AP130 Version 2.1: Moving to a Pier and a New Computer!

Astro-Physics 130mm Platform
Written By Patrick A. Cosgrove

Dates: May 14 2025 - Now

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    Summary of Changes

    A Move to a Steel Pier

    After many years of using the trusty IOptron Tri-Pier to hold this telescope up, a major change has been made!

    With the completion of my Whispering Skies Observatory Project, the AP130 telescope platform has now been moved to its steel pier in the Northwest corner of the observatory!

    This should prove to be a very solid mount for this heavy platform.

    I used a modified IOptron Top Pier plate to adapt the CEM 60 mount to the pier. The Pier was drilled out to support the four bolts that secure the top plate to the top of the pier, and then the CEM60 just dropped into place!

     

    The top of thepier with the 4 bolt holes

    Bolts just started - note the countersinking on the holes.

    Bolted down!

    The scope mounted!

    A New Micro-Computer

    As with all of the scope now mounted in the observatory, I have also shifted from a laptop computer to control it over to a new Mele Quieter 4C fanless micro computer. This computer is mounted on the pier using a custom 3D-printed bracket and a long cable strap.

    New Software

    In addition to this, I have moved from using Sequence Generator Pro to using NINA. NINA is free, and in my opinion, is easier to use and has superior capabilities.

    Current Configuration

    So here is where the AP130 Platform is at now:

    • Scope: Astro-Physics 130mm F/8.35 Starfire APO built in 2003

    • Guide Scope: Televue TV76 F/6.3 480mm APO Dublet

    • Main Focus: Pegasus Astro Focus Cube 2

    • Guide Focus: Pegasus Astro Focus Cube 2

    • Mount: Custom Steel Pier - New

    • Tripod: IOptron Tri-Pier with column extension - new

    • Main Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro

    • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7x36

    • Filters: ZWO 36mm unmounted Gen II LRGB filters

      Astronomiks 36mm unmounted 6nm Ha, OIII, & SII filters

    • Rotator: Pegasus Astro Falcon Camera Rotator

    • Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM-Mini

    • Power Dist: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox

    • USB Dist: Startech 7-slot USB 3.0 Hub

    • Computer: Mele Quieter 4C Micro computer running Win 11

    Patrick A. Cosgrove

    A retired technology geek leveraging his background and skills in Imaging Systems and Computers to pursue the challenging realm of Astrophotography. This has been a fascinating journey where Art and Technology confront the beauty and scale of a universe that boggles the mind…. It’s all about capturing ancient light - those whispering photons that have traveled long and far….

    https://cosgrovescosmos.com/
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    WO132 version 4.1: Moving to a Steel Pier and a new Computer!