Kahale Observatory (KOBS)

window.onbeforeunload = function () { window.scrollTo(0, 0); }
       Home Planning Weather Operations Images Class Materials Contact

      Latest Images:

3I/Atlas


We have a cosmic visitor from another star system zipping through our neighborhood: 3I/Atlas. Last weekend I was volunteering at the OMSI staff stargazing event up at LL Stubb Stuart St park. I brought my Celestron 14" with it's hyperstar and imaged it live for them to see. Once I got back home, I was able to process over 100 images to show it's progress across the sky. Zoom in to see the faint dots within the red outline. This is the 3rd interstellar visitor we've seen so far: Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov and now 3I/Atlas.
(Celestron 14", Hyperstar F2, ASI294mc pro (RGB), 100 images @ Exp 20s, Gain 0, Offset 0, Bin 1x1)

M106 Spiral Galaxy


(Celestron 14", Hyperstar F2, ASI294mc pro (RGB), 100 images @ Exp 40s, Gain 210, Offset 10, Bin 1x1)

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy


(Celestron 14", Hyperstar F2, ASI294mc pro (RGB), 100 images @ Exp 30s, Gain 210, Offset 10, Bin 1x1)

The Kahale Observatory is located on the central Oregon Coast. Currently it consists of a three fully automated astrophotography systems, a NexDom 8' observatory with a 10Micron mount on a pier, a field unit using a CGX-L mount, and a mobile unit with a CGE-Pro mount. Three different OTA's can be attached: a Celestron 14" SCT, Celestron 11" SCT and a Explorer Scientific 152mm refractor. The imaging stack includes a 7 position filter wheel and the ZWO 2600 pro, ZWO 1600 pro or a ZWO 294 color pro imager. It includes weather, telescope and dome monitoring equipment plus all skycameras, a rain and a cloud monitor.

Observatory Configuration

  • C14 mounted on 10Mircon
  • W/Power*Star Hub, RPI, ZWO 294 color, Dew Heaters, OAG-L w/ZWO guider(80mm)
  • Rain Sensor, Dome cntlr, Ambient weather station, allskycam

Field Observatory Configuration

  • ES152 mounted on CGX-L
  • W/Power*Star Hub, RPI, ZWO 2600pro w/Filter Wheel, Dew Heaters, OAG w/ZWO guider(80mm)
  • Field weather station, allskycam, fielddome w/cam

Rollout Configuration

  • C11 mounted on CGE
  • W/RPI/hub/GPS, ZWO 1600pro w/Filter Wheel, Pegasus UPB, Orion guider (60mm), dew heaters
  • Field weather station, allskycam, fielddome w/cam

Observatory Status:

  • Dome/Observatory setup and working
  • Field Observatory needs testing
  • Searching for permanent location for observatory (away from the coast)

Equipment

  • OTAs: C14 SCT, C11 SCT, Explorer Scientific 152 Acromate refractor
  • Mounts: 10Micron GM1000, GGX-L, CGE-Pro
  • StarSense Autoalign (only used for manual obs)
  • Guider: Orion StarTracker, (2) Orion CT80 w/ZWO Cam
  • Off-Axis-Guider: ASI OAG-l and OAG
  • Pwr Ctl: Wa-chur-ed Power*Star Hub, Pegasus UPB (universal power box)<
  • Autofocusers: MicroTouch w/ctlr, Moonlight w/KOBS ctlr, Pegasus w/ctlr
  • Cameras: ZWO 1600m, ZWO 2600mm, ZWO 294mc, ZWO 290m, ZWO 120c, Nikon D5500
  • (2) EFW 7 position filter wheel
    • Each w/ Luminance, Red, Green, Blue, Sii, Oiii, H_alpha
  • RPI Dome Cnl Box: Open/close, lights, NOIR camera
  • RPI Env Box: Allskycam, sky monitor, rain detector and temp/hum/dp
  • Two RPI Telescope Monitor and Control boxes (Ekos/Indi)
    • Internal UPB: 2 Stepper motor ctls, 2 PMI dew heater ctls, 4 12V switched outlets, GPS, 4 USB, WiFi and wired, temp/hum/dp sensor