The operation of the Chiefland observatory, including roof, scope, and cameras, can all be controlled through the internet from Boca Raton. A quality dedicated internet connection through SVIC was established using a yag antenna physically directed toward Chiefland. This robotization allows long cumulative exposures to be taken not previously possible to be captured in the few precious days that we are physically at CAV each new moon. The first subject ever chosen for robotic imaging was the Pelican Nebula, specifically the area of the “Elephant Trunk”, in narrowband light. The image above is 33 hours of exposure that were collected over multiple nights in mid-September to early October, 2010. There is 23 hours of 1X1 narrowband data using the Hubble palette (SII – red, Ha -green, OIII – blue). This showed nice color differentiation in the nebula but left all the stars magenta-red. So an additional 10 hours of LRGB 1X1 data was obtained which was blended into the narrowband image to give more aesthetic bright “RGB” stars. All data was obtained using the 14.5-inch RCOS scope at f/9 and Apogee U16M camera at -30C. at CAV, including some moonlit nights.
