CarolG
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 822
Loc: Oklahoma
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I've never had an observatory before, so this is all still new to me. I've just gotten an AT66 to piggyback on my Nexstar 11. I have other things hanging off and on the scope, and before the observatory, I would take everything down when I was through observing for the night. I would remove the diagonal, counterweights, etc. and roll the scope back into the garage. Now I can just close the obs door and go inside. But when I leave the obs for a few days at a time, should I take all the accessories off the scope? Would it hurt anything to leave 20+ pounds of extra weight on the scope? It is balanced with the counterweights and I loosen the clutches and tie the OTA so it can't move. So, what do you all do when you close up your obs for the night or for a few nights?
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Carol
Cor Caroli Observatory
NS11 XLT w/ HyperStar
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC on a Scopebuggy
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Galaxyhunter
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/06
Posts: 1227
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Personally, I leave everything setup & ready to go in a moment. I have 185# of counterweight on my scope. If I was to remove it at the end of the night, then I would have to either remove the OTA or prop it up someway. I have had my Observatory up & going for three years now, & I have not seen anything to be detrimental to my mount.
There are times that I have an 8" scope piggybacked. That requires another 50# of counterweight. I leave that all setup also.
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Carl
My lousy skies at Hawkeye Observatory
Edited by Galaxyhunter (07/01/09 08:43 PM)
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roscoe
super member
Reged: 02/04/09
Posts: 192
Loc: Northwestern Mass
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I set my scope horizontal to allow the roof to close, snug up the locks on the mount so it won't tend to drift, take the EP out. put all the dust caps on, and pull a mylar "space blanket" over it all to help keep things dust-free. My red-dot and raci finder stay right in place. My medium-quality mount is approaching 10 years old, and shows no sign of unhappiness at the situation...........
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Antares/Vixen 812 120mm f/8 on reworked CG-5,
Celestron/Vixen C-80 80mm f/11 on Polaris,
Sears/Towa 60mm f/15 on reworked Towa,
assorted Ultrascopics and Orthos
homemade tripods, chairs, EP cases, observatory
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3798
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Hibernate, close the lids, latch the door.
Well, I do put the objective covers back on.
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Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3496
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Turn off the drive and put on the dustcovers over the objectives and close the roof. That's it.....!  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 366
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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When I am observing visually, I take the eyepieces out and put the dust covers on.
When imaging, I put the objective dust cap on, leaving the camera in place.
I may change what I leave in the observatory if I know I will be away for a couple of weeks.
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Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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1. Put covers back on the eyepieces, put them back in the toolbox that holds them, and close that up tightly.
2. Put the objective cover back on the scope and secondary.
3. Put a plug in the eyepiece holder in the diagonal so that it stays less dusty.
4. Put the covers on the finder. (If I used a finder. Oh wait, I don't even have one installed right now.)
5. Park the scope.
6. Turn off the mount & scope.
7. Throw a tarp over the scope. (A pretty, custom made one with the constellation Eridanus painted on it, made for me by my Mother!)
8. If I'm going to be gone a few days, I put the cover back on the toolbox that holds my accessories.
9. Exit and close the dome. (Temporary step 9a. Install wasp prevention system before closing the dome.)
This all takes 10-15 minutes tops.
If I have a CCD camera installed - I leave it in place, and just cover it with the tarp.
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Hi Carol! I remove the eyepiece from the scope; put the eyepiece(s) back in the case. Put the adapter w/plug back in. I make sure Telrad, RACI, is turned off. I park the 16" Dob in a horizontal position, & put end covers on, & then cover it.
Secure the Dobservatory, & remember what a great night I just had!
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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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wb9sat
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 328
Loc: Eagar, Arizona USA
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Hi Carol,
Welcome to the world of observatories. Congrats on not having to set-up every night. I have a NexStar 11 GPS mounted on a Milburn Wedge that is mounted on a steel pier. It has an Astro-Tech 66ED APO refractor piggybacked on the scope. It is well counter-balance and has not been moved for months on end. No harm will come to the telescope, mount or anything else. Once it is aligned, simply hibernate it in the "utilities" menu. The next night or a month from now, you can simply wake it up and it will remember where it was. If you would like to see my observatory and NexStar11GPS with a piggybacked AT-66ED, click on my website below the signature. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Clear skies,
Bill
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Bill Logan
Logan Observatory
Eagar, Arizona, USSA
Elevation: 7,400 feet (2,600 meters) ASL
NexStar 11 GPS on Milburn wedge
Permanent steel pier
12' x 12' Roll-off-roof
WO ZS-66ED refractor
Meade DSI Pro II monochrome
Meade DSI II OSC
Orion 7nm Narrowband filters
73 de WB9SAT
[url=http://loganobservatory.shutterfly.com[/url]
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Starman27
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 563
Loc: Illinois, Iowa
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Carol,
Scott has the right idea. Develop a shut down check list. I have one for each scope in my observatory. The check list will be different if you are going to use the equipment in the short term compared to closing the observatory for a long time.
Make it as detailed as you can and follow it. I learned this years ago when I was a student and responsible for closing down the main dome and it's 12 inch refractor and the smaller dome and its 4 inch Ross camera scope. The check list made sure the lowly undergraduate did not mess thimngs up. I still use the process today for my own modest set up. It also helps if you are letting others use your observatory and equipment.
The check list will be yours, you need to design it to meet your conditions and needs.
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Enjoy the dark,
Herman
Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois
Iowa
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CarolG
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 822
Loc: Oklahoma
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Thanks Everyone for such fast responses. So I can leave everything set up and ready to go? Whew!! That'll save some time.
Mike, you make it soo wonderfully simple. Thanks!
Hey, Scott, how's your wasp situation coming? I hope you get those critters permanently deleted!!
Carol, you're right about remembering those nice times outside under the stars! By the way, did you ever figure out how to put a screen door on Dreamcatcher so you can keep out those bigger critters?
Bill, that is a really nice setup you have there. I just received my new AT66 yesterday!  Can't wait to try it out. How do you like yours?
Anyway, back on topic, does anyone know if you can leave a Hyperstar lens set up? It makes me nervous removing the secondary on my NS11 so I would like to leave it in place on occasion.
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Carol
Cor Caroli Observatory
NS11 XLT w/ HyperStar
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC on a Scopebuggy
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Quote:
Carol, you're right about remembering those nice times outside under the stars! By the way, did you ever figure out how to put a screen door on Dreamcatcher so you can keep out those bigger critters?
Sorry, no I haven't gotten around to that yet! 
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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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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
Hey, Scott, how's your wasp situation coming? I hope you get those critters permanently deleted!!
Heh, I need to go back in there and check (It was good a couple of days ago though). I have the obvious entrance blocked with a piece of wood and some towels. Low tech, but functional. I'll get out there tomorrow and take a picture. I need to take a couple of quick measurements and order some strip brushes for a permanent solution. I've been stupidly busy with other, non-astronomy stuff this week though. 
Anyway, back to your topic, I feel comfortable leaving all of my gear out in the observatory all of the time. I think you should be just fine. Just take what precautions you feel are prudent against the environmental hazards you face, and enjoy the freedom to observe at your leisure.
I really do mean you should do what makes you comfortable - the fact is that people who do remote imaging pretty much leave all of the gear uncovered all of the time (except for the observatory structure itself) so that the scope and camera are ready to go. So if you are comfortable closing your dome and walking away, that's perfectly fine - lots of people essentially do just that.
Now I think it's prudent to put away your eyepieces, and cover the scope with a tarp or something, but even that is not absolutely necessary.
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 6523
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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I'm with the leave everything in place with cover/caps on and cover the scope up after putting it in Hibernation with OTA parked up.
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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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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3940
Loc: Bolton, MA
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I also leave everything totally in place and ready to go... all I have to do is take off the OTA end caps, the EP caps, open the roof, and turn everything on...
wake up from hibernation, and I can be imaging within 5-10 minutes (depends mostly on how long it takes to get a successful calibration run).
Shut-down is easy: move scope to home position, put ON the end caps (EP and OTAs), close the roof and turn everything off.
The way I make sure everything is OFF s I use power strips with those orangey/red LED status lights... I make sure those are all off, and I'm good to go...
This has been my mode for 2 years now, and it just works!
clear enough skies
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Dave
Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS
Visual: XT10i RTP
TV: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom
Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8
Guider: SBIG STV eFinder
Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor
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CarolG
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 822
Loc: Oklahoma
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Thanks for all the input. All this has gotten me to thinking about security and equipment protection measures. If I leave everything setup, then I have the problem of leaving expensive equipment unattended. Since I don't live at my observatory site, there is a real problem of break-in's and theft, which is why I am right now making a complete list with serial numbers of all the equipment I have. There have been many threads on security and insurance, but now I had better take all that more seriously. I couldn't afford to replace everything, so I had better protect what I have.
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Carol
Cor Caroli Observatory
NS11 XLT w/ HyperStar
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC on a Scopebuggy
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wb9sat
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 328
Loc: Eagar, Arizona USA
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Holy smokes Carol. You didn't mention anything about security when you made your first post. LOL. That is a problem. Can you you latch the roof down and double lock the building? If not, perhaps you should dismantle the expensive stuff when leaving.
There is a bright spot however. Your personal belongings are insured under your homeowners insurance policy. You should make an inventory and speak with your insurance agent to see if they will cover the loss. If the policy doesn't cover all of the loss, perhaps you could have them add a rider for the added value. I had to do that with my gun collection as they only covered $600 of a loss. My gun collection is worth around $6,000 and they had to add a rider. Of course riders cost a little bit, but at least you know they're covered.
Bill
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Bill Logan
Logan Observatory
Eagar, Arizona, USSA
Elevation: 7,400 feet (2,600 meters) ASL
NexStar 11 GPS on Milburn wedge
Permanent steel pier
12' x 12' Roll-off-roof
WO ZS-66ED refractor
Meade DSI Pro II monochrome
Meade DSI II OSC
Orion 7nm Narrowband filters
73 de WB9SAT
[url=http://loganobservatory.shutterfly.com[/url]
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rsbfoto
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 341
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Hi,
I park both scopes at home, close the roof, shutdown the PC, put the dust covers in front of the telescopes, shut off the light and close the door behind me.
From time to time I take a look remotely via my webcam and see if my equipment is still there
Here an image of the remote webcam
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regards Rainer
Edited by rsbfoto (07/02/09 01:13 PM)
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JAT Observatory
Got Cookies?
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 6762
Loc: Eastern PA
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When it is time for me to shut down I just press this button 
All the equipment stays attached. The mount is parked so the OTAs are pointed slightly downward. This prevents dust from collecting on the optics. No covers are placed over the optics or mount.
When the obs shuts down depending on the season either the heater or the A/C turns on as soon as the shutters close. This is done to get rid of any moisture that may have accumulated on the inside walls or equipment from dew during the evening. The A/C or heater will run for 2 hour and then shut-off.
The computer is always on, but the monitor is off.
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://www.jatobservatory.org
Currently a SV102A, WO 66mm & 10" LX200GPS OTA on a Paramount ME
(these OTAs subject to change without notice)
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 8512
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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Quote:
When it is time for me to shut down I just press this button
All the equipment stays attached. The mount is parked so the OTAs are pointed slightly downward. This prevents dust from collecting on the optics. No covers are placed over the optics or mount.
When the obs shuts down depending on the season either the heater or the A/C turns on as soon as the shutters close. This is done to get rid of any moisture that may have accumulated on the inside walls or equipment from dew during the evening. The A/C or heater will run for 2 hour and then shut-off.
The computer is always on, but the monitor is off.
Ahhhh....that's you automated guys.  I put the caps on the scope and finder, park it and shut it off, put the Q8 in its freezer bag that also contains a large dessicant or close up the eyepiece case. Close the roof and secure it. Activate the Laserguard and go back into the AC.
David
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Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1834
Loc: AR
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Put the optics covers on, close and secure the roof and go to bed. Before I go back to town after a night or two, I pack everything in the vehicle and take it back to town. The only things left in the observatory full time are chairs, tables, ladder, lights, and a few other items. No optics are left. Frequent fogs roll in on the mountain that sometimes last for days.
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6459
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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The main advantage I have found after 3 years of using my Observatory is that it is always ready for me to walk into and be observing in a few minutes...
BUT my observatory is on my own property...and security is honestly not a major concern... although my insurance company requires that I use a $5.00 padlock (????)on the door to cover the contents of everything inside for replacement value.....
I do not know how long it would take me to grab a battery powered sawzall and get inside ANY observatory but 5 minutes or less would be my guess..so so much for locks...
Any chance you could put a phone inside and install a home type alarm that would call the local police etc..plus play the 1812 overture if someone tried to get inside...
You could also paste a decal on the OTA which dread...
IF THIS SCOPE IS NOT IN AN OBSERVATORY ...IT IS STOLEN !
you could do this after painting the OTA some gawd awful color that no thief would try to fence...
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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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
You could also paste a decal on the OTA which dread...
IF THIS SCOPE IS NOT IN AN OBSERVATORY ...IT IS STOLEN !
you could do this after painting the OTA some gawd awful color that no thief would try to fence...
Sure would make it hard to sell the OTA to someone who didn't have an observatory, if you ever decided to upgrade... Just sayin'...
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4887
Loc: Massachusetts
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>>>From time to time I take a look remotely via my webcam and see if my equipment is still there<<<
Might be comforting check it's still there but doesn't do much to help insure it will be.
>>>grab a battery powered sawzall and get inside ANY observatory<<<
Also, a battery powered Dremel with a cutoff wheel will cut though the shackle of most locks in a minute or so. For molded plastic observatories, a good box knife will work great, and it's quiet too! I'm sure somebody will point out that you can't keep out a determined thief. The best you might do is deter casual thieves and delinquents. The good news with astro stuff is it's tough to get rid of so pros will look elsewhere.
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Discovery 17.5" f/5. IM 7" f/15 MCT. Eon-120ED
Lunt 60mm Ha on Nexstar mount.
CG5ASGT, Orion Skyview AZ
9 Nag. 35&19,Pans. 24.5 4kSWA. 14&4.7 5kUWA Meades
6, 9, 12.5 UO-AO. 3mm Edge-on. 7mm BO-TMB
Zeiss, Leupold, Bushnell spotters
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell binos
One each generic rescue Greyhound
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Galaxyhunter
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/06
Posts: 1227
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Quote:
Also, a battery powered Dremel with a cutoff wheel will cut though the shackle of most locks in a minute or so. ------The best you might do is deter casual thieves and delinquents.
Locks only keep honest people out. 
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Carl
My lousy skies at Hawkeye Observatory
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lineman_16735
Tak-o-holic
Reged: 12/04/04
Posts: 2582
Loc: Central PA
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Big scary looking dogs makes everyone pause 
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Chris
A mount from Illinois
A scope from Japan
A camera from Cal-I-Fornia
A dog from Kentucky
A wife and kids from the "Twilight Zone"
The Geek Shed
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CarolG
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 822
Loc: Oklahoma
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I have found, from past experience unfortunately, that if someone wants to get in, they will. At our farm, we have found that by making it too hard to break in, the thieves just destroy more property getting in. Fortunately, as has been mentioned, there isn't much of a demand for astro equipment around here. The 'locals' are more interested in easily pawned stuff like guns, jewelry,lawn equipment,etc. and cash, than in telescopes. I worry more about vandalism. So I guess the best thing to do is get insurance. I have tallied up the value of my stuff and will talk to our insurance agent. This has given me the opportunity to inventory my equipment, and I can't believe how much I have spent over the years. It's downright scary!! Now for the hard part-getting the coverage without letting my hubby know what I've really spent!!
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Carol
Cor Caroli Observatory
NS11 XLT w/ HyperStar
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC on a Scopebuggy
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Carol, you are so right; if someone is determined to break in; they will. I would rather my equipment be stolen, & not have the Observatory destroyed in the process.
--------------------
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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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1834
Loc: AR
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I only lock my buildings to keep out curious kids and people who might go into unlocked buildings, but would not be comfortable breaking a lock. If you leave buildings totally unlocked, then you expose yourself to liability if small children walk in and get injured. You should try for a minimum amount of security, but not so much that the building is damaged in a break-in.
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CarolG
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 822
Loc: Oklahoma
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I agree, John. In the past when we had breakin's, one of the first questions by the insurance company was if the stolen items had been locked up. I do have a bolt lock on the door, and although I keep both windows open, they are extremely small (the open part is 12"x10"). If someone wants to get in, they will. We also have wonderful neighbors who keep a watchful eye on the place.
--------------------
Carol
Cor Caroli Observatory
NS11 XLT w/ HyperStar
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC on a Scopebuggy
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 8512
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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For the cost of Lasershield, it's worth it. Mine is on a battery backup, so cutting wires won't work to stop it. It has its own battery backup, but it does't last long enough for my taste.
However, as stated, a determined thief doesn't care. It's for those that we have insurance.
David
--------------------
Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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