Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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The pier has been poured, but I didn't get to see it unwrapped before I hit the road again in the big truck. Vacation starts on or about May 25th, and the building itself will start going up around then. In the meantime, a few pictures of the start of this project.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Next..
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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And next...
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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It is an 8" diameter pier, approximately 6ft tall from the ground, as the floor of the observatory will be about 20" off the ground.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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rnoelle
super member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 156
Loc: SW Oregon
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Hey Doug:
Congrats! Don't you love it when a good plan starts coming together. Looking forward to following your progress on this. You sure one pier is enough? 
Bob
--------------------
--Bob
* Meade LXD75 AR6-AT
* Orion EON 80ED
* Bogen/Manfrotto 475B; 501HDV
*
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 6523
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Great start Doug, and concrete will have plenty of time to cure before you resume work, not a bad thing.
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M110 Doublet ED, AT 102Achro, ZS80FD 10th Anniv, ZS66SD, PST
CG5-AGT, EZ-Touch, Voyager
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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Project Galileo
sage
Reged: 11/14/07
Posts: 404
Loc: Douglas County, Colorado
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Enjoy! Good job!
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Orion XT10i
Meade LXD55 LXD75 AR-6
Sears 80mm f/15 3.1" Vintage Refractor
TeleVue Binoviewers with Seibert 1x/1.3x/1.7x OCA
Minolta 10x50 Binoculars
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Doug, Congratulations on the start of your Observatory!
We will love taking the journey with you, building it!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thank you all. I didn't get to see it with the form removed, as I had to hit the road again. Dad removed the form late yesterday, and he says it looks really good. He's helping me to do this project, as he has built many small buildings such as this. But he's never built one with a roof that removed, and he is intrigued by the idea, and has come up with some interesting ideas on how to make it seal itself when closed. Ya'll will see it when I do.
Bob, you know one ain't enough, but it's a start!
Carol, you and others have inspired me to finally get going on this.
More will be posted as it goes along. It will restart the end of this month, when I arrive home for 5 weeks of vacation. 
And ya'll might as well start adding your suggestions for a name. I'm drawing a blank so far. 
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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rsbfoto
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 341
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Hi Doug,
I have been looking many many times on the pier you are building and allow me to give you some points of view from my side.
I do not want to take the wind out of your sails but I see some trouble coming up with the design of your pier.
Judging from the image you posted I can see that you did not go very deep into the ground with your base. The shape of that hole is also problematic as you have a narrower bottom then the top.
¿ Why do I say that it looks like trouble ? You have a 6 feet tall concrete post with a weight of maybe 350 pounds and the center of gravity is at about 6 feet high from the bottom. Now you will put on top of it how much more weight ? in equipment and suddenly your center of gravity goes up by maybe 1 or 2 feet maybe more depending of your equipment and your whole pier construction becomes unstable.
Judging from the image the diameter of the base at the top is maybe 32" but rapidly getting smaller the deeper you digged. So maybe you have there only a base with a size of 12" diameter and 12 inches deep ? That is a base weight of roughly 130pounds. Also I assume you went with the cardboard tube nearly down to the ground. The cardboard will start to rotten and then the concrete around will be of no help. If we add the weight of your base to the pier then maybe the center of gravity slips down by 2 feet.
The single rebar ? you put in there is not a big help for the concrete. Normally you have to put in at least 3 pieces tied together with some rings. Another possible problem is that you sticked the rebar directly into you soil which can be a future problem that you rebar will start rusting inside the concrete pillar. Water creeps up by capilaritybetween the boundaries of the iron rebar and concrete. From what I have seen rebar should never be driven directly into the soil.
From your equipment desciption I deduct that you are a visual observers which implies another problem that you will be movong the scopes and you personally could be leaning on the pier and ahving such a little base in the ground you pier can easily be moved by you and become unstable.
Apologies for beeing the first one to write about possible future problems ...
Just my 2 cents to your project.
You are still on time in order to stiffen the big 6 feet pier by adding a broader concrete base especially because you wrote that the deck will be 20" above the ground.
--------------------
regards Rainer
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thanks for your concern. Except for the top 5", that ground is solid very hard clay. The pier will not move, having already leaned hard on it, it didn't budge. A 6ft high pier will not have a center of gravity 6ft above ground. It would be 3ft, and with the additional weight and footprint of the base you can figure the center is just about where the floor will be. We have no such thing as a frost line, so going deeper was not necessary. The hole is 22" deep, and 18" wide at the bottom. The picture posted is not the final hole. And the tube was set only 3" into the concrete. And that isn't rebar, it's fence post, and very strong, designed to set into the ground, with lots of knobby surface for the concrete to hang onto. This isn't the first concrete post we have done, just the first for a mount pier.
And after all that, should it develop problems, well I guess I'll redo it. But I doubt that will happen.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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rsbfoto
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 341
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Quote:
Thanks for your concern. Except for the top 5", that ground is solid very hard clay. The pier will not move, having already leaned hard on it, it didn't budge. A 6ft high pier will not have a center of gravity 6ft above ground. It would be 3ft, and with the additional weight and footprint of the base you can figure the center is just about where the floor will be. We have no such thing as a frost line, so going deeper was not necessary. The hole is 22" deep, and 18" wide at the bottom. The picture posted is not the final hole. And the tube was set only 3" into the concrete. And that isn't rebar, it's fence post, and very strong, designed to set into the ground, with lots of knobby surface for the concrete to hang onto. This isn't the first concrete post we have done, just the first for a mount pier.
And after all that, should it develop problems, well I guess I'll redo it. But I doubt that will happen.
Hi Doug,
You are welcome 
--------------------
regards Rainer
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Well, viewing other projects, I may have made a mistake. I used four 1/2" threaded rods evenly spaced on a 6" circle in the top of the pier. I have an 1/4" thick aluminum plate arriving tomorrow to make a mounting plate out of for my CG-5ASGT mount. Going to try to duplicate the mount plate on the tripod. Not sure how this is going to work out.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Turns out I have the cure. I own one of the Orion extension posts for use with refractors, and it has what I need to make this work. I'll just reduce the post from 16" to 4", and fit it to my 1/4" plate.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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RobVG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 734
Loc: Seattle Washington
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Quote:
Going to try to duplicate the mount plate on the tripod.
I did that with my CG-5. I noticed the bottom "plug" that goes throught the hole in the tripod is tapered .040". I made the hole in the adapter accordingly but just recently realized the taper was probably just to make it easier to assemble. 
This thread shows what I did and some other CNers ideas as well.
The alt/az "tang" is 6mm diameter x 1.00 pitch if you want to drill and tap your plate to use the tang from your tripod.
Looking good!
Rob
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C11 SGT(XLT)CG-5
Observatory (page 5)
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Good info, and the way I would have gone, if I hadn't looked on Ken Dauzat's site and seen his CG-5 solution.
http://www.kendauzat.net/other.htm
This is so close to the Orion extension post, in short form, that I figure it's the best solution.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3798
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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You could also weld tabs on the Orion extension. I made this one, it has a Dousat adapter in the top. See my post here.
Hubert
--------------------
Hubert
---------------------------------
www.smoggybottom.org
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Looks workable, but I don't weld, and I think I have the solution.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Hi Doug,
You are still on time in order to stiffen the big 6 feet pier by adding a broader concrete base especially because you wrote that the deck will be 20" above the ground.
On further thought, this isn't a bad idea, and I think I will. Thanks.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Well, vacation comes in 4 days. I'll be busy with the observatory, in between fishing trips, of course! 
Didn't want the thread to get too far down the list, or I might start another forgetting this one!
I could use some good pics showing y'alls various solutions to the placement, type, and number of wheels used for the roof. I've built plenty of small buildings, but none had a rolling roof.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1162
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Congratulations on the start of your project, Doug..."May the Force be with You!!!" 
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I'm home. Made it here Wed. Have to rebuild a wall on the house (new windows, and the original construction is not good), but then will start on the observatory. Buying remaining material tomorrow. I will post pictures as we go along.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 366
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Quote:
I could use some good pics showing y'alls various solutions to the placement, type, and number of wheels used for the roof. I've built plenty of small buildings, but none had a rolling roof.
Here is a shot of the Sky Shed approach garage door wheel placement (click through for a bigger shot):
And here is the corner placement in a metal wheel on top of angle iron approach. There is one wheel in each corner.
HTH,
--Andy
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Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Starting again, slowly. Here is the new pier base addition to sturdy it up some more. Grandnephew Tyler here to help. Those are his initials you see.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Tyler returned home early, so I am on my own.
Got the sill frame built, and positioned temporarily on the blocks. Still have to level. Too hot to do much work. A little in the morning, a little in the evening.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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A bit more progress. It has been extremely hot here, and no clouds.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Plywood going down.
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Doug, it's moving right along! Looking good!
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Yeah, I bought the 2x4's for framing the walls today. Gonna start on that tomorrow. One more picture. That's my help, and the supervisor of this job. I call him "Dad".
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 378
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Doug,
Clever under floor framing, should be a stiff floor, looks good.
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Darn good "help" you have there; bet his salary is reasonable. 
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Doug,
Clever under floor framing, should be a stiff floor, looks good.
Richard
Dad's idea. I learned long ago to listen, and comply.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Darn good "help" you have there; bet his salary is reasonable.
VERY! 
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HunterofPhotons
sage
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 252
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
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Quote:
Doug,
Clever under floor framing, should be a stiff floor....
Richard
Not really. It should have rim joists for stiffness.
dan
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Exactly what Dad said.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Wall frames started being constructed today. The heat down here is killing this project. We have one wall done. We are constructing them in the barn, then we will move them to the site and fasten the frames to the floor and each other. Pictures when we do.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Two more wall frames done. Going to install them tomorrow, then build the last(south) wall frame, the one that has a fold down section, and install it too. Pictures then.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Frame installed.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Decided against a fold down on the south wall. Just isn't necessary. The height of the scope will be enough to see as far down toward the horizon as is practical.
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 366
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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That's really beginning to look like an observatory! Great work.
--------------------
Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Walls are up. Returning to work tomorrow, vacation over. Further work will have to wait a few weeks.
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dzirzow
member
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 40
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Looking Good!!
--------------------
15" F5 Tectron
10" F4.5 Meade Starfinder
SV85S
CI700
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thanks! Anxious to get back and do some more on it. If the heat wave breaks, Dad is going to continue on with it.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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A close up...
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Wow! You're moving right along; it's looking great!
BTW, Happy Birthday Doug! (Better sneak down to the OTO forum  )
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I snuck down. Thanks to all.
Gonna need a name for the obs. Any suggestions?
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Just called home, and was informed that Dad has primed and painted it's outside surface. It is now white on the outside. Should provide some good protection until the siding goes on.
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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Isn't that great when your projects get worked on while you are gone! Mine never do that..
Great Obs, Doug, and yor Cartons will look gorgeous on that sturdy pier!. 
--------------------
lc Carol
..."Then the blue above grows darker and a million stars erupt
From the places where they hide throughout the day
Into pictures in the heavens even we cannot corrupt
And the vastnesses of time can't wash away..."Jeff Green
60mm Telescope Club
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thank you ma'am! Yeah, Dad's a builder. I couldn't keep him away from it with a shotgun!
The Cartons yes, but first the seldom used C6R. I've been itching to get it in there. That is the main reason I built it, so I could use that bad boy more often. I love that scope, but it's a pain to move around.
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DDon
super member
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 143
Loc: France, Montpellier
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Subscribed!
But we need more pics here m8!
Cheers!
D.Don
--------------------
Meade 2090AT, 90/800 Refractor | Skywatcher Mercury 705, 70/500 Refractor | SW Red Dot Finder | SW AZ3
SW 25mm, 10mm Super-MA | SW 20mm UWA | SW 7.5mm, 32mm SP | Meade 26mm SP (Wide)
SW 2x Deluxe Barlow | SW 90° Dielectric Mirror Diagonal | SW Light Pollution Filter
Bresser 20x80 w. tripod
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Funny you should ask. Although it isn't rolling yet, or have the tin on it yet, the roof is up. Just got it up there today.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I've been informed that in my absence the help (Dad) has finished installing the roof section end pieces and the tin over the plywood on top.
Pictures when I get home next week.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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The tin is on the roof, wheels installed, temporary ridge cap and door. Rail posts have been installed, but I don't have a picture of that yet.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
rnoelle
super member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 156
Loc: SW Oregon
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Nice progress Doug ... oops I meant Dad.
--------------------
--Bob
* Meade LXD75 AR6-AT
* Orion EON 80ED
* Bogen/Manfrotto 475B; 501HDV
*
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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LOL Yeah, you got that right. He has taken over!
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
Montana_Nights
member
Reged: 04/19/09
Posts: 78
Loc: Ennis,Montana
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Nice build. I can't wait to settle down in one spot long enough to make building a OB worth the time!
--------------------
Southwest Montana Astronomical Society, Bozeman Montana
My Kit:
A "new to me" Celestron Celestar 8
25mm and 10mm widefield EP
2x barlow
Various filters and accessories
Many, many books
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thanks. I can't wait myself to be able to use it.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I'm told the roof is rolling now, and construction is essentially finished. Only siding to install, get the mount on the pier, and wire it up.
Installing the mount comes first. I have battery power for the mount. Home tomorrow so may get to try my obs out for the first time tomorrow night. Woohoo!
Pictures ASAP after arriving home.
Thanks to my Dad for being THE MAN!
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 366
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Great news -- Have fun!!!!
--------------------
Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Congratulations Doug! We'll be anxious for the pictures. Your Dad rocks!
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Too busy aligning the rails and wheels today to get outside pics, but here is a shot I took a few minutes after completing an important part of the process!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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Congratulations, Dad and Doug!
Very nice!
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lc Carol
..."Then the blue above grows darker and a million stars erupt
From the places where they hide throughout the day
Into pictures in the heavens even we cannot corrupt
And the vastnesses of time can't wash away..."Jeff Green
60mm Telescope Club
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Hey Doug! Wow, you have an observatory! Congratulations to you & your chief contractor
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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New pics...
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Another...
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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And another...
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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You are good to go! Now if your skies stay clear!
Your Dad did a great job!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Yeah he did. He changed the door location to under the rails. The old door is gone, although it looks like one is there. Patch, you know? He left the door latch as a joke, typical of my Dad!
The steps are temporary, we're gonna build a wider step.
We're going to repaint the outside, as given this economy I have not the funds to buy the siding yet. So more paint, which we have, will provide protection until I can get siding installed.
Going to wire it tomorrow.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Quote:
He left the door latch as a joke, typical of my Dad!
Should have a nifty "Entrance" sign over it!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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First light tonight. It's complete enough to begin using. I got 45 minutes before clouds moved in. It is really very nice to not have lights coming at you from cars, and the wind is but a breeze inside the enclosure. The concrete pier helped prove the CG-5ASGT is a big enough mount for tonight's first scope, the big C6R.
I think the part I like best is except for minor tweaking, as long as I don't remove the mount, I'll not have to polar align again. That made all the hard work worthwhile!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
|
csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Congratulations on your first light in your new Observatory!
You will have so many wonderful nights enjoying it.
BTW, now you have to come up with a name
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Digital Don
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 1271
Loc: Manteno
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"I think the part I like best is except for minor tweaking, as long as I don't remove the mount, I'll not have to polar align again."
Just use the mount's "Hibernate" feature and you shouldn't have any adjustments to make. Just confirm the date and location and enter the time and you're good to go!
I know I've observed much more since having my obs built than ever before. That's a good looking setup! Have fun with your new toy!
Don
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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No, Miss Carol, you have to help me come up with a name. I'm drawing a blank, and am willing to entertain all suggestions.
Thanks Don, now that it's permanent, I'll have to study up on those features I've never had need to use before.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Well, we'll just have to start posting suggestions. I'll give it some thought!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Thank you!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 6523
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Congratulations on your first light Doug, I hope you enjoy many great nights in your observatory!
P.S. The little tweaks never end, you'll always find something more to tinker with 
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M110 Doublet ED, AT 102Achro, ZS80FD 10th Anniv, ZS66SD, PST
CG5-AGT, EZ-Touch, Voyager
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Since you are a trucker, how about:
"Doug's Truck Stop"
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6459
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Doug: First of all CONGRADULATIONS on the first light...
as for a name >>>> Dougs Rest Area...
First light is an EVENT....and as such I had a sign made up which I proudly display.
Obs name is in smallish letters...BUT FIRST light is in Bold lettering..
And I had to google to find the Star Date
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Now I like that name, as when I am home I'm definitely resting!
Like the sign, may do the same.
Tonight was second light, and the 80mm f/15 Carton got it's chance to play. The clouds came again, but not so quickly. I had 2 hours in there this time. Just playing, so no report, but the dew was very heavy, and I can see I'm going to have to do something about that.
Even though they are the same length, the CG-5ASGT definitely has less trouble moving the lighter 80mm f/15 around than it did the C6R. Gotta save for a bigger mount.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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rnoelle
super member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 156
Loc: SW Oregon
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Way to go Doug and Dad!! Don't you love it when a plan comes together.  You'll get a lot of enjoyment from all the effort.
As for a name ... I'm thinkin' something in honor of the builder with a little regional flavor .... how about "Crawdaddy's Observatory"
Regards,
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--Bob
* Meade LXD75 AR6-AT
* Orion EON 80ED
* Bogen/Manfrotto 475B; 501HDV
*
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Nice name, but Dad is actually from Alabama. But he does like Mudbugs (our name for crawfish).
Well, that's three names for it, and all good ones. Any others? All will be considered.
I do think honoring Dad in some way would be good, but he isn't into our hobby at all. He just likes to build.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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rnoelle
super member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 156
Loc: SW Oregon
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Hi again Doug,
Yeah, maybe christening your obervatory after mudbugs wasn't the best suggestion .... 
But I did think the stardate idea was pretty cool.
Looking forward to some more pictures when you get the chance to post.
Regards ...
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--Bob
* Meade LXD75 AR6-AT
* Orion EON 80ED
* Bogen/Manfrotto 475B; 501HDV
*
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 3130
Loc: New Hampshire
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crayfish, crawfish, crawdads, mud bugs ... any others?
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Rob
**********************
Canon 12x36 IS binos
TEC-140: #433 on CGEM
Faworski orthos (7,10,16.7mm)
stuff ...
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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And old friend of mine suggested "The Douginator"! Too weird, even for me!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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DDon
super member
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 143
Loc: France, Montpellier
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"D.Daddy's Intergalactical Truckstop"
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Meade 2090AT, 90/800 Refractor | Skywatcher Mercury 705, 70/500 Refractor | SW Red Dot Finder | SW AZ3
SW 25mm, 10mm Super-MA | SW 20mm UWA | SW 7.5mm, 32mm SP | Meade 26mm SP (Wide)
SW 2x Deluxe Barlow | SW 90° Dielectric Mirror Diagonal | SW Light Pollution Filter
Bresser 20x80 w. tripod
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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HAHAHAHAHA. Good one!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
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