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Do not drop black screws from the top of the deck in the middle
of the black night. Rising Moon photo taken from the deck with
iPhone camera (c) Mike Otis |
Today I worked on preparing the 9.25-inch telescope for use. If anything can go wrong, it certainly will. This is the story of cleaning up the aftermath.
1) First, I removed the four covers including the tent and set aside. The finderscope was too high on top of the tube and it was dangerous standing on a small step stool. So I took off the finderscope mount and relocated it to the side of the OTA where a step stool is not required. Of course, that forced my fingers between a rock and a hard spot everytime I tighten the OTA onto the mount. Then, Murphy informed me that trying to put a black screw into a black hole, on a black OTA end, during the blackness of night, was not going to happen. Being a thousand feet up in the air, I absolutely did not want the tiny screw falling to its imminent death. About an hour later, I had the finderscope mount attached with the two black screws using a magnetized screwdriver, installed the finderscope slide mount, installed the finderscope, then calibrated the finderscope using the double light on the top of a distant skyscraper the better part of a mile away.
2) The wind was howling loudly like a werewolf in heat! The small crack in the sliding door to send out the two power cables was causing a sucking draft and noise. Also these cables were unsightly and caught in the curtains. I adjusted the cables, minimized the sliding door openings and rerouted cords under the curtains. I think I got it about right.
3) The other night, when telescope observing Jupiter, and without my knowledge of what had happened, my big butt bumped the water spigot on the deck wall turning on the water. Water sprayed out in the dark all over the deck floor and I thought it was the floor drain backing up because it was gurgling as it dispelled water! After finding some light, I realized what had happened and turned off the water spigot. The dust on the floor turned into mud and I had throw rugs placed by the entrance. Today I fixed the water spigot with good ol' American duct tape, the kind that saved Matt Damien's life in The Martian and the astronauts on Apollo 13. Beyond a doubt, duct tape is the most useful item to have in any tool and repair kit whether you're repairing a space station on Mars, traveling home from the Moon, or a fixing a deck observatory.
4) Next, to make more space against the water spigot wall, the massive equatorial mount with counterweight sticking out was moved farther out to the center of the deck. The OTA was locked down as a safety precaution. The primary mirror was also put into lockdown.
5) This upset the directional pointing to approximate North which is obscured by the skyscraper. I retrieved the analog compass and spent some time in the dark getting the adjustment, all over again, compensating for magnetized metal and any EMI blockage. I used the flashlight function on the iPhone for light. Turn on your phone, log in, swipe from top-right down to bottom-left and the menu appears. Then select the flashlight.
6) After setting North, I realized the mount was far from being level. I started working on adjusting the three tripod legs but at 105 deg. F. and 88% relative humidity, my spent old body began to heat stroke, the ticker started acting up, and I had to call it quits.
7) After a half hour rest under the indoor air conditioner, I went out again and locked down the OTA and mount for earthquakes and put on the first "fabric" moisture absorbent cover, followed by a waterproof covering, and then the second waterproof covering. Finally the waterproof tent was placed over the telescope and locked down. Now I see clouds moving in. I'm calling it a night.
8) Damn Murphy. I got up to take a gander through the window and I see 3 stars, Jupiter, and Saturn. It looks like the haze disappeared, clouds are gone and it's another perfect seeing night. Well, I must just keep driving myself each day step by step until the telescope is fully operational.
