Wasp roof

Finally finished the eastern eves and replaced the ridge cap with the final version. All weather tight and secure for the winter now.

La Crosse weather station

Kumeu Weather Station

Put in a La Crosse weather station from Dick Smiths. Using weather display software which is locally written. I have also made a WAP page for the mobile which is http://www.astronz.co.nz/weather/wap/index.htm just enter this on your mobile web in your phone and get ten minute updates. I have integrated the Boltwood cloud sensor data to make an icon showing current conditions as well.

New window

Spent a few days putting in a new window in the observatory wall facing NW next to the dome. Got the window free from a friend of Grant Hay a work mate. Peter next door basically did the install for me which was a great help. Inside is now much warmer with the afternoon sun streaming in.

MOA BLG-2009-262

MOA 2009-BLG-262
RA: 17:55:41.69
Dec: -29:51:22.94
Optics: Celestron C14
Focal length: 2634mm
Pixel Scale; 0.70"/pixel
Camera: SBIG ST7 XME Deluxe
CCD: KAF-0402ME class 1
Filters: No filter
Exposure: 300 sec
Observer: David Moorhouse

27 May 1250 UT
Started late after hearing about this new target. Faint but visible. Seeing is good and no cloud for now. Ended up being fine till dawn.
28 May UT
Fine just for a few hours early evening then fog and scattered cloud rolled in.

Wasp Floor

After several years of concrete flooring I have finally got around to putting down a wooden floor. It cost about $600 of a pre-engineered material that has tounge and groove on boards about 1000mm x 200mm the top layer is about a 5mm veneer and is pre-vanished so it goes down and is finished. I needed to do about two days concrete grinding to get the floor flat enough.

MOA 2009-BLG-229

MOA 2009-BLG-229
RA: 18:05:19.86
Dec: -30:05:50.09
Optics: Celestron C14
Focal length: 2634mm
Pixel Scale; 0.70"/pixel
Camera: SBIG ST7 XME Deluxe
CCD: KAF-0402ME class 1
Filters: No filter
Exposure: 300 sec
Observer: Steve Calveley, David Moorhouse, Guy Thornley

21 May 09
Off to a slow start with passing cloud making imaging almost impossible cleared at about 3am till dawn
22 May 09
Just getting one hours worth of normalising data

C14 Dew Sheild

Finally got the dew sheild installed today. It looks fantastic, bright yellow! It is made from three 4mm thick MDF rings 398mm ID and 450mm OD then skinned in a 2mm balsawood sheet outside. The sheet was made with ten 100x600mm sheets glued side by side to form a massive sheet. The outside coating is Solarfilm made for model aircraft, it is easy to apply and a nice shiney finish. Inside is matt black paint. Yet to get clear skies to test it out but it looks real black looking down the barrel.

MOA 2009-BLG-227

MOA 2009-BLG-227
RA: 18:07:34.92
Dec: -27:00:44.06
Kumeu didn't end up getting data on this event

MOA 2009-BLG-174

MOA 2009-BLG-174
RA: 18:02:07.60
Dec: -31:25:24.20
Optics: Celestron C14
Focal length: 2634mm
Pixel Scale; 0.70"/pixel
Camera: SBIG ST7 XME Deluxe
CCD: KAF-0402ME class 1
Filters: No filter
Exposure: 120 sec
Observer: David Moorhouse

12 May 2009
Lots of passing cloud and rain, needed to use 120 sec because of close moon and close to peak at mag 11. Got several good runs through the night.
13 May 2009
Just five normalising images taken as MB204 was doing an exit crossing so was more important
14 May 2009
Finally some clear skies without rain. Did about one hour normalising data at two minutes to keep it standard.

Optec TCS focuser installed

Installed last night with no issues. ASCOM driver downloaded and MaximDL is happy. Autofocus routine in MaximDL seems OK time will tell. Temperature compensation will be a big help once we get a co-efficient worked out. Many thanks to Ohio State University Astronomy Dept, who have provided this unit to us for help with microlensing events.

MOA 2009-BLG-204

MOA 2009-BLG-204
RA: 18:02:23.62
Dec: -28:45:18.48
Optics: Celestron C14
Focal length: 2634mm
Pixel Scale; 0.70"/pixel
Camera: SBIG ST7 XME Deluxe
CCD: KAF-0402ME class 1
Filters: No filter
Exposure: 300 sec
Observer: Guy Thornley

May 04 2009
Lots of passing cloud and rain.
May 13 2009
Again a poor night but managed to catch a caustic crossing exit that will help nail this one down, only 16 five minute images through the night.