Well, it looks like it is time to add an update. I have closed the observatory for the summer due to the heat. I was going to get well above 120 degrees in the observatory which wouldn't be good for the telescope or the computer equipment.

I was able get serveral observations in before I closed it up. I was finally able to submit a file of 10 PEP observations to the AAVSO using the SSP 3. Since February I was able to get IR observations of Beta Gem, SW Vir, and two runs on R Leo. The folks at the AAVSO has been kind enough to allow me to keep the SSP 4 photometer over the summer.

That is it for now. I hope to get everything set up again in early October.

Troy

The Las Vegas weather, while being nice temperature wise, has been filled with thin, hazy clouds. I was finally able to get out to the observatory for a quick observation with the SSP-4 on 2/9/2006. My target was W Ori. My magnitude values were J: 1.2 and H: .21.

The next few days look promising. Hopefully I can get out and add some more observations to the database.

Troy

Well, after being sick for a week and Las Vegas being under clouds for a few days, I was finally able to get out and do some photometry. I was able to warm up the SSP-4 and do a run on Eps Aur and Del Ori. Their magnitudes were J: 1.76 H: 1.62 and J: 2.77 H: 2.84 respectively. I was going to hit IS Gem with the SSP-3 but some clouds rolled in so that was it for the night.

Tonight doesn't look too good for observing but we'll see. I'd like to get a few more stars with the SSP-3. I have only done a few since the observatory has become operational. I'd like to get a total of ten before the end of the month.

I was able to get in a quick observation of Beta Per (Algol) before thin clouds started to roll in. My data showed a magnitudes of 2.09 in J band and 1.91 in H band. Estimated error was .07 and .06 respectively.

It looks like it will be cloudy for the next several days. I may not be able to get any more observations for a week or more. :-( Oh well, I'll take the down time to tidy up the observatory and make some minor upgrades.

We have had a string of clear nights here in Las Vegas. Last night, I was able to do an IR observation on W Ori (J: 1.21 H: .20). In addition to that, I was finally able to complete the calibration run with the SSP-3. So, now I can begin to use both photomters each night.

And tonight I did just that. I started out with IR observations of Mira and Algol. Then I switched to the SSP-3 for an observation of CE Tau. Then, back to the SSP-4 for an observation of Eta Gem. Finally, I followed that up with a SSP-3 observation of Eta Gem. I have not reduced tonight's IR observations since it is currently 11:30 pm. I will reduce them in the morning and submit them to the AAVSO tomorrow.

This is still a ton of fun and I don't mind the reduced sleep. It is gratifying to know that even with my modest equipment, I can make a contribution to astronomical research.

Tonight's weather was clear. The temperature was 40 degrees when I closed up. Downright balmy for those of you up North or back East. :-)

Today I was able to submit my first observations with the SSP-4. I submitted an observation for Rho Per (J: -.85 H: -1.72) and Mira (J: -.96 H: -1.56 ). Tonight I plan to make another IR run on Mira then do my calibration run with the SSP-3. If I have time after that, I'd like to do an IR run on Algol if it is still high enough. Last night's numbers on Algol had too much error in the numbers. Hopefully tonight will be better.

It looks to be clear for the next few nights so I hope to be productive with both photometers. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it stays clear.

Finally, on Wednesday night (1/4/2006) I was able to get my first observations (Rho Per) with the SSP-4 infrared photometer. It was a bunch of fun and I learned that the photometer needed a bit of adjustment in its offset.

Tonight, I was able to make another run on Rho Per with the SSP-4. The offset adjustment definitely made a difference. I hope to reduce the data tomorrow and see if it was a productive run.

I was also hoping to do a calibration run with my SSP-3 on an Orion red-blue pair of stars but cirrus drifted in before I could start. Grrrr. I need to get that calibration done so that I do some PEP V observations in between the IR observations.

One last thing...I am VERY happy with how everything in the observatory is working. The alignment is great and the trio of TheSky 6, TPoint, and Orchestrate works GREAT! The pointing accuracy is so good that I don't need to mount the finderscope and every object requires very little adjustment to put it in the center of the photometer. Needless to say, I'm quite happy with the performance of the observatory.

Now, if I can just get some clear nights.....

On Friday night (12/30/05) I was able to do a 68 star T-Point mapping run. It took nearly two hours but I think it was definitely worth it. After applying the models to the data, T-Point displays a pointing accuracy near 50 arc seconds. I am VERY pleased with that number, especially with a mass produced Celestron NexStar 11 GPS mount.

Now if we can get some clear skies here in Las Vegas I will be able to begin my IR PEP as well as traditional PEP observations.

Last night it cleared up enough for me to spend a couple of hours refining my polar alignment. I have never drift aligned before so it was kind of fun to see how it worked. While it was fun it definitely wasn't exciting. :-)

I was also hoping to do a calibration of my SSP-3 but too many clouds rolled in. With the forecast of clouds/rain over the next 5-7 days it looks like the calibration and use of the SSP-4 will have to wait till 2006.

Last night was the first night I was able to spend a couple of hours in the observatory since the concrete was poured. It performed great and I can't wait to spend hours each evening counting photons for the AAVSO.

The concrete pad for the observatory was poured a week ago (12/14/05) and I put the observatory back together Sunday (12/18/05). I was able to do an alignment on Monday (12/17/05) and everything seems to be working GREAT!

It is supposed to be clear tomorrow night so I hope to do a drift alignment and then begin making use of the SSP-4 IR photometer. I would also like to do a calibration run on the SSP-3. But, perhaps I'm being over ambitious. :-) Regardless, I'll keep you up to date.

Full use of the observatory will have to wait another couple of weeks. Next week, we will be laying a concrete pad for the observatory to sit on. I really should have done that beforehand but thought the floor would be ok on the ground. As it turned out, the ground isn't level enough so the floor flexes which isn't good for pointing accuracy. T-Point did a good job of correcting for the errors, so with a solid floor the pointing accruacy should be awesome!

On an exciting note, the AAVSO has been kind enough to send me a SSP-4 infrared photometer for long-term use. I am extremely excited about participating in this program. A big THANK YOU goes out to Dr. Arne Henden, director of the AAVSO, for loaning me the SSP-4.

With any luck (and weather permitting), the Hermitage Observatory will be up and running at full speed by the end of December doing both PEP V as well as PEP infrared observations for the AAVSO. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things will go smoothly.

The tripod arrived on 11/17/05 so I was able to install the wedge and get everything ready to do a polar alignment tonight. Everything went smoothly. The pointing was pretty impressive already but I will still do a drift align as soon as time permits. The APT wedge will make drift alinging pretty easy. I'm axious to do the drift align and then do a T-Point run and see how well that works. Once I'm done with that I'll be ready to start doing some PEP observations. Yipeee!

Over the last few days, I was able to put some finishing touches on the observatory. I have moved in a new desk and chair, installed some lighting, and hooked up XM Satellite Radio. The only thing that I am waiting on now is a heavy-duty tripod. The new tripod should be arriving either Thursday or Friday. Once the tripod/wedge installed and the telescope is mounted I'll be ready to polar align and do a T-Point run to improve pointing accuracy. Then it is off to calibrate the photometer and begin observations.

The site has been created as a journal of my backyard observatory.The primary objective of the observatory is photoelectric photometry (PEP) of variable stars. Its secondary objective is visual observing for fun. But, being located in Las Vegas, NV, deep sky observering is severely hampered by light pollution.