G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 You can't hear it but if you look at the connection to the stepper you can see it ? After everyone's help on how to wire it and that first episode on the Arduino a couple of weeks ago I finally have it running.... Other than a few tweaks all I need is clear, windless night (one that hopefully isn't freezing) to take it out for a test run Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 That is a beautiful piece of work. Well it be smooth enough for long exposure shots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 David Wiggins only one way to find out ? I'm planning on putting some plastic grommets in the guide holes for the two threaded bars... Every so often you can kind of hear the plate rattle against them as the motor turns... I'm guessing it's because I can't quite get the shaft of the motor and the threaded rod to match up in a straight line and the edge of the plate catches ever so slightly on the guide rods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I am totally thrilled for you. I'll be praying you get some clear skies and can share some photos I can enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Perry Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Looking forward to see how it turns out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 Rough test I did tonight...not bad but I think I need to get better at pointing that hinge at the north star..might en up getting an inexpenisve scope that I could actually mount instead of having what I have not which is an older finder scope held on my some rare earth magnets...This was approximately a 6 minute exposure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 Here's a non tracked version so you can see the difference in movement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Gorgeous. The second was also 6 minute exposure? There's more starlines than I would have expected for that time, especially at the edges of the frame. Even so, I love those shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Perry Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 I think I have new wall paper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Hehe, I did the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 Jason Perry lol thanks, if you want some really nice stuff go here hubblesite.org - HubbleSite - Picture Album: The Universe: Hubble Ultra Deep Field/ most of my desktop pics rotate between stuff on here... I've still got room for improvement on mine... Namely, finding a darker location... So much light pollution where I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 When I was showing my family your pictures, I complained about the same thing. I live outside a major city, and even a modern professional grade camera gets washed out. One amazing thing about the helper site pics is the exceptional clarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dominick Valentic Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 David Wiggins yep the second one is within 30 second of the first.. yeah usually you'll notice the lines the father you go from the point of rotation.. If I used a wider angle lens it would be even more apparent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Perry Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 It reminds me of when I lives on a farm, lying on my front lawn as a kid looking up at the stars. The Hubble shots are gorgeous, but the memory makes a shot like yours more worth while to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Will LaValley (Sonic4Sp Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 There are special low light pollution areas around the country, though they can be quite a drive from most people, which makes sense I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Michael Gates Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 This is quite cool. Was it a project on TWiT Know How? I built a manual one nearly 30 years ago that I would give one full revolution per minute by hand. Here's a shot of it from a slide: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5qBVYNgUPLZY25wSlNKSXlPNDA . Once had a woodrat eat through my shoelace while I was halfway through an exposure. 8^) It was a tedious process. If I ever get back to the fire lookout, I'd love to try putting one like yours together. Have you thought about mounting a green laser pen on the hinge axis to point to the North Star? drive.google.com - Mikey at Saddleback w Tripod and Star Tracker FujiChrome June 1988 Crop.jpg - Google Drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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