Deep Water, I'm Well Over My Head Now

I knew from the start I was wading into deep water,

turns out I was wrong.

I now realize I've been floating on the surface of a bottomless lake and 2 weeks ago my boat sank.

It started with a dyslexics person's worst enemy, a 400+ page software manual.

What I've learned  

during this project is when you're a novice at anything

 and you choose to start with advanced gear instead of beginner equipment, the learning curve goes from steep to vertical, or in my case it feels like it's overhanging.

We decided to go with Maxim DL Pro software to run our complete set-up including the telescope, dome rotation, auto focusers, camera, guider camera and image processing.

 Maxims manual is written with the assumption the reader is knowledgeable about astronomy and observatory/telescope set ups, so I spend  a lot of time referring to the glossary to figure out many of terms used in the manual.

My  friend Paul is  helping me  comprehend all this information. Paul and I  are completely opposite in our learning preferences, he likes to research and understand the outcome of clicking a tab, while I click the tab and try to figure out what just happened.

Between the two of us we have had some success! 

The warm room computer now communicates with the telescope, both cameras and the auto focusers, this was the result of a lot of reading, downloading 64 bit drivers, unloading then re-loading some software and what felt like some good luck.

Paul will also be invaluable for setting up our observatory/warm room start-up & shut-down routine and the image calibration check lists that will have to be compiled, posted then followed every evening .

So it might be a while before you see our 1st photo. If we get really stuck I'll be reaching out to an astronomy student in Duluth or making a run to the  Thunder Bay Observatory.

No bobcat photo though, we have over a 1000 photos from the 3 game cameras running 24 hours a day, deers, squirrels, birds, bunnies, vols and mice but no bobcat.  Pat had a sighting within  the last 2 weeks but I think we scared it out from under the cabin. Will keep setting cameras, who knows what we'll see!. 

We Now Have a Bobcat Living Under our Deck

We are down to one very nervous looking squirrel feeding under our bird feeder

since the bobcat moved in. 

We have seen the cat twice, it's den'd up under our deck.Right now there is enough snow that two sides of the deck is bunked up blocking the wind nicely, and the small open end is looking out over the ground under the feeder.

I'm sure the cat has been picking off the squirrels, mice, bunnies and birds that ground feed on the spilled seed. 

We decided to put two of Jim's game cameras out and see if we can't get a few good photos.

First night I set up the cameras, unfortunately one without its SD memory card installed and the other with a  SD card installed but locked so needless to say no photos.

After learning how to unlock the card, I charged the batteries, installed the cards and set them back up for the daylight hours yesterday to make sure I know what I 'm doing.

 I pulled them late that afternoon to check photos and recharge batteries and what I ended  up with is 187 photos of birds and that one nervous squirrel. No bobcat, but at least I'm getting photos now so back out the cameras went for the night shift.

You might want to click this photo (squirrel mug shot)

We awoke around 5:30 am this morning to what appeared to be a super model photo shoot going on in the side yard. Every 60 seconds the camera would take two photos with its flash lighting up our entire cabin with that harsh bright light. As we slowly made our way over to the window we were startled by the large deer head that popped up and stared at us for just a few seconds then dipped back down for more seed, setting off another round of photos.

If you're ever looking for close-up deer head or leg shots let me know!

In this shot you can see the opening under the deck that the bobcat uses to hunt. The red under the deck is a concrete blanket we wrap around the base of our cabin to help insulate so all in all it's a very nice warm place to stage a hunt.

Observatory News

Work continues in both the warm room and observatory,

mostly punch list stuff that I have put off for a while. I also have a friend, Paul ,coming over Wednesday to help me with software comprehension and test running equipment.

We have been getting light snow with lots of wind  the past few days making it hard to open the dome. Pat and I have been going out in the truck at night trying to find clear skies for northern lights with no luck. The first trip we drove Highway 61 half way to the Canadian border, another night up the Gunflint Trail but we just  couldn't get out of the clouds. We have had two well below 0 clear sky nights but have seen nothing in the way of northern lights.

My Cook County Blog Has Started

Well last month I promised to stop being political on our observatory blog and to start a Cook County Minnesota blog, 

and it's now up and running and called

We Do Things Different Around Here

 here is the link

differentaroundhere.blogspot.com

This is going to be an open blog that will organically develop with the help and input of others both in and outside of the county.

If you want to become a co- writer, have any suggestions, or have any questions please email me with the link in my profile form on either blog.

Please try your best to stay positive, this blog is looking for constructive out-of-the-box thinking that might help unite not incite.

Observatory news

Bookshelves almost done and the telescope wiring is now complete. We are now heading out onto the lake to look for Northern Lights, should be a great night. 

Cords, Cables, Connect, Repeat and Bookshelves

 I didn't take the first photo by my Jan 14 deadline but I'm all wired up and very close.

I do remember reading in my research books that I shouldn't short myself

on electrical outlets, but

apparently my reading comprehension skills suck because I'm way short in the outlet department.

Here is the power panel in the observatory with both 110 and 12 volt,

the bundle of cables on the right side are communication cables, it's weird but when I work on the panel

I always feel like someones watching.

This is the wiring at the base of the telescope, USB cables are all powered because of their length,

The observatory also has multiple cameras installed so we can monitor everything from inside the warm room. This is the computer that runs those cameras.

Design work on the bookshelf has gone very well and I'm finally happy.

The 1st shelf just above the monitors is oversize, deep and strong, 

this shelf helps supports the 4 corner shelves, 2 per side.

The right hand corner shelves are temporarily spaced and held up by plastic file boxes 

so I could see them in place.

They will get pulled down, painted and installed this week.

First chance I get to open the dome I'll try running everything from inside the warm room but lately we have been hit with nuisance light and blowing snow.

Back On Track, More Cables & Clean Up Fires

I should say back on tracks.

Last week we had a weather prediction of heavy snow followed by cold temps

so we decided to install the tracks on the 

Rodeo on a 30 degree day instead of below 0 day in deep snow.

Track installation didn't prevent the below 0 weather but did keep the snow fall to around 2".

Even though we still don't need them, at least they're on and being ready just might keep the snow away!

Plus you have to admit this is cool.

Although my neighbors some how think there CJ looks tougher,

 I can say Rodeo is one hell of a lot easier to get into.

Jim and Michele were up over the holidays and I was hoping to run the telescope

but no such luck. Over Christmas I had placed a large order for the cables needed to hook everything together and they hadn't arrived,  so in the interim we loaded a pile of software and drivers along with registering everything.

After receiving the long powered USB cables we routed and pulled them through the conduit between

the observatory and warm room. I then started wiring everything together, guide camera to the CCD camera, CCD camera to the desk top, auto focuser to the desk top, 2 web cams to a lap top, all the power cables for  the cameras, powered USB cables, dome rotation motor and  telescope power.

I was feeling pretty smart right up to figuring out I had forgot the communications cable that runs between the telescope and the computer and it seems that one is important.

(who'd thought)

Just a few of the wires and cables, I'm going to need the big container of zip ties.

We have had enough snow to light our clean up fires

During our dirt work this summer Dean stacked up 4 large burn piles of brush, stumps and dead trees

So over the last few days we have burned 3 of them.  I can't help but think I caused great hardship for all the critters that had made the piles their winter home.

That's all for now

Happy New Years All

Healing, Support, and Happy Winter Solstice

I have to say when Cook County wants to come together they do so beautifully,

The support for everyone affected by this event not only from our county, but the entire state, was heart warming to see.

One positive out come from this tragedy could be that this huge surge of  support and caring for others might continue and grow.

People are healing and that's the best news!

Trying hard to stay somewhat politely correct in the "Holiday Season"

I want to wish you all a happy

Winter Solstice

In the world of  astronomy one should be sad with the increasing daylight hours but as a person that lives in a remote setting in the woods I say

YA-HOO

I also want to thank all you readers, 

we are approaching the end of the second year of our 1 year building project so

 "we're right on schedule

and all we're lacking is finishing up".

(my old boss just hated this statement)

This blog started in mid-January 2010 and we are working hard to be up and  running and shooting photos by our two year anniversary.

We will do a entry on that anniversary with a complete list of visits

but here is a little sample:

As of today the site has had

over 8,000 visitors

over 14,000 pages viewed

with visitors from  over 80 Country/Territory's

and well over 300 hours of content read.

So again thanks!

Coming soon will be the .com site for the observatory

and my new blog on Cook County politics.

For all  my neighbors in the small end of the lake,

yes the beavers are hitting you all hard, the new lodge is now built on Lonny's dock

and I have seen very little down my way,

 They must be very happy down there but with the water as low as it is I don't know why.

I'll try to get you some photos.

Courthouse Shooting and a Need for Change

I have to start by  sending positive thoughts to Tim Scannell and his family,

I  really appreciate Tim  both as our county attorney and a genuine human being.

My heart also goes out to all the people this entire episode has affected, both mentally and physically, and I hope everyone can move forward.

I hate to get political on this site but I have to explain the break in observatory progress.

It started years ago with my laundry.

 My laundromat is right across the street from our county courthouse, and as I waited for my cycles to run a combination of boredom and curiosity drove me to attending court and getting educated on just what goes on in our community.

After a year or so of court I got somewhat depressed and frustrated with it repetitive nature and all the dealing with alcohol.

I  then decided to changed my focus to the county commissioners meetings. 

Keep in mind that I had no local government experience what so ever, 

and I do mean none.

Now after over more then a year of sitting in the audience for 3 Tuesdays every month,  I have grown somewhat frustrated with the system, 

actually more frustrated with our fractured community and their thinking that 5 commissioners doing what ever their special interest constituencies what them to do, will fix anything.

Ghandi stated

"When the people lead, the leaders will follow"

I believe this to be true.

I wanted to live in Grand Marais since I was a child. I guess what I really wanted was

 to live in Mayberry.

(the fictional setting for The Andy Griffith Show)

Well this ain't it 

and the sad part is that I think it could be 

  but it's going to take 5000 people to come together enough to make some positive changes.

 Rolling around in the back of my mind all this time 

(lots of room for rolling back there)

I have been planing some kind of interactive, organic blog that might help and

 this was the perfect week to put pen to paper for the rough draft and outline.

The week was perfect because Cook County was having a large jury trial that was expected to last the week.

I know this doesn't seem like much but up here jury trials are somewhat uncommon and I haven't seen one before.

Monday  morning I showed up at the courthouse with pen and note pad knowing there would be slow times to think and compile my overview and outline.

The blog I'm thniking about  would give every person a voice,  a site were they could post and read positive suggestion's and solutions,

maybe inspire some out of the box thinking,

any avenue to bring a community together.

.

After three and a half days in the courtroom,  my note pad is pretty full of ideas,

 and final arguments in the trial are complete and the case is in the hands of the jurors. Around 1:00 in the afternoon  I left the courthouse to run some errands.

I had left my number with someone to call me when they had reached a verdict, receiving no call I headed back to our house around 5:00 pm. By 5:15 my phone started to ring with calls that there had been a shooting in our courthouse and that people I know and care about are shot and or traumatized

Where the f--ks my Mayberry?

I will try to get the new blog running soon so we won't have any political views on this blog but if 5000 people can't get it right were screwed as a society.

The Wait is Over, Now It's Learning Time

Our wait ended today.

After a waiting period that felt longer then a performance of Madam Butterfly that I attended

some years back,

our copy of Maxim DL Pro was in the mail box!

I'm very happy we had to order the boxed software instead of the downlodable version because a 402 page manual was included, it's around $60.00 dollars more but not having to print it was worth every dime, besides its nicely printed.

Out comes the yellow highlighter, reading glasses and coffee with Baileys.

I need to read just enough right now to make sure all our drivers are 64 bit and compatible,

understand what hooks up and determine the last of our cable needs.

We are coming up on two year anniversary of the project and this blog and I would love to be showing you some photos of at least the solar system by then.