1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Well I've passed the dreaming phase and entered into the planning phase. Scott and the BYO team will be making the journey to San Antonio, TX soon to build my roll-off roof observatory. I had originally planned to build 50 miles outside of town on some property that my brother and I have but have changed my mind and decided to build one at home. The thought of an hour drive one way became less and less attractive the more I thought about it. I work odd hours and am on call at the hospital most nights, the thought of just getting comfortable at the EP and having to shut down and drive back to town on a moments notice took all the joy out of that idea.
I live 2 blocks from a 50 acre lake, Woodlawn Lake to be exact, hence the name. It's a beautiful neighborhood lake with a lighthouse, sailing, walking paths, sport courts and the BEST 4th of July fireworks display I've seen. The view of the fireworks from my front yard is amazing, it'll be even better from a rooftop observatory!
The plan is to take the roof off of the center portion of my 2 car garage and studio and build an 8X10 roll-off on a mezzanine floor. Similar to John Crillys' obs but with a peaked roof. The roof will slide to the west over the existing studio space. The studio will do double duty as a control room and studio. The obs will be up a short flight of stairs. The scope will be mounted on a pier that extends down to the garage floor below. The south wall will fold down giving great views of the southern sky and that fireworks display. This is a rough sketch of the obs that I drew and sent to Scott thinking that he'd tell me I was crazy and it couldn't be done. An hour later I got an e-mail that said it could be done and things have taken off from there. When I thought of an observatory Scott was the only one I wanted to build it, his work is beautiful. So wish me luck, the adventure begins now.
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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A view of the lake
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Another
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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1 more
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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Spaz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/19/07
Posts: 758
Loc: New Zealand
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Excellent work! And such a restful-sounding name. Almost like a cemetary!
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Rick
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 3044
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Cool. I am a San Antonio native myself. My Dad grew up near Woodlawn lake too. Hope it turns out to be everything you wanted! 
clear skies,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Quote:
Excellent work! And such a restful-sounding name. Almost like a cemetary!
Lakeview would make a good cemetery name, that's why I didn't use it.
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1407
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Very nice Karen! San Antonio is a neat town, and that looks like a lovely location. I'll be really excited to see your progress!
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40155
Loc: montana
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Karen, Congratulations on your upcoming Woolawn Lake Observatory! A beautiful name, & I can see that the name fits the area. This will be a most exciting time, with Scott building it, luck doesn't enter into it, his work is amazing!
I think you will be far happier to have the Observatory at home, like you mentioned that drive isn't too desirable.
Keep us posted, as we are all so happy for you!
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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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Karen sure drew up a great plan too! Makes my life easier 
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3844
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Sounds like a good plan, Karen. Will be looking for your updates. I used to sail on Woodlawn Lake. I had forgotten the name, though!
Any idea on timing?
Hubert
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Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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About a month away. 
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3844
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Just in time for decent weather...
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Hubert
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www.smoggybottom.org
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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 3989
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Quote:
Karen sure drew up a great plan too! Makes my life easier
Quick, Karen, negotiate a lower price from Scott while he's thinking its going to be "easier"! Just  you Scott.
Seriously, from my experience, I'm surprised he would even need "plans" - WSO was built, near as I can tell, from synaptic memory!
That said, since your's is modifying an existing building, I'm sure y'all got them there codes n thangs what require fancy plans and all!
Congratulations - you will love it, love having and using it, and be very happy!
Show Scott some good 'cue while he's down there, ok?
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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1965healey
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 3133
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Received a set of plans from Scott @ BYO the other day. The excitement builds! Spent the last couple of days in the garage imagining it without a roof and with a rooftop observatory instead. My neighbors think that the fact that I'm building an obs is great, they promise that when the roof is open their porch light in back will be turned off. The tree trimmers are due next week, Thursday or Friday at the latest. Tomorrow the studio/control room organization begins. Debating between painting the walls or paneling them. I'm leaning towards paneling since it's faster and covers a multitude of sins. Flooring in the control room will probably be indoor/outdoor carpeting since it's a ground level room and will need to be vacuumed periodically. So many decisions to make and things to do to prepare for Scotts arrival. Everyday brings the dream closer to reality. 
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40155
Loc: montana
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Way to go Karen. Your sleeping at night is officially over! You will be too excited!
Again, congratulations!
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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Mike Lewis
sage
Reged: 01/20/05
Posts: 384
Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA
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Congrats Karen!!!!
Scott and the gang do first class work!!! You'll love it!!!
Ahhhh.....the fun begins 
Best skies
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Mike
.......................
Meade 7" Mak
Home built 8" Dob
120mm Sywatcher refractor
76mm Borg
Home built 12.5" Truss, F/5.6 Zambuto
PST
Dunham Hill Observatory
"Most people never look up, what a shame...."
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3508
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Karen.....You lucky so an' so! That little gem is going to be a piece of classic ingenuity! Scott's going to have fun on that baby. The basics never change but there will be a few challenges along the way. Lots of extra little things that aren't real obvious to some who will be following this project along. It'll take a good part of a week if not all....no 2-3 day trip through the tulips on this. My biggest hope for everyone is no early showers or any other inclement weather especially if you have a finished off garage etc. Good luck and you'll have someone who will care doing the work proper.....I hear Scott isn't too crazy about doing warranty work by proxy!   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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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3824
Loc: Wisconsin
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Quote:
Way to go Karen. Your sleeping at night is officially over! You will be too excited!
Again, congratulations!
Carol
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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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SometimesKen
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/15/05
Posts: 503
Loc: Bad Moon Observatory
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Wow! Way cool !!
Good Luck Karen and try to get some sleep now, 'cause once your observatory is up you'll think "sleep is overrated"!
Remember ... you have to take lots a pics!!
Thanks for sharing
Ken
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As the setting sun / melts below the horizon / the stars applaud her bow. ~W. Terrance~
Bad Moon Observatory - February 1, 2007
39° 54' N - 74° 09' W
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