The plan is still on, I am attempting to ramp up my business in order to get to the point where I can purchase everything that I will need. But I am restless, the problem is that I have a need to tinker. To this end I have bought an Aurduino Uno board as a platform for building a Temperature compensating focuser. The focuser software will run under Linux Mint.
The thing that has always bothered me about Amateur astronomy is that the tools we need for our hobby cost so much. Software which should not be expensive is either hundreds or thousands of dollars. This needs to change, which is why I started OpenAIP. However this project will never get finished as long as all of the tools needed to go around it are gestating. The good news is that there are good hardware platforms on Windows and Linux, ASCOM and INDI respectively. The next step is to build the tools on top of these platforms for image processing.
GIMP should do the job of Photoshop, and to a certain extent it does. But we have no equivalent for Maxim DL (hence OpenAIP). My personal opinion is that a version of linux dedicated to astronomy should exist. One where you can simply boot your computer up and try it or install it and make it work for you. But this is a goal far off in the future, for now I will start with my focuser and eventually get back to OpenAIP.
Look forward to tutorials for installing INDI on Linux Mint/Ubuntu.
Ed.
Of course after I wrote this Cinnamon inexplicably crashed so hard I had to re-image the machine overnight.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Factoring integers for fun and profit
Sorry for the time between posts. I have been working on a project which has been monopolizing my time. Anyway we had a lull at work and there is a problem which crops up periodically which is I get a 3-5 digit number which I think might be prime. While my TI-89 will factor integer I also thought it would be relatively easy to write a program which is determines primality simply by searching for a divisor. Once a divisor greater than 1 and less than the number is found the number is composite.
Hence you simple use the mod operator in C to find a divisor and you only need to check integer less in the desired range if you do not find one then the number is prime. This program is a strait forward exersise I am thinking of giving to some of my programming tutoring students. Now I told one of the other tutors about this and they asked me if 2013 was prime, which I responded it was not. They asked me what its factorization was, which I did not know. They seemed upset, so challenge accepted. Next I was extending my program to provide the prime factorization of a number less than UINT_MAX which happens to be the same as ULONG_MAX. The result is this file.
The interesting thing is that trial division is highly inefficient method of doing prime factorization. However for integers up to 2^32-1 computers are fast enough for this method to give results in a reasonable amount of time. (1-2 secs) Now keep in mind that this is purely an interesting side project for me, as it has no practical use, i.e. code-breaking.
What was amazing was that when I went to ULLONG_MAX which is 2^64-1, this program broke. Not only is it too slow but the sheer size of integers causes segmentation faults. The first solution I thought of was using libpari to generate a list of primes. However libpari could only do this on a 64-bit native system, so the next step is to create a class which generates at its instantiation the list of primes from 2 to 2^64-1 (well 2^64-59 inclusive) This will require implementation of a decent prime sieve, since I have written Sieve of Eratosthenes before I am thinking that I will implement the Sieve of Atkin.
My hope is that this process will yield an algorithm that is O(n/log(n)) at detecting primes after the list has been generated. Doing this for arbitrary primes is a much harder question. <-massive understatement! If you have not done this and are interested in programming I highly suggest doing it once, its a wonderful afternoon of work.
Ed. Do the back of the envelope calculation on how much memory you would need to hold all of the primes less than 2^64-1. Its a steep hill to climb.
Hence you simple use the mod operator in C to find a divisor and you only need to check integer less in the desired range if you do not find one then the number is prime. This program is a strait forward exersise I am thinking of giving to some of my programming tutoring students. Now I told one of the other tutors about this and they asked me if 2013 was prime, which I responded it was not. They asked me what its factorization was, which I did not know. They seemed upset, so challenge accepted. Next I was extending my program to provide the prime factorization of a number less than UINT_MAX which happens to be the same as ULONG_MAX. The result is this file.
The interesting thing is that trial division is highly inefficient method of doing prime factorization. However for integers up to 2^32-1 computers are fast enough for this method to give results in a reasonable amount of time. (1-2 secs) Now keep in mind that this is purely an interesting side project for me, as it has no practical use, i.e. code-breaking.
What was amazing was that when I went to ULLONG_MAX which is 2^64-1, this program broke. Not only is it too slow but the sheer size of integers causes segmentation faults. The first solution I thought of was using libpari to generate a list of primes. However libpari could only do this on a 64-bit native system, so the next step is to create a class which generates at its instantiation the list of primes from 2 to 2^64-1 (well 2^64-59 inclusive) This will require implementation of a decent prime sieve, since I have written Sieve of Eratosthenes before I am thinking that I will implement the Sieve of Atkin.
My hope is that this process will yield an algorithm that is O(n/log(n)) at detecting primes after the list has been generated. Doing this for arbitrary primes is a much harder question. <-massive understatement! If you have not done this and are interested in programming I highly suggest doing it once, its a wonderful afternoon of work.
Ed. Do the back of the envelope calculation on how much memory you would need to hold all of the primes less than 2^64-1. Its a steep hill to climb.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Recipies Page
Hi All,
Apparently people are now interested in what I am eating, which I kind of do not understand but no matter. I have added a recipes page with my first recipe, a marinated London Broil which I may cook for this weekend again. Stay tuned for Teriyaki Salmon, Paleo-Pizza, and others. Find the link at the top.
Apparently people are now interested in what I am eating, which I kind of do not understand but no matter. I have added a recipes page with my first recipe, a marinated London Broil which I may cook for this weekend again. Stay tuned for Teriyaki Salmon, Paleo-Pizza, and others. Find the link at the top.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Happy Holidays
Hi All,
I hope your are having a happy holiday season. I am sick as usual, but I did get a wonderful Christmas Gift of slippers from my Mother. I am now eating solid food again and it is glorious, as I am finally getting the hang of eating with this new digestive tract. I think I will try to make some pizza soon with pita bread as a crust.
In the interim I would like to discuss the notion of hobbies. I think that one of the reasons people are so miserable is that they do not have hobbies. Notice I didn't say a hobby, I said hobbies. Hence, since I am going to get a digital SLR anyway. I am going to go ahead and learn how to take pictures and edit them in Photoshop and Lightroom. This is on top of rebuilding my electronics making capacity.
Ultimately I want you guys to stay tuned for some interesting developments in January. I hope to have a line of EQMOD cables for purchase. Along with maybe some serial bulb cables to control Canon camera's via a Serial/USB port.
I hope your are having a happy holiday season. I am sick as usual, but I did get a wonderful Christmas Gift of slippers from my Mother. I am now eating solid food again and it is glorious, as I am finally getting the hang of eating with this new digestive tract. I think I will try to make some pizza soon with pita bread as a crust.
In the interim I would like to discuss the notion of hobbies. I think that one of the reasons people are so miserable is that they do not have hobbies. Notice I didn't say a hobby, I said hobbies. Hence, since I am going to get a digital SLR anyway. I am going to go ahead and learn how to take pictures and edit them in Photoshop and Lightroom. This is on top of rebuilding my electronics making capacity.
Ultimately I want you guys to stay tuned for some interesting developments in January. I hope to have a line of EQMOD cables for purchase. Along with maybe some serial bulb cables to control Canon camera's via a Serial/USB port.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Old Astrophotography
Hi all,
Its a double update! I was able to find an old flicker account that had all of my "best" astrophotos. These are the result of a misguided attempt to get into the game. It actually starts when I am a little boy...
See, I have always loved astronomy and so when I was little my parents would get me toy telescopes that would immediately break, they would also get me Astronomy magazines. In the back of these magazines you would see full page color advertisements for telescopes, one in particular struck my fancy. It was the LX200 with Magellan II controller, the first fully computerized GOTO telescope.
Fast forward to 2005 when I have finally scraped together enough dough to buy one. I decide to get it and the new Meade DSI II Pro monochrome camera which promises that you can take images in Alt-Az mode. (This is a lie, and never ever believe anyone who claims you can take "excellent" images with a telescope in an Alt-Az configuration.) In my case I hat a brain dump and got the 10" model. The results of a few imaging sessions are now on the astrophotography page of the website. I have tried to give the particulars of each image to the best of my recollection but the last imaging session I had was in the spring of 2007. (I think...)
Its a double update! I was able to find an old flicker account that had all of my "best" astrophotos. These are the result of a misguided attempt to get into the game. It actually starts when I am a little boy...
See, I have always loved astronomy and so when I was little my parents would get me toy telescopes that would immediately break, they would also get me Astronomy magazines. In the back of these magazines you would see full page color advertisements for telescopes, one in particular struck my fancy. It was the LX200 with Magellan II controller, the first fully computerized GOTO telescope.
Fast forward to 2005 when I have finally scraped together enough dough to buy one. I decide to get it and the new Meade DSI II Pro monochrome camera which promises that you can take images in Alt-Az mode. (This is a lie, and never ever believe anyone who claims you can take "excellent" images with a telescope in an Alt-Az configuration.) In my case I hat a brain dump and got the 10" model. The results of a few imaging sessions are now on the astrophotography page of the website. I have tried to give the particulars of each image to the best of my recollection but the last imaging session I had was in the spring of 2007. (I think...)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Beginnings
Hi all,
I am one month out (from surgery) as of today. The funny thing is that things have started to happen. First there was this blog, until now it was a way to keep all of you who were interested updated about my journey and plans and now it has grown to actually planning for expeditions. There are also pages for photography and astrophotography which will hopefully be coming soon.
This week I also spent some time on the weekend playing with some old equipment seeing what if anything still worked. It turns out quite a bit. The interesting thing is that I now have the beginnings of some gear, an old set of Pössil eyepieces (the entire Meade 4000 series) which seem to be in mint condition. On top of that my Meade DSI Pro II mono seems to work, in Windows 8! I was also able to find a working GPS receiver with a USB output.
So it looks like I am on my way with my next imaging setup, but I have learned that the main OTA that I want is going to go up in price as of next year, and so I am wondering if with these next couple of Paychecks I should purchase it. That would be the start of my imaging setup however the danger in that is that I would end up with something that I could not easily test until I have a mound to go look at (and take pictures of?) unfocused stars.
Things will be getting interesting over the next few weeks folks. If you know anyone with $85 an hour who needs computer help let me know. I am also tutoring for $35 if you know anyone who needs it.
P.S. Something that will definitely be happening with my next couple of paychecks will be me fabing a cable for EQMOD.
I am one month out (from surgery) as of today. The funny thing is that things have started to happen. First there was this blog, until now it was a way to keep all of you who were interested updated about my journey and plans and now it has grown to actually planning for expeditions. There are also pages for photography and astrophotography which will hopefully be coming soon.
This week I also spent some time on the weekend playing with some old equipment seeing what if anything still worked. It turns out quite a bit. The interesting thing is that I now have the beginnings of some gear, an old set of Pössil eyepieces (the entire Meade 4000 series) which seem to be in mint condition. On top of that my Meade DSI Pro II mono seems to work, in Windows 8! I was also able to find a working GPS receiver with a USB output.
So it looks like I am on my way with my next imaging setup, but I have learned that the main OTA that I want is going to go up in price as of next year, and so I am wondering if with these next couple of Paychecks I should purchase it. That would be the start of my imaging setup however the danger in that is that I would end up with something that I could not easily test until I have a mound to go look at (and take pictures of?) unfocused stars.
Things will be getting interesting over the next few weeks folks. If you know anyone with $85 an hour who needs computer help let me know. I am also tutoring for $35 if you know anyone who needs it.
P.S. Something that will definitely be happening with my next couple of paychecks will be me fabing a cable for EQMOD.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Problem Solving
Hi all,
You may have noticed a new Pinboard, labeled Perpetual Sleep. As you may or may not know I was diagnosed this summer with sleep apnea, as a result I now need a CPAP machine in order to get a restful night sleep, the two things that are needed to operate a CPAP are distilled water and electricity.
Distilled water is an easy enough problem, as a gallon last me for about a week so two gallons of distilled water will last the length of a typical expedition. (~10-11 days) At home power is not an issue, however out in the wild I need to have a solution that will allow me to sleep for 10-11 days without plugging the battery into the grid. Hence, I have designed a system where the CPAP can run for a day or two without recharging.
It starts with a battery package designed for telescopes. (Hey, when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail.) This gives me 2 nights of sleep for up-to 11 hours. Now in order to charge it you need a power source, something that outputs 12v at a reasonable amperage to charge a 17AH battery. So basically I want 12v at about 2 amps, which is 24W. Since you can get a 50W solar panel for less than $100 why not get more power than you need.
This gives me a system where I can sleep at night as long as there is not a couple of days without any sunlight. Now I can sleep the question is how are we going to carry along enough food and water to be in the back country for that long.
More generally, the abundance of cheap solar panels is an amazing boon for the end user, as it allows camp sights to be self sustaining, including powering electronics such as laptops and telephones. I hope to have about 400W of solar panels on hand for charging batteries and the like, along with this object which uses a Peltier to turn fire into electricity.
You may have noticed a new Pinboard, labeled Perpetual Sleep. As you may or may not know I was diagnosed this summer with sleep apnea, as a result I now need a CPAP machine in order to get a restful night sleep, the two things that are needed to operate a CPAP are distilled water and electricity.
Distilled water is an easy enough problem, as a gallon last me for about a week so two gallons of distilled water will last the length of a typical expedition. (~10-11 days) At home power is not an issue, however out in the wild I need to have a solution that will allow me to sleep for 10-11 days without plugging the battery into the grid. Hence, I have designed a system where the CPAP can run for a day or two without recharging.
It starts with a battery package designed for telescopes. (Hey, when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail.) This gives me 2 nights of sleep for up-to 11 hours. Now in order to charge it you need a power source, something that outputs 12v at a reasonable amperage to charge a 17AH battery. So basically I want 12v at about 2 amps, which is 24W. Since you can get a 50W solar panel for less than $100 why not get more power than you need.
This gives me a system where I can sleep at night as long as there is not a couple of days without any sunlight. Now I can sleep the question is how are we going to carry along enough food and water to be in the back country for that long.
More generally, the abundance of cheap solar panels is an amazing boon for the end user, as it allows camp sights to be self sustaining, including powering electronics such as laptops and telephones. I hope to have about 400W of solar panels on hand for charging batteries and the like, along with this object which uses a Peltier to turn fire into electricity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)