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Southern California Linux Expo 2007...
Los Angeles, California.
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Our project
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Our Sponsors
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Test of motorization on the declination axis.
The telescope is partially assembled, but not completed yet.
(this image is an animation).
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If you have any interest regarding the linux operating system, "SCALE" is definitely a show you should consider going (supposing it is in your driving or flying range).
It is a one of the best place to learn about linux, and a very friendly show.
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People at Alembic have helped us in many ways, at first as sponsors, then as volunteers as well.
They are so dedicated, I would not be surprised if their guitars run linux. ;-)
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FAQ regarding the show |
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This is a selection of questions that come regularly.
("FAQ" stand for Frequently Asked Questions).
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What is linuxastronomy about ?
Linuxastronomy is a collaboration between a group of volunteers, teenagers who need some guidance and some people from industry with an interest in astronomy. One current project that is being worked on is a remote controlled telescope. More information regarding this project and others being worked on can be found on this site.
Linuxastronomy is evolving.
The teenageers have grown up, the volunteers stayed together and kept working on the remote controlled telescope, which is a big project for us.
Seeing the telescope taking shape, some young persons are gaining interest again.
Young persons are starting to ask when they will be able to use the telescope.
The focus is shifting slightly toward a group of volunteer dedicated to make the project happen.
We are happy if we can foster creativity, by letting the younger person discover by themselve, what we are doing. However we currently do not have for main priority to have any of the younger ones with us.
If a volunteer interested or knowledgeable regarding young person is interested to join us, we will be happy to have a good time all together.
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Where can I see the newsletter you showed us at the show ?
Select this icon for the current newsletter :
The newsletter is a monthly publication. It come in the current month and stay until the next one is displayed.
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We use another operating system, will we be able to use your telescope ?
Absolutely, we are open to anybody.
As long as people respect the basic rules, anybody with a web browser, should be able to access and operate the telescope, regardeless of the geographical location around the world.
The telescope maintenance application is done using the operating system linux.
However the user interface, is done with open web standards, the interface itself should be machine independent.
Regardeless your equipment you should be able to access the telescope and work with it, supposing they will be availability at your time of observation.
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It is taking you a long time, when will the telescope be operational ?
Soon but if you join us, we could be ready even sooner...
We are volunteers, we have a regular life too, with everyday new situations to solve, like almost everybody.
A few of us seems almost like regular people too. ;-)
However, we are currently trying to work with dead lines, by applying realistic goals.
Typical dead lines are trade shows, exhibitions. They are good time mark, as for a certain date we need to have something ready for a live presentation.
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Are they any sky chart(s), or star chart(s) available for linux ?
They are a few. Try the following links, they may be one or more program that will please you.
XEphem (www.clearskyinstitute.com).
Kstars (edu.kde.org).
Kstars (kstars.30doradus.org) forum.
Kstars (en.wikipedia.org).
skychart / Carte du Ciel (www.ap-i.net).
skychart / Carte du Ciel (sourceforge.net) (literally "sky map").
Carte du Ciel (en.wikipedia.org) on "Wikipedia".
Stellarium (www.stellarium.org).
Stellarium (en.wikipedia.org).
Celestia (www.shatters.net).
Celestia image gallery (www.shatters.net).
Celestia (en.wikipedia.org).
Celestia (www.ikiru.ch) francais.
Celestia exploration activity (learn.arc.nasa.gov).
Bienvenue dans Celestia (www.cssamares.qc.ca).
Open Universe (www.openuniverse.org).
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Why the telescope you present is so complicate ?
It is a perception, it is actually a pretty simple model. However, its realization is a little bit over done.
One idea in the planing of this telescope was to have a telescope as stable as we can.
We also had some influence from "scientific grade" telescopes, without being one, we made good quality parts each time we had the capability to do it. This mean, the parts are mostly simple parts well made (we hope), using not expensive materials or easily available materials.
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My telescope is not supported by linux, when will you support it ?
Our project is not about supporting "xyz" brand of telescope, but about developing one application that will support one remote controlled telescope.
To check the support status of your telescope if anym with linux applicaitons, especially star charts, try "Indi" (indi.sourceforge.net), which is a project to connect a telescope with a star chart.
If you do not understand how to do it or feel lost, let us know, we will try to help you, or let you know if we are aware of somebody with a similar telescope than your.
Introduction (indi.sourceforge.net), Instrument Neutral Distributed Interface INDI.
INDI is a simple XML-like communications protocol described for interactive and automated remote control of diverse instrumentation.
Indi screenshots (indi.sourceforge.net). Indi itself is a program without any graphical user interface, the screenshots displayed here are applications using "Indi".
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What kind of software are you developing ?
Before writing anything new, we are looking at what is already available, then using what seems wise to us.
The remote telescope control, project application, include:
- a driver program to talk to the telescope motors.
- a control application allowing to modify the telescope parameters including adjusting it.
- an application that will allow people to access the telescope from the internet and aim it.
- more to come, such as dome, weather, or imaging control.
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What was the purpose of the little micro-controller at the show ?
We had two possible ways to control the motor (we had only one motor for this show), one with and one without a micro-controller.
Unfortunately, the software was not ready on time for the show.
We were presenting a basic driver working together with the micro-controller, but not connected to a motor.
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How did you actuate the telescope at the show ?
As our driver was not ready yet, we used a temporary hardware solution.
The driver controller box was receiving signals from another box called an indexer.
The indexer provide information such as acceleration, speed, how long to run, etc. to the driver controler box.
On the left is the Indexer, on the right is the driver controller.
(Driver controller is a model "LE 57-51")
The indexer is used as a backup solution until we have a computer program running correctly.
(indexer is a Compumoter model "172")
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I gave you my e-mail address, but you never sent me anything...
It is possible we lost it, a trade show is a big project by itself.
More realisticaly, you address came back to us, probably because it was hard to read.
If you are waiting any messages from us, please, send us a message and let us know about it.
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what kind of motors does the telescope use ?
Currently we are using stepper motors, later we may change for servo controlled motors.
However, we are using what we have on hand, parts that can be available easily and not too expensive for us.
Once we will have something working in a satisfactory manner, we may at that time change to something more cutting edge.
Selection of stepper motors. These motors are slavaged from machines or bought in surplus stores.
The two square motors in the middle on the right side, are slavaged from an old printer. They do not have enough torque for moving this telescope (they may be able to track, but not to hold a position or move at a fast pace), however, they may be usable for low torque applications, such as a filter wheel.
Stepper motor used at the show
(Compumotor LE57-51, Ser: 91081200012).
Stepper motor that may be used once the driver will be working
(Nippon Pulse Motor Co. Ltd, "PJ5001W-17", 1.42V, lot 1AC").
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Images from the show floor |
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Bob and Eugene took care of the booth, for setup and tear down as well as while the show was going on.
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Ralf, an Asterisk guru and "VoIP" speaker for lilax, spent some time with us,
Ralf loaned us a "VoIP," (voice over i.p.) (en.wikipedia.org) telephone for the show.
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Almost a familly picture with Hawkwind and Jada from Ulteo.
They were almost across from us.
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Remote controlled telescope status of realization |
A simple progress report regarding our project. |
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(www.linuxastronomy.org).
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This is the state of the telescope at time of the Los Angeles California show "SCALE".
The show was on February 10 - 11, 2007. the picture has been taken after the show (March).
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This page is a work in progress.
Please, Let me know if you feel it does not display properly on your browser, or if you find out some inaccuracy.
I am not a native speaker of the English language, Do not hesitate to let me know of any grammar or spelling mistakes.
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Legal
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The information on this site is believed to be correct, if you find any error, please send a message to the webmaster. We will do our best to fix any error in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, there is absolutely no waranty of any kind, the information on this site is accurate, neither correct.
To send us a message.
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Feel free to link to this page and give proper credit to it.
However it is not allowed to put this page or site into a frame, without first asking for it.
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This page as well as the whole site is Copyright© , 2001 - 2007 Eugene Clement
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