A Darker View

Circuitry Gallery

A Digital Event Counter — Handwired perfboard and standard 74xx digital logic make up an event counter.

Dew Heater Electronics — A view of the interior of the handwired dew heater controller

Motor and Encoder Wiring — The new wiring for the motor and encoder including the new terminal strip

Transform — The transformers for the Keck 2 telescope servo drives

GenPIC PCB — A microcontroller utility PCB layout ready for manufacture

Local Control — I/O cards and field wiring in the Keck 2 local controls PLC

Regulator PCB — A small linear regulator built on perfboard for use in the dummy battery

SAA Cabinet — A sample of the control wiring and circuitry in the Servo Amplifier Assembly

Video Amplifier — A makeshift breakout board for a THS7374 video amplifier

Point-to-Point — A GPS clock constructed with point-to-point wiring

LED Current Regulator Modules — The five LM3405 based LED current regulator modules completed and awaiting testing

New Control — Patching in an experimental control system to move the Keck 1 telescope, one step closer to a major upgrade.

Maco Circuitry — Testing a macro setup that uses a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens, and a 50mm extension tube mounted to the EOS-M.

Keck 2 Dome Simulator — Switches and indicators for the dome simulator awaiting wiring

Relays — A bank of relays form the safety interlock system for the telescope.

One Amp Current Controller — The remote current controller PCB and case prior to final assembly

Part of the Keck 2 logic board, this PCB assembly controls the various control and safety logic for the Keck 2 telescope.

Inclinometer Controller — A hand wired microcontroller circuit intended to be used to control a pair of inclinometers in the Keck 2 dome.

Raspberry Pi Data Acquisition — A Raspberry Pi computer set up with an A/D daughterboard

The TMT Contested Case Winds Down

We are now in March, looking back to October when the TMT contested case began. Five months of hearings endlessly repeating the same details about every aspect of the case.

Yes… My patience has run out long ago.

Retired Judge Riki May Amano presides over the TMT contested case hearing

After all that has been said and done it is clear that the actual substance of the case could have been thoroughly discussed in a couple weeks, not five months.

Among the endless hours of testimony there have been occasional moments of fireworks. We have heard wild theories, mangled science, inexcusable ignorance, evidence of unemployment claims fraud, and several very likely incidents of outright perjury by telescope opponents.

Continue reading “The TMT Contested Case Winds Down”