AAVSOnet Status, 2021-07-03

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Sun, 07/03/2022 - 11:22

Lots going on behind the scenes!  The AAVSOnet pipeline is now completely in the Amazon Cloud, including all of the archival images.  Cliff Kotnik and George Silvis earned kudos for their great work in making this happen.  The original servers have been removed from the old HQ and are stored elsewhere temporarily, while we decide on their disposition.

 

BSM_Berry.  Operational.

BSM_Hamren.  The MKS4000 control board has been replaced in the Paramount ME.  Josh Walawender (Keck) is leading the local effort on fixing the mount.  Hopefully, we will start testing this system in a week or so.

BSM_NH.  Operational.

BSM_NM.  Operational.

BSM_S.  Peter Nelson has ordered he new dome for the new enclosure, but it will be some time before the telescope is operational.

BSM_TX.  Preston Starr, the site manager, has swapped the QHY268M camera yet again.  The new camera is working well and data will start flowing as soon as we get new darks.

MPO61.  Bill, Bill and Walt have installed the 7-position Apogee filter wheel, while repairing the larger filter wheel, so the system is operational with a couple of unused filters removed from the rotation.

OC61.  Operational, though it has some drive issues.  This is the next system to be upgraded after we get Hamren going.

SRO50.  Off-line until the new enclosure in western New Mexico is completed.

TMO61.  Operational, though this is monsoon for New Mexico.

Arne

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
As a user, I am grateful to…

As a user, I am grateful to the people who dedicate their telescopes and/or their time keeping this network running for us.

Though I can't accurately quantify my use, I estimate that over the last 3 years I've received ~200 hours of data from everything from the Tak 180s to the 24" big guns. Considering that it cost me just AAVSO membership, that works out to ~$1 per observation hour. I don't know how I could beat that cost of use! If I had merely used my own systems, the cost would have been ~$30/hr, without the redundancy AAVSONet provides (for some targets I receive data from multiple systems)  and wouldn't have been able to reach some of the southern stars I observe. Such a deal!!

Peter

BPEC