wait to see the new build!
Off topic:
Dylan, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century Richard Feynman has a similar philosophy of life as you. Watch this lecture he gave reminiscing his time working on the Manhattan Project. He’s funny, he’s self deprecating and a great story teller. Near the end of the talk he reflects on the significance to mankind of the bomb and you will find you have a lot in common with him.
th-cam.com/video/uY-u1qyRM5w/w-d-xo.html
I do like Richard Feynman! I'll check it out, thanks!
This video is such a contradiction. Meaningful progress together with meaningless, loud music that is generally louder than your spoken voice. In my books that's just unpleasant.
Good luck on your venture.