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 novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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...build an observatory. Even if it's a shed. Because the skies here seem AWESOME, and it gets light VERY late this far West in the Eastern time zone...and so morning observations may be realistically doable.
And the skies are awesome and dark, at least in Fall and Winter, Oh, did I mention that yet  !
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3991
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Glad to hear your new location is working out!!
BTW: I know this really great guy, who will travel to your site...
and build you one - just like mine and over 100 others 
Seriously, evaluate your needs and desires; spend lots of time here on this thread, etc...
and then "make the call" (Dome or rolloff, warm room, etc. are just a few of the more major decisions... and there's tons of minor ones...
One bit of advice: make it bigger than you think you'll ever need if at all possible...
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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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40207
Loc: montana
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Mark, you are correct; you absolutely, positively have to have an Observatory! I've used my scope so much more, in unbelievable comfort since Scott built mine. I just can't believe the convenience.
Congratulations on such a great location, you are most deserving of great skies!
Carol
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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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WhistleStop
sage
Reged: 09/07/07
Posts: 440
Loc: Grafton, Ontario
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Happy New Year Mark...what a wonderful thing to have dark skies. My wife and I were lucky enough to build our new home in such a spot about a year ago. No observatory yet (I have a name though!) but the plans are in place for this spring. What got to me was the guilt of not being out under such wonderous skies now that I have the opportunity. The lesson here is to just go for it... appease the gods of the starry night !
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WHISTLESTOP
Whistle Stop Observatory (44N78W)
TV NP101is, C9.25, WO ZS66,
G11 with Gemini, EQ6 with EQMOD
FLI ML8300 with CFW-2-7
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novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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Dave Carol (especially), Lynn, thanks for your kind thoughts and encouragement.
I did design an observatory for a Dob, but I can't build it. Think of a 2' tall, 8' square box. Now put triangular sides on all four edges such that they fold upward to make a pyramid when closed, fold down to allow observing. problem is, how to make the seals tight along the edges.
Oh, also that I am completely mechanically inept ...
Perhaps within a year an observatory of some sort will rise !
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1502
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Good luck to you on your observatory!! You can do what I did and just start with an observation deck with a pier, then later build an observatory around it! BUT once you get the deck done, you will be ACHING to get the rest built!
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~jon
SparkCast
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40207
Loc: montana
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Mark, don't give up on that design; sounds really unique & interesting; kicking ideas around here might solve the problems you have with it.
It will give you an incentive to work on the design, when you get under your beautiful dark skies. Do a little at a time, amazing what you might come up with.
Carol
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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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WhistleStop
sage
Reged: 09/07/07
Posts: 440
Loc: Grafton, Ontario
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I like the concept Mark, you might consider a truck of trailer tarp to seal it...could be custom cut and lashed down with a few ropes...light colour would reduce heat load...all in all cheap, light weight,and a great weather seal. Just a thought...
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WHISTLESTOP
Whistle Stop Observatory (44N78W)
TV NP101is, C9.25, WO ZS66,
G11 with Gemini, EQ6 with EQMOD
FLI ML8300 with CFW-2-7
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