The Telescopes at the Grove Creek Observatory

                      Short Summary:

C14 Public Remote Internet Telescope System:

In May 2008, the C14 was removed from the Main Dome and installed on a Astro-Physics GTO-1200 mount and pier, in our newly completed robotic sliding roof Middle Observatory. This enabled us to put it online for remote use via the internet, for everyone to use. Astro-Physics guarantee the 1200GTO mounts to have a periodical error of 5 arc seconds or less, before PEC (Periodical Error Control) software training. However, our mount arrived with only a 2.14 arc second error, which was further trained down to 0.5^sec using Pempro. No RA error can be detected up to a 4 minute exposure at the celestial equator (or zero degrees declination - the greatest area of possible RA movement). Even though you would think that there would not be any movement in RA with such a low PE, this is still not possible due to the fact that RA movement is not uniform across the sky, due to atmospheric refraction, mount and optics can be effected by wind vibration, temperature changes, balance, tiny orthogonal or polar mount errors - even for the world's most advanced telescope mount systems. Therefore exposures are limited to 4 minutes but with CCD imaging, users can easily take multiple images and stack them, to simulate one long exposure.

Research conducted by users of Grove Creek's C14 Telescope include vital work with NEODyS - the search for Near Earth Objects (609 observations, as of June 2010 alone!), The International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center (which Grove Creek Observatory is officially designated as E-16) - where the C14 is responsible for several discoveries of minor planets, including one asteroid named as "Grove Creek", in honour of this facility, thousands of variable star observations via members of the American Association of Variable Star Observers - AAVSO (including 6 supernova discoveries) and general CCD imaging of interesting objects. Click here for a small sample of CCD images.

This telescope is available for remote internet use.
If you would like to use it - please click here for full information.

THE CELESTRON C-14" (36cm) SCHMIDT CASSEGRAIN
When used for Public tours - a unique history!
Celestron Pacific C14 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
Aperture: 36cm (14")  Focal Length: 3,910mm  Focal Ratio: f/11

Click here to watch a video about the C14, before it was upgraded.

Light Path through a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope

This is the most outstanding instrument at the Grove Creek Observatory. With a focal length of 3,910mm, this telescope is used for high resolution objects. Being a Schmidt Cassegrain, it provides a higher contrast than even larger Newtonian telescopes. The C14 was built in 1971 and was the second model made by the "Celestron Pacific" telescope company, using the original sturdy "sand-cast" rigid fork (with the original three paint scheme of white, grey and light blue tube). Its 36cm primary mirror is of an exceptional high optical standard - going beyond testing equipment that could measure an accuracy of 1/10 wavelength of light. The C14 can operate visually at f/11 or f/7 and can be configured with huge a variety of combinations for different types of astrophotography and CCD imaging. The old fork base was mounted on a home-made 60kgs equatorial wedge, constructed from 2 x 23mm stainless steel plates. This was attached to massive pier in the main dome, driven 6 metres into the ground and totally isolated - with no part of the building touching it. The pier is 50cm in diameter and constructed with a solid steel core of 18cm diameter, surrounded by concrete and sealed with a large gas pipe on the outside.

The C14 at Grove Creek has its own fame, as many live astronomical events were recorded with special video cameras attached, including live images of the Shoemaker-Levy Comet hitting Jupiter in July 1994, that were shown via a live satellite feed throughout the world on Australian and international TV, including CNN, the BBC and Channel 7. Well over 10,000 people viewed Halley's Comet through this telescope when it was installed at Grove Creek in 1985. Many professional and amateur astronomers that visited Grove Creek, were often amazed with the optics of this telescope. 

In 1998, extensive electrical upgrades were made by Christopher Ralph and Steven Williams, to replace the old original Right Ascension AC clock tracking and DC slewing motor (abbrev. "RA" - the east/west movement) and the DC Declination motor (abbrev. "DEC" - the north/south movement) with a home-made Z-80 processor controlled stepping motor control system. For the first time on such an old mount, high magnification "auto-guiding" astrophotography and the early days of astronomical CCD imaging was then made possible with this system. The periodical error of the mount was only 8 arc seconds, which was remarkable, considering its age and that it was never designed for such an advanced role. Along with the electronic tracking upgrades, a Celestron Astro-Master computerised digital setting circle was also installed, to make finding objects a breeze. An innovation that was never even dreamed of, when the mount was designed in the late 60's! Previously, tedious sightings had to be read from old mechanical setting circles attached to the mount. Grove Creek was one of the first observatories to use and develop a SBIG ST-4 CCD autoguider and stunning film photos were achieved as a result.

Then two disasters struck... In 1999, one of the most severe storms ever seen in the area totally blew the entire 300kgs dome off its rails, driving it into the telescope's mount and destroyed the delicate RA gearing system and mounting hardware for the optical encoders. However, even with such amazing force, the optics of this ruggedly built telescope didn't even loose collimation! Fortunately (and very generously) Celestron, understanding that this particular telescope was of special vintage, re-built the RA gear system at no charge and the dome was modified so such an horrible incident could never happen again. However, to the complete dread of everyone involved with Grove Creek, a violent electrical strike directly hit the C14 in 2002, which not only caused massive damage to most of the electrical devices and appliances throughout the observatory but totally destroyed both the home-made drive controller, Astro-Master and optical encoders. Parts for the previous home-made drive system were no longer available, so it was replaced with a third-party commercial computerised duel stepping motor drive system. The Celestron Astro-Master was replaced with a Argo Navis digital setting circle computer, with RS2-232 planetarium control functions and 10,000 ticks/rev encoders, from Wildcard Innovations from 2002 - 2008.

Meade 30.5cm (12") LX-200 "Classic Model":
(Now Decommissioned)
   
Dedicated Photometric SBIG ST-9XE CCD imaging telescope system
Focal Length = 1,770mm Aperture = 300mm Focal Ratio = f/5.9
FOV: 19.9x19.9^min. Image Scale=2.339^secs/pixel Bin1x1

Now located in the Middle Observatory, we use the LX-200 12" for photometric CCD imaging. This telescope was used from June 2004 to January 2007 for the Wheaton Internet Telescope Project with a SBIG ST-8XE CCD camera. The telescope was replaced with another telescope for the Wheaton Project, after many problems with blown electronics, GOTO motors and a faulty secondary mirror holder. In addition, the ST-8XE and filter wheel was also faulty and the electronics had to be replaced. After Prof. Tim Barker from Wheaton College very kindly donated the system to Grove Creek, the 12" was totally re-built with new electronics and software, that allowed it to be "parked" (tracking turned off) without loosing position of the known sky, along with many other enhancements and upgrades. The ST-8XME suffered more problems in 2009, which required another repair but unfortunately again damaged in March 2010, following rain. However, after extensive repairs, it is now working again and is installed on the C14. To replace this camera for the 12" LX-200, Steven's very sensitive SBIG ST-9XE camera was installed on the 12". Although a much smaller chip, the large pixels provide a good combination for sensitivity and short exposure time, for photometry work.

Although the 12" was used for a further 3 years over the internet and moved to a new pier in the Middle Observatory, it was still very difficult and costly to maintain. In June 2010, it was finally taken off-line as an "Internet Telescope", due to tracking problems and lack of a replacement of a new motherboard. Meade Instruments no longer supply parts for these models of telescopes, so they are difficult to repair. It is now only used when staff are physically on-site at the observatory via our Local Area Network, for photometric work in association with the AAVSO.

Meade 12" LX-200 Filters in the SBIG CFW8A Filter Wheel.
Astrodon Schuler Photometric Research rVbiC filters:

The 5 filter positions for the SBIG CFW8a filter wheel are: 1-Rs, 2-V, 3-Bu, 4-Is, 5-Clear
The drop down filter selection box in the software lists them as r V b i C D (D = Dark Frame)

These filters used for photometric studies and are based upon Bessell's 1992 modification of the Johnson-Cousins design.
The RVBCI filters were very kindly donated by the American Association of Variable Star Observers.

Meade 25cm (10") LX-200 GPS Model.

Dedicated SBIG STL-1001E CCD Internet remote controlled system
AP=250mm FL= 2,760mm FR=f/11.04 FOV=30.6^min square.
 Array= 1024x1024 @ 24microns/pixel. Image Scale=1.79^sec/pixel
See our Wheaton Telescope Web Page for further details

This telescope is installed in the Western Observatory at Grove Creek. Please go to our Wheaton Project Web Page for full details about this dedicated CCD remote internet telescope. This is the next model above the "classics" - and the GOTO motors are a lot more reliable and sturdy.

14" Meade RCX-400 Telescope:

Another telescope, associated with the Wheaton Project

This telescope is owned by Steven Williams and is used as a personal viewing instrument at Grove Creek, as most of the other telescopes are dedicated CCD imaging instruments only. This telescope is currently installed in the main dome and is a non-modified "classic" model. In January 2009, a special pier adaptor plate was installed to enable a LX-200 Wedge base, Paramount ME mount or a Astro-Physics Mount, as the previous C14 was moved into the Middle Observatory in May 2008. A CCD camera for personal use can be easily installed, operated from a PC in the control room (see right image).

20cm (8") f/7 Newtonian Telescope:
  
 (Mounted on  "Samson" Equatorial Mount LEFT, Sturdy wooden Dobson Mount RIGHT)

The 8" (20cm) f/7 Newtonian telescope provides a nice contrast and compliments the larger telescopes at Grove Creek. Being one of the most common type and size of a serious amateur telescope, this telescope is provided as a "learning tool" for visitors at Grove Creek, who may be thinking of starting the hobby of astronomy and what they can expect from a (comparably affordable) and portable instrument. This telescope can be placed on an German Equatorial Mount (which tracks the movements of stars) or on a common Dobson Mount, to enable those people that are not used to a telescope, to just roam the skies with. A telescope like this with a Dobson (non-tracking) mount, is a good "starter telescope" and simple models can start from around AUD$700, without accessories. The equatorial mount shown is known as a "Samson Mount" are no longer made any more but used to be a very popular mount available from Astro Optical, in Sydney, Australia. Please note that despite the many offers we receive via email, this mount is NOT for sale at any price, as it has a suburb low periodical error and is owned by Jim Lynch.

Small Radio Telescope:

The Small Radio Telescope (S.R.T) uses a 2.3m diameter dish driven by an altitude/azimuth computer control drive system with an FFT based radio spectrometer receiver operating between 1370 - 1800 MHz to make various radio astronomy observations including the 21 cm (1420 MHz) spin flip line of atomic hydrogen. The receiver uses digital technology with a 8-bit analogue to digital down converter, digital signal processor (DSP) and is controlled remotely using a STAMP microprocessor and RS-232 communications. Projects are submitted by users in the astronomical community, where the resulting data is passed on over the internet for further study.

Jove Riometer:

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