The Observatory Video Cam is Finally on the Net...

Hi all:  Well finally!  I spent a couple hours in the 'pod' yesterday and rewired all the various video bits and boxes (distribution amp, selector, enhancer, processor box, and date-time stamper) and got it piped over to the computer.  I can now see and record all the live video from the telescope on the computer.

Since last night had a few breaks in the clouds, I decided to try my hand at broadcasting my observations (video) over the internet.  I was able to get a few different deep sky objects on the screen, including the "Blue Snowball" - a planetary nebula.   Its pretty cool because I can be out in the pod doing my observing thing and Marye can be watching the same thing I'm seeing on our flat screen TV.  The thing that makes it all possible is a website called Night Skies Network "http://www.nightskiesnetwork.com/".  I'm signed up there as, what else, "AstroMonk" ;-)

If you want to check it out (mostly in the evenings, but occasionally someone will be broadcasting daytime solar images too), just go to  the site, and click on one of the many names listed that are highlighted.  If I'm broadcasting, then "AstroMonk" will be highlighted.  If not, look for one of the others and click on the name.  You'll be taken to their broadcast page where you can see whatever their scope is pointed at.  As well, there is a window where you can chat with the broadcaster.  Some broadcasters are set up with a microphone and will answer back verbally - others have to type.  If you want to ask questions or comment, make sure you first type a name in the text box and click send.  You can use any name - just a way to identify who is saying what when there are a number of folks watching and chatting on the same channel.  After this you can chat away.  It's really a good way to learn a lot about observational astronomy in a short time.

I still have a few things to do to bring everything up to full potential.  The mount needs to have it's polar alignment refined just a tad to keep objects from slowly drifting out of view -- a process called 'drift alignment'.  Manually, it takes a couple hours to do (at least if you haven't done it before ;-)  There are some software aids that can speedup the process that I'll likely try.  Anyway, hopefully you'll be able to see some broadcasts of the heavens from ole AstroMonk in the weeks and months ahead.  Until then, Peace and blessings...