Dave / Eamonn
Yer set ups sound impressive!
How much automation are we talking about here?
Eventually almost everything.
Take tonight for example. As I type the observatory is taking its 82nd galaxy image of the night.
I created a database of the entire PGC galaxy catalogue and wrote some access macros which select all galaxies which meet certain criteria, i.e. must within a certain range of RA and DEC and below a predefined magnitude threshold. I just uploaded these to the observatory and off it goes on its merry little way.
The process is then;
Slew to target.
Check image is centred.
If not correct pointing.
Start autoguider
Image target.
Check image was actually centered
Move to next object.
Rinse and repeat.
All aspects of the kit, including changing filters, autoguiding etc are under its control. When I get my focusser built, it will even do that for me.
If I chose to take multiple images of each target, the software would even align and stack them for me.
If you have the equipment, the software will even monitor the weather and close up shop if it considers it risky.
In short there are no end to the possibilities.
The only thing I'm doing manually is comparing these images to reference images downloaded from the Palomar Sky Survey. Eventually I'll figure out how to automate that and only return frames with suspect objects
  