Remote Imaging 101: How to Operate a Remote Telescope

This podcast provides a guide for operating remote telescopes, covering the setup and usage of remote desktop software like Chrome Remote Desktop and VPN configurations for ASI Air devices. It demonstrates how to configure Nina for automated astrophotography, including setting up roof status monitoring and calibration frame capture, and explains methods to transfer captured image files to a local computer for processing, such as using Dropbox.

Remote Desktop Access

• 00:01:27 Remote desktop access is recommended for Mini PCs like Eagle, Belink, or MeLE Quieter. Chrome Remote Desktop is a free and stable solution requiring a Gmail account. It allows access to the remote Imaging PC as if it were a local system.

ASI Air Connection

• 00:01:53 For ASI Air devices, the connection involves an openVPN config file downloaded from the observatory. This provides a secure connection, enabling the user to operate the ASI Air as if they were physically present at the observatory.

Nina Setup

• 00:08:21 Nina configuration involves connecting to the roof status file using a generic ASCOM file safety monitor driver and mapping a network drive to the roof control system. Equipment drivers and options like pixel size and focal length need to be configured for optimal functionality.

Calibration Frames

• 00:23:01 Calibration frames like flats, darks, and biases are essential for astrophotography. Sky flats can be captured remotely using the Nina flat wizard, while dark and bias frames can be captured on cloudy nights or during the full moon using an automated cover or manual capping.

Data Transfer

• 00:27:30 Data transfer methods vary depending on the telescope setup. ASI Air data can be accessed by mapping a network drive to the ASI Air's IP address. Nina users can write files directly to a Dropbox folder, allowing for quick synchronization with a local computer. Managing storage space on the remote computer is essential.