Rules for using the Cardiff Astronomical Observatory at Dyffryn Gardens Contents Menu Rules for accessing Dyffryn Gardens and using the Observatory 2 Access to Dyffryn Gardens out of hours 2 Access to Dyffryn Gardens normal opening hours 2 Instructions to open observatory roof 3/4/5 Priority for Observatory Use: 6 Observatory Code of Conduct 6 Misuse of Dyffryn Gardens or Observatory Property 6 Access Keys Contact Numbers 6/7 Three Star Alignment 8/9 Sun Alignment 10 Page 1
Rules for accessing Dyffryn CAS Observatory and using Telescope When members of Cardiff Astronomical Society wish to use the Observatory for observing or astrophotography, staff at Dyffryn Gardens and the observatory manager must be notified prior to using the observatory. Notifying the observatory manager Tel 07957871942 The observatory can be accessed night and day. During the day In the day you can arrive between 9am and 4pm and inform Dyffryn when you arrive. After 6 pm If you are using the observatory after 6pm in the evening Ring Dyffryn before 3pm on the day you require the observatory, and, request/inform them you would like to use the observatory that night. They will normally inform security and the outer gate will be left open for you. If you are a committee member you will know the security gate code. If you are a member you will be given the code when you inform the observatory manager you shall be using the observatory. When you arrive at Dyffryn after 6pm contact security by the telephone number shown below, or walk to the Corey Centre and inform the security guard you are on site. Dyffryn Tel No: 029 2059 3328 Security Tel No: 0750 501 1354 NB Close the observatory door and lock it top and bottom and put the keys back in the storage facility. Inform security you are going off site and leave Dyffryn Gardens in a quiet orderly manner, Page 2
Instructions that must be followed when opening the observatory and roof. FAILURE TO CARRY OUT THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL INVALIDATE OUR PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE AND OUR OBSERVATORY INSURANCE. When you arrive at the observatory park your car in the designated parking spaces do not park at the side of the observatory. Open the observatory door (when dark have a torch ready) and switch on the internal observator lights. Remove the dust cover from the scope and check the position of the scope. There should be two marks which line up on the side of the scope fork arm These indicate that the scope has been parked correctly and the roof will not be damaged when it is opened. Remove the protective lagging on the motor track. Locate the MCB board Image of MCB board Once inside the observatory switch on power by pushing up the three unmarked MCB switches located in the electric junction box. (MCB in Distribution Board) The switches marked with an X must never be turned off, i.e placed in the down position Above this box is a roof positioned 13A socket, switch this on. Page 3
Release the emergency stop by turning clockwise. Make visual check to see if there is no obvious obstructions i.e. telescope etc. Warn others you are about to open the roof. Press bottom button to open. shown below as Open (can stop the motor at any time by press the central button Stop.) If you hear any strange sounds press the Emergency stop button the roof will stop automatically. Switch off the 13A roof socket. When the roof opens completely, the lagging removed from inside observatory must now be installed over roof runner in the ceiling above the decking outside, use the restraining clips. For night use only. The power supply for a set of LED lights outside can now be plugged into the main socket on the outside wall to the right of the main door, and connected to the ceiling plug. The controller is over the desk to the right. The power supply is behind the door. Before closing, remove restraining clips and lagging above ceiling over the decking, and unplug LED lights from outside plug and ceiling. Put power supply on the shelf behind door. Page 4
Release the emergency stop by turning clockwise and switch on the roof 13A socket. Warn others you are about to close the roof. When closing the roof make sure it is clear of the telescope Make sure the emergency stop button is pushed in, the Roof socket is switched off, outside roof flap, opposite end to the door has been closed automatically. The 3 MCB's in the Distribution Board are off (in the down position) The switches marked with an X must never be turned off, i.e placed in the down position The lagging removed from outside observatory must now be reinstalled over roof runner in the ceiling inside with restraining clips. Complete the observatory book naming those who used the observatory and sign it. Before leaving the observatory make sure all lights are off and the observatory is clean and tidy. Close the observatory door and lock it top and bottom. Replace the coded lock and put the keys back in the storage facility. Leave Dyffryn Gardens in a quiet orderly manner, inform security you are going off site. Tel No: 07501501354 Page 5
Priority for Observatory Use: Scheduled Observatory Observing (Friday and Saturday) Star Partys (Fridays see dates on website) Solar Viewing (Saturday mornings when convenient) Official Society event Subgroup Observing - Astrophotography - Members Observing Scheduled School or Similar Groups First-Come Basis bookings observing (But Please Share!) Observatory Code of Conduct Sign-in (Logbook) and note condition of Observatory. Please be aware of the weather at all times. NO smoking in or near the observatory. NO alcoholic beverages permitted. NO parking on the grass at any time. Do not borrow items from the observatory without permission. Report any needed repairs or maintenance to the observatory manager or curator of instruments. NO changes or repairs, including collimation, without prior approval from the curator of instruments or observatory manager. Please report any issues during your visit to the observatory manager the following morning or as soon as possible to allow it to be rectified prior to next use. Do NOT clean eyepieces or other optics unless authorised. Key duplication is strictly prohibited. Record all authorised repairs in the Maintenance Log. Misuse of Dyffryn Gardens or Observatory Property The breaking of Dyffryn Gardens Rules or damage to grass areas will result in loss of site privileges and revoke of licence. The breaking of Observatory use rules and or continued breaking of the rules can result in revoking of Society membership at the discretion of CAS committee. Access Keys Observatory officers, subgroup leaders are entitled to keys as required. A deposit of 10 will be levied to cover replacement keys and transport cost to get keys cut. Deposit and signature are required, with NO exceptions. Deposits will be held by the Treasurer/ key holder. Lost keys and keys more than one week late will forfeit the deposit All keys are due to be shown on the 1st meeting of the New Year, or earlier upon request of Observatory manager. Page 6
At the discretion of the observatory manager, one or more sets of keys will be available to the general membership for sign-out periods up to two weeks. Even during this period, as other events might take place. Below you can find contact numbers. Be aware you might need to get the gate open for the emergency services to get in so you might need to engage the security guard at the site. South Wales Police /fire/ambulance in an emergency Local police station: Wenvoe ward in a Non-emergency dial 999 101 Observatory site address Dyffryn Gardens, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan. CF5 6SU Dyffryn Security lodge 0750 501 1354 The security office is situated in St Michaels cottage opposite the Cory education centre Observatory Manager 07957871942 Page 7
Three Star Alignment Procedure for Celestron 11" HD Edge To carry out this alignment the procedure for opening the observatory and the roof must have been completed successfully. The alignment of thetelrad and finder scope must be established with the main scope before the following procedure is used. (see below). Switch on power supply at the telescope pillar. Switch telescope on. Use to handset to move the scope for the following A bright star is centred in the Telrad alignment rings. Now check if the bright star can be seen in the finder scope and the main telescope. If yes move to step 1 below. If not then adjustments must be made as follows. a) using the handset centre the target star in the main scope b) screw the red light led into the the finder scope, adjust the finder scope to place the target star into the centre of the cross hairs. c) swich on the Telrad and check to see if the target star is in the centre of the Telrad image if not adjust by adjusting the three screws at the rear of the Telrad When above is complete 1 Switch on power supply at the telescope pillar. 2 Switch telescope on. 3 Pickup the hand set it should be switched on and showing scrolling instructions on the screen. 4 Select ENTER to begin alignment procedure. 5 Select method by using the No 9 key on the key pad (down ) and scroll to Three Star Align then select ENTER. Page 8
6 Pre select three stars two should be at one end of the compass N, S, E, W, the third should be the opposite. 7 Insert a 25mm eye piece in the telescope, for the first star, centre the star in the Telrad target rings 8 Now look through the finder scope and using the the keys on the key pad place the target star in the centre of the crosshairs, when successful select ENTER. 8 Move to the telescope eye piece and the target star should show in the eye piece, (if not use a larger 55mm eye piece). Centre the star in the eyepiece. Place a smaller eyepiece in the telescope and again centre the star (this allows us to be more accurate) now select ALIGN on the handset. 9 For the second star, centre the targetstar in the Telrad target rings centre the target star in the centre of the crosshairs finder scope using the keys on the key pad, when successful select ENTER. 10 Move to the telescope eye piece and the selected star should show in the eye piece, (if not use a larger 55mm eye piece). Centre the star in the eyepiece. Place a smaller eyepiece in the telescope and again centre the star (this allows us to be more accurate) now select ALIGN on the handset. 11 For the third star, centre the target star in the centre of the Telrad rings centre the star in the crosshairs of the finder scope using the keys on the key pad, when successful select ENTER. 12 Move to the telescope eye piece and the selected star should show in the eye piece, (if not use a larger 55mm eye piece). Centre the star in the eyepiece. Place a smaller eyepiece in the telescope and again centre the star (this allows us to be more accurate) now select ALIGN on the handset. 13 Wait for the handset to record "alignment successful" then select which Messier, planet etc you would like to access. Page 9
Align Telrad finder sope main scope Telrad 1. The main scope should be aligned on a well defined object more than 100ft away. 2. The finder scope should be aligned on the target 100ft away. 3. Place the Telrad on the scope, switch on and check the well defined object 100 ft away is in the middle of the red centre ring. Page 10
Sun Alignment Procedure for Celestron 11" HD Edge To carry out this alignment the procedure for opening the observatory and the roof must have been completed successfully. 1 REMOVE FRONT COVER FROM TELESCOPE AND REPLACE IT WITH THE SOLAR FILTER 2 Switch on power supply at the telescope pillar. 3 Switch telescope on. 4 Pick up hand set it should be switched on and showing scrolling instructions on the screen. 5 Select ENTER to begin alignment procedure. 6 Select method by using the No 9 key on the key pad (down ) and scroll to Solar System ALIGN, then select enter. 7 Hand set will show predetermined GPS settings, wait a few seconds will switch automatically to select object. 8 Use handset button No 9 (down) and scroll (in this case to sun) or any other planet you would like to follow. 9 Select SUN. 10 Centre the sun in the solar finder scope using the hand set. 11 Centre the sun in the Telescope eye piece, you may have to use a larger eyepiece, 55mm, select ALIGN. 12 Handset should say align successful. 13 The telescope will now track the sun. Page 11
Hibernate/Parking the scope Hibernate allows the telescope to be completely powered down and still retain its alignment when turned back on. This not only saves power, but is ideal for those that have their telescopes permanently mounted or leave their telescope in one location for long periods of time. To place your telescope in Hibernate mode: 1. Go to the Utilities Menu scroll to Hibernate 2. Move the telescope using the hand set keys to the desired position (FOR CLOSING THE ROOF) and press ENTER. 3. Power off the telescope. Remember to never move your telescope manually while in Hibernate mode. Once the telescope is powered on again the display will read Wake Up. After pressing Enter you have the option of scrolling through the time/site information to confirm the current setting. Press ENTER to wake up the telescope. Pressing UNDO at the Wake Up screen allows you to explore many of the features of the hand control without waking the telescope up from hibernate mode. To wake up the telescope after UNDO has been pressed, select Hibernate from the Utility menu and press ENTER. Do not use the direction buttons to move the telescope while in hibernate mode. Page 12