moffatastronomy.com
THE PROJECT
The idea of creating an observatory for the Moffat community goes back to the very first meeting of the then newly formed Moffat Astronomy Club in 2015 which decided to pursue a practical as well as an academic approach to its astronomical pursuits. The happy coincidence of the award of Dark Sky status for the town (see other pages on this web site for the background) and the opportunity to make a grant application in July 2016 to the Clyde Wind Farm Moffat Construction Fund came together and the first funds to start the project were awarded.
SSE have been our principle funder and we take the opportunity here to thank them for their contribution but our thanks are also due for the significant and ongoing in kind contribution provided to us by the landowner Robert Smith, and the assistance from Sir Robert McAlpine which provided the path and ramp access to the observatory.
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Thanks are also due to members of the Moffat Astronomy Club, past and present, who have contributed so much of their time and effort.
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THE MOFFAT COMMUNITY OBSERVATORY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM..
SSE COMMUNITY FUNDS
ROBERT SMITH
SIR ROBERT MCALPINE
OUR EQUIPMENT
TELESCOPE - MEADE 16" LX600 ACF OTA
Using Advanced Coma-Freeâ„¢ (ACFâ„¢) optics, the 16" optical tube assembly (OTA) employs a fast f/8 optical system with high-contrast baffling that insures crisp, pinpoint imaging to the very edge of the field. (with 29mm and 14 mm eyepieces) Features an internal zero image shift Crayford-style focusing system with a two-speed 7:1 reduction control that provides smooth, precise focusing at any magnification.
Also features Meade's Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) for maximum brightness and contrast, an oversized low-expansion primary mirror for extra aperture and to prevent thermal expansion of the mirror, and diffraction-limited optics.
Aperture: 406mm
Focal Length: 3251 mm
TELESCOPE MOUNTÂ - IOPTRON CEM120
A center-balanced equatorial mount (CEM)
Observatory astrophotography mount ideal for both visual and Astro-photographers
Payload of 115 lbs (52 kg) with the mount weight of 57 lbs (26 kg)
Easy to use and reliable gear clutches
Precision altitude and azimuth adjustment.
Precision stepper motor with 0.07 arcsec accuracy for precise GOTO and accurate tracking
Polar alignment routine for those who can't see the Pole Star
Go2Nova® 8407 V2 controller with Advanced GOTONOVA® GOTO Technology with built in heater
High precision tracking with low periodic error (PE)<±3.5 arcsec
Permanent periodic error correction (PPEC)
32-channel Global Positioning System (GPS)
Built-in WiFi and LAN for remote operation
Integrated ST-4 autoguiding port
IMAGING CAMERA
Our mount will be suitable for observational astronomy and astro imaging. We can attach a ZWO DSO cooled camera for supervised and autoguided astro imaging sessions.