Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3434
Loc: Wisconsin
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The results of this poll is the property of Cloudy Nights and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. It is for entertainment purposes only.
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3434
Loc: Wisconsin
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Interesting results so far.
For "What is your observatory constructed on", I have bare ground, deck, concrete slab... what else would one be constructed on? I see there are four votes for "Other". What would that be? 
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
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RobVG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 593
Loc: Seattle Washington
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Well, I guess mine's a deck instead of "other". I just think of a deck as a structure with "decking", like Chris's below. I have a plywood floor but no foundation wall.
Sorry about that.
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C11 SGT(XLT)CG-5
Observatory (page 5)
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Great Poll!! It will be interesting to see more and more votes to get an idea of what everyone is doing!
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
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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Old Dinosaur
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/08/07
Posts: 806
Loc: Out in the sagebrush
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I called mine "other" because the building rests on piers, but the floor is unattached to either it or the mount pier and rests independently on the ground. Thinking about redoing that with concrete though because of mice problems. 
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WRS Observatory
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Pedestal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 2952
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Quote:
Interesting results so far.
For "What is your observatory constructed on", I have bare ground, deck, concrete slab... what else would one be constructed on? I see there are four votes for "Other". What would that be?
Well, mine is on a wooden foundation. The "deck" so to speak, is part of the plastic building.
Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3434
Loc: Wisconsin
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So far there are a lot more "do it yourself-ers" than I expected, and also a lot more roll off roofs.
Also it's interesting that half of us have had an observatory for a year or less.
I had 18 original questions and thought the last one would be fun, to see "who got it" on "42". Looks like about half.
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Oh yeah, what does 42 mean?? LOL OKAY OKAY I get it now, Google to the rescue! I thought I was a nerd with Star Wars!! lol
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
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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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 4775
Loc: Wherever the boss sends me.
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Quote:
what does 42 mean??
I think that was the answer to the big question in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
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Scott.
My Gallery
12.5" f/8 EQ w/Byers gears
178ED/LXD750
102ED
100mm f/13 Carton refractor
PST
DSI, ST7
www.backyardobservatories.com
www.m1OASYS.com
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3434
Loc: Wisconsin
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"Deep Think" was the computer if I remember that answered the question to "what is the true meaning of life".
It's also interesting how many people have done their own observatory design.
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
Edited by Snaproll (01/17/08 01:27 PM)
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21404
Loc: North Texas
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Quote:
I had 18 original questions and thought the last one would be fun, to see "who got it" on "42". Looks like about half.
Even if we got it, doesn't mean we answered it that way. 
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory 
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21404
Loc: North Texas
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In addition to the "my own design" answers, I'm most surprised by how many have/use go-to. After that, by how many have 8-less than 10" scopes as their primary. I would've thought 10-less than 12" would've been bigger, thinking 10" and up would be a popular range to start with an obs.
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3434
Loc: Wisconsin
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I thought the same thing too Steph. We don't have a lot of 'votes' to draw any conclusions, but I thought 10" and 12" would be the 'typical' observatory scope size. Maybe this will change as we get more votes, but the results are kind of interesting. There are a lot more ROR than I thought.
Another thing that is interesting, compared to the "if you are thinking of getting an observatory" poll. In that poll, 2/3rds as of now are looking at a 'prefab', vendor supplied design and materials, where in this poll, most that already have observatories were "do it yourself-ers", or about 2/3rds the other way. Also taking a look at the amount people are willing to spend ($1000-$2000), they must be looking at low cost kit type observatories.
Another interesting thing is that about half of those that have an observatory have done so in the last year.
Again, can't draw anything conclusive, but it is interesting to get some idea of what people are doing or thinking of doing.
In the other poll, I asked how people would power their observatories and a couple are looking at DC and solar panels. I think that is a neat idea if AC power isn't readily available.
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-Jim-
Happiness is a clear sky and a Denk II
old AP images and some new C14 Hyperstar images
Edited by Snaproll (01/17/08 02:46 PM)
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BCB
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 3740
Loc: Look over your shoulder
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For me, the floor selection was "other" only beacause the shed I used came with a floor, which was plastic as well.
This was a DIY build, and it was a fun learning experience. Power is supplied by extension cord..
I have yet to get/set up a pier. I'd like to though eventually. Not very high up on the priority list.. What I have works for now till I hit powerball.. 
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Mark
Making people sorry they asked since 1967
Astro-Tech 102ED
Orion 8" F5 Newt w/Moonlight CR-2 focuser
SVP mount w/Meade 497 Autostar GOTO mod
Treeline Observatory
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Chris Schroeder
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 4942
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Hey Jim, I think with the realative newness of inexpensive prefab observatories, it stands to reason most would be DIY.
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M102ED S.V., ZS 80FD 10th Anniv, ZS 66SD, PST
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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DeanS
sage
Reged: 07/12/05
Posts: 424
Loc: Nicholasville, Kentucky
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Hi Steph, I would think that most larger scopes are dobs, so it would also be nice to see how many people actually use a Dob in an observatory. I have a 12" LX200gps in my observatory but it is now only used for visual, and that is not often as I image about 99% of the time. I use a 7" & 9.25" for imaging on a pier next to the 12".
But I also have a 12" Dob and use it in my driveway while I am running an imaging sequence in the observatory, at least on warm nights as I am a wimp anymore about the cold 
Overall a very informative poll.
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8" LX200gps
AP1200GTO Mach1GTO
FS-60C Tak E160 C9.25
SXV-H9 ST2000XM STV
Meade 12" Lightbridge
Moonlite Focusers
www.doghouseastronomy.com
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Kaizu
sage
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 241
Loc: Finland
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I dont agree that all big telescopes are dob's. I have one "visual" frend, who use mostly big dob's (24" and 20"). We "imagers" need tracking and that's easier using fork- or german mount. We have 36" on fork and one 20" on fork and the other on german mount. I have to say that here the fork does not differ very much from teh dob because of the latitude 60.5 deg. Our big telescopes are in observatories except the dobsons. They are portable and therefore on the trailers.
Kaizu
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There is nothing as wise as German engineer
http://www.kaiforssen.fi
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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 1291
Loc: The Big Tomato, California
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As the only person who responded to this poll and selected the tent/panel observatory, I should probably speak up.
My observatory is obviously portable. I built it using pictures I'd seen here as a guide. It consists of six 4'x6' PVC frames that I set up in roughly a hexagon shape and use a 3' long PVC brace to frame an open doorway. The frames are clamped together with Irwin Quick-Clamps purchased from Home Depot during a buy two get four sale. The frames are covered with 4 mil black contractor sheeting purchased in 10' x 25' rolls. The edges of the sheeting are reinforced with double layers of black duct tape and screwed to the frames. Each frame consists of an upper and a lower segment that can be separated so they are covered separately. The top section has a flap to seal the gap between the sections. I did this because I have both a refractor and a reflector and the OTA heights are rather different.
Setup time is not long...15 minutes or less. I first setup the scope and then erect the light panel observatory around it.
It's not quite as convenient has a having a dome or a roll-off (no storage, table/chairs, mini-fridge, etc.) but it's much better than having nothing at all in my backyard and it is portable (frames break down to less than 4'x4').
I'm currently repairing storm damage to my fences and have been eyeing "The Fence" observatory which would look very nice in my backyard. What's another couple of post holes, posts, rails, and pickets? 
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Kit
"There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys." - Red Green
* A bunch of old ATM stuff that cost me next to nothing
* A bunch of new commercial stuff that cost me an arm and a leg
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gilligan
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/08
Posts: 980
Loc: Looking for the Bridge
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I guess converting the guest house in the back yard was kinda cheating, Since it was there just begging me to use,, So I did. Can't beat the indoor plumbing, or the warmth emmiting from the heater pluged into the wall.
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Gilligan
Celestron CPC 1100 GPS "Hal 2000"
Meade DSI II
Meade LPI
And a bunch of other stuff..
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MikeN202od
member
Reged: 11/29/07
Posts: 18
Loc: Florida
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Hmm, converting the guest house,....then there's no room for the in-laws in winter.... Seriously, I thought of doing an attic conversion in the guest house but there's a street light out front. Put my observatory in the courtyard(Skyshed POD) and have never been happier. If you don't have to set up and break down life is great!
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Mike Broder, Isles Observatory, Punta Gorda, FL
14" LX-200GPS, 8" F6.3 LX-200GPS, TV-101, TV-76, SBIG ST-2000XCM/AO-L POD XL-3
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