Otis AstroImaging Log Wednesday May 18 2022
Weather
After I bought the new sun telescope, the local weatherman announced the return of the Monsoon season (rainy season) which is highly unusual for this time of year. I can expect another month of rain every day. This is what happens when you buy a telescope.
Solar Telescope
The Solar Telescope is prepared, filterized, and ready to go when the sky clears. Several times in the late afternoon, the sun briefly appears through haze and in between openings in the clouds. The opening are short lived and the direction of the evening sun is on the opposite side of the observatory - blocked by a tall skyscraper. The roof, thousands of feet high, is a less safe option at this time as high winds often accompany the Monsoon. The higher you go, the stronger the wind. At ground level, there is no wind, but at the upper atmosphere level the clouds can move 1,000 mph. When the cycle of weather rotates, it will flip flop to some brief cloud openings in the morning sky when the sun is properly positioned for solar study.
Observatory Platform
The Observatory Platform needs only 3 more empty water bottles and construction can resume. It takes a total of 40 bottles to complete the backing spacer. Each water bottle base can handle up to 1,000 PSI. The add-on backing is required because the outdoor steel rail has a raised floor foot that prevents the original platform configuration from butting up against the railing. With the added backing, the platform will reach the railing and have a firm strong area for connection. The platform is now made dual purpose, and will have full functionality both indoors and outdoors depending on long term seasonal environmental conditions.
Earthquakes
When installed outdoors, the observatory platform will be anchored to the steel railing with a backing of 40 extra strong 1,000 PSI empty recycled water bottles with a blanket 40,000 PSI strength. The connection is to withstand a category 5 to 5.5 earthquake force jolt. As earthquakes are frequent and common, there's no telling when the next one will occur. Therefore, the platform may remain firmly anchored on the outside observatory and have a covering in place to resist the weathering for at least a season. Earthquakes are another topic regarding the telescopes and will be handled as a separate challenge.
This Pacific area is active geologically, formed on a complex convergent boundary between the Yangtze Subplate of the Eurasian Plate to the west and north, the Okinawa Plate on the north-east, the Philippine Sea Plate on the east and south, and the Sunda Plate to the southwest. Subduction changes direction at this location. The upper part of the crust is primarily made up of a series of terranes, mostly old island arcs which have been forced together by the collision of the forerunners of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, which is moving to the northwest. These have been further uplifted as a result of the detachment of a portion of the Eurasian Plate as it was subducted beneath remnants of the Philippine Sea Plate, a process which left the crust underneath this Pacific area more buoyant.
Earthquake-Proof Telescope
One of the best ways to handle the outdoor observatory platform earthquake forces on the telescopes will be to bring in the telescopes to a safer prepared haven indoors after a night of use. For this reason, telescopes are kept lightweight on purpose and are relatively easy to move. Earthquakes shake up and down, left and right, and in contorted directions and can last a full minute, more or less. The force of an earthquake can vary during the earthquake and rapid buzzing and vibration is not uncommon. Telescopes which have a higher center of mass are easy and dangerous targets for quakes to topple. The higher the center of mass, the more the moment of inertia will result. Many small earthquakes are happening all the time, many of which are not detected by human body, or, a feeling of motion sickness may result. There are many ways to detect these - one way is observing things in a residence that will appear to slip, slide and fall without reason.
Ordering is a Three Step Process
Step one is complete. The sun telescope arrived with the purchased solar filter accessory. Step two remains to obtain solar filter number two and a solar telescope interface to a new mount. Step three remains, to order a number of mixed astro parts necessary to complete intricate operations at Sun Baked Observatory.
Contents
Weather
Solar Telescope
Observatory Platform
Earthquakes
Earthquake-Proof Telescope
Ordering is a Three Step Process
