By Matt Harmston
Winter skies: (sometimes) Clear, cold, and mesmerizing. The season always excites me, as I get to spend time with celestial favorites like the Orion Nebula (Messier 42), the Pleiades Cluster (Messier 45), and the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31). Whether using simple binoculars or exposing camera chips, these showcase items and many more beg for attention. Funny thing, though…it’s hard to see clearly with frost hanging off the eyelashes. How might we still enjoy astronomy without eyelids freezing shut?
Remote Video Astronomy: Simple, Satisfying, Cold Defying
Remote Video Astronomy: Simple, Satisfying, Cold Defying
When conditions become really unpleasant, I often transition my viewing into the house. Remote viewing need not involve distant mountaintops, nor must you have professional grade equipment. Rather, I’m talking about controlling even a modest camera and telescope setup from inside…something about which I first read on a website owned by Jim Meadows (http://remotevideoastronomy.com/index.html).
My remote setup is seen in the adjacent image: A 100mm SkyWatcher Pro ED refractor, Celestron AVX mount, and any one of my MallinCam CMOS video cameras connected to my laptop. Sure…cables and computers make the setup sound complex. But, let me explain how my remote solution is designed. Before doing any viewing, I found a spot on the patio where I could plug the mount into an external outlet.
My remote setup is seen in the adjacent image: A 100mm SkyWatcher Pro ED refractor, Celestron AVX mount, and any one of my MallinCam CMOS video cameras connected to my laptop. Sure…cables and computers make the setup sound complex. But, let me explain how my remote solution is designed. Before doing any viewing, I found a spot on the patio where I could plug the mount into an external outlet.
Upon carrying the fully-assembled rig outside, leveling the tripod, and doing a polar alignment, I marked tripod foot location for reasonably reliable future placement. By doing so, I can avoid having to go through the polar alignment process each time. From this location, I can snake the USB3 cable and mount handset through the patio door, gently closing it around the cables (gently…you don’t want to kink your cables!).
With no further PA required given my exposure times, each session is streamlined: Carry the rig outside, place the tripod feet on their marks, plug in the cords/cables, and set my goto/viewing in motion. Once set up, control of mounts and cameras is the same as if you were outside with frosted eyelids. Of course, this solution doesn’t give a perfect, airtight fit for the door (a couple of pool noodles inserted in the vertical track can help with that). But, there’s not much room for cold air to sneak in.
Upon carrying the fully-assembled rig outside, leveling the tripod, and doing a polar alignment, I marked tripod foot location for reasonably reliable future placement. By doing so, I can avoid having to go through the polar alignment process each time. From this location, I can snake the USB3 cable and mount handset through the patio door, gently closing it around the cables (gently…you don’t want to kink your cables!).
With no further PA required given my exposure times, each session is streamlined: Carry the rig outside, place the tripod feet on their marks, plug in the cords/cables, and set my goto/viewing in motion. Once set up, control of mounts and cameras is the same as if you were outside with frosted eyelids. Of course, this solution doesn’t give a perfect, airtight fit for the door (a couple of pool noodles inserted in the vertical track can help with that). But, there’s not much room for cold air to sneak in.
With all the pieces in place, your viewing options are no longer limited by creature comforts. Still, we have to bear in mind limitations of our equipment. For instance, when slewing to a new object, I always illuminate the mount to determine if I must pause the slew due to cable snag or a camera contacting the tripod. Also, bitter cold makes plastic brittle, thus putting cables at risk of being damaged if flexed too much. For teardown on those frigid nights, I won’t coil up cables nor put much pressure on other plastics until things have warmed up in the house. Similarly, electronics don’t always appreciate frigid temperatures, much less coming back into a warm, humid home. Thus, be sure to follow your typical post-viewing/condensation-mitigation routine. When in use on really cold nights (for me, that’s below 10F), progressively worsening mount goto and/or tracking tell me that hot cocoa and a movie with my 4-legged observing buddy is a better option.
While remote video astronomy works nicely during our frigid winter months, it’s also quite handy during buggy, muggy summer nights. No sweat, no bugs, and no swollen bites go hand-in-hand with summertime remote video astronomy. Granted, I prefer immersion under the night’s canopy to being inside, but in a cold (or hot) pinch, remote viewing is very rewarding.
In the End…
Remote video astronomy can take on many designs, some more elaborate than others. My simple, functional approach serves my needs well. And, it provides a quick, comfortable, safe way for all of us to enjoy clear skies regardless whenever they occur. How might you engage in remote astronomy? Give it a try…you just might enjoy it!
While remote video astronomy works nicely during our frigid winter months, it’s also quite handy during buggy, muggy summer nights. No sweat, no bugs, and no swollen bites go hand-in-hand with summertime remote video astronomy. Granted, I prefer immersion under the night’s canopy to being inside, but in a cold (or hot) pinch, remote viewing is very rewarding.
In the End…
Remote video astronomy can take on many designs, some more elaborate than others. My simple, functional approach serves my needs well. And, it provides a quick, comfortable, safe way for all of us to enjoy clear skies regardless whenever they occur. How might you engage in remote astronomy? Give it a try…you just might enjoy it!
[NOTE: With Matt’s permission, I posted his article that appeared in the Feb, 2020 Cedar Amateur Astronomers newsletter. This is the first time I have posted an article from someone else. It was such a good article about using a basic Remote Video Astronomy setup (in very cold weather) I asked him if I could include it in my blog. It is a nice description, simple solution and easily repeatable. – Jim Meadows]
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