Thoughts from Starlight Cascade

M3.9 Flare 2021May07 19:10UTC

The data closeup from the SCGO Radiojove radio telescope system for the M3.9 class flare from active region 2822 just coming onto the sun on 2021 May 07.

The spaceweatherlive android app gave us a smartphone alert very early on, allowing us to watch the event in progress. Unfortunately the audio recording system failed Oh well, more time to fix it for the next time.

The Y axis levels are relative, but generally they are lower than 2000. We start recording after a 4500 value (when it works).

The radiojove data gets saved out at 00:00UTC, then we can load it and generate a custom graph.

You can see live data updated every 30 minutes at https://starlightcascade.ca/radiojove/

Most rolloff roof observatory designs have a “flippy board” feature that flips up before rolling the roof off. This allows for clearance of any instruments you may have inside, and covers the gap when the roof is closed, where the roof meets the wall.

In the past, when we had a metal roof, we used a large flippy board (ie very tall) as the roof span was 10′ and the roof integrity was such that it did in fact sag. Especially when loaded down with wet snow.
So we needed a larger clearance. When the roof blew off and was replaced with this wooden roof in 2018, we reused as much as we could including this flippy board made of 3/8″ plywood, with some 1×4’s as stiffening, in an 8′ section and a 2′ section.

We know.. a recipe for disaster/failure. Well, three years later, the flippy board has to go. It had warped so much that it did not keep out the weather in many places.

So, off it came and we decided upon building up the wall section to meet the roof with a small a clearance as possible. Since the new wooden roof was much stronger, and showed now signs of sag at all, we aimed for a 1/4″ clearance between roof and wall.

It was built from a 5/4″x6″ cedar board that came from the old metal roof skirt. Being a little short, two pieces were made and attached. In addition, a 1×4″ was mounted on the roof section to provide a nailing surface that stuck out a bit for the weatherstripping cover we would add later, also scavenged from the flippy board. This is the final part, old lawn edging attached and covering the 1/4 to 1/2″ gap. It turned out to be a little inflexible, so slits were cut vertically in it from the bottom, every foot or so. Now it closes without too much force.
The first weather test was the snow and rain we received a few days later… so far, no snow or rain inside!

The Starlight Cascade Gardens and Observatories 1st rolloff roof observatory was built in 2003. It is an 8×10 metal shed from Canadian Tire that was repurposed. The external rails/outriggers are 2×8 originally (2003) and sistered later on for a wider track for the wheels. They have been alternately painted, stained and varathaned, all in an attempt to preserve them.
After 18 years they are disintegrating.

So the latest plan is to cap them with a metal to provide bot some protection to stop further damage, and to provide a better rolling surface for the seven 3″ wheels on the rail.
So we found some old metal infrastucture from the old metal roof shed that blew off 3 years ago and pounded them flat. They were installed and then pounded again into an “L” shape and then screwed in.

The existing 1/4 round is used as a guide/ridge for the wheels to stay on track. They were removed and then put back in place again.

So, in the end, of the two x16′ of rail, we were able to cover approx 18′.. we ran out.
Even so, the roof does move better now than before, and once we can find more material to complete the project.. Yay!

Yes.. another astronomy post… well.. it just snowed again yesterday and went down to -7C this morning.. so gardening season is not quite here yet.
So.. onto RadioAstronomy!
On sunday morning at 08:30EDT, the data intensity levels from this radiojove receiver (now operating for 10 years 24/7), went from approx 1.5K to 31K. turning on a speaker brought forth noise. loud noise. Eventually the unit was brought inside and taken apart. No evident damage inside (ie no exploded capacitors, burnt components, etc).
Plugged it into 12vdc power and inserted headphones and turned it on… NOISE!
wow. ok.. that is the issue then. Not the USB sound adapter, not the laptop, not the antenna.
Checking the power supply first.. hmm only shows 11.1VDC without a load. That seems a little low.
Lets replace that first and see what happens… now rooting through bins of power adapters….

**Update 2021April02
After testing the 12vdc power adapter, and then testing another (spare) one at 12.56vdc, the spare power supply worked! The old power supply failed! The radiojove system is operational again as of Friday afternoon with what looks like good data, and good levels.