droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Well......................some of you may know I already have an observatory in the country at a dark sky site.
But with gas approaching 4.00 a gallon and me working 7 days a week, I dont get out there very much.
Oh yeah when the dark of the moon hits and Im not working I get out there about, 6 times last year . I know Pathetic, I do have retirement to look forward too. 
So................if I do observe its almost always Lady Luna and always after work.So I started thinking about a lunar dedicated observatory.
The first piece of that idea fell into my lap earlier this year when a friend said he had a 6 x 8 plastic shed .He wasn't going to use it, he payed almost 600 for it , I gave him 250.00 at income tax time
Fast forward a few months, and after much aggravation with my zoning board, I began work on my observatory / shed / deck.
Now before anyone asks, I will admit up front I stole all my ideas from fellow cloudy nighters.
The first was Chuck Domaracki and his "Observatory" similar to my shed .But after building the shed, I quickly began to realize the shed took most of its rigidity from the roof and frame.
Chucks web site: http://www.jemartool.com/astro/observatory/observatory.htm
Turn the page and I found Carol (Sidera)s tree house observatory.ok...hmmmmmmm
The 6 x 8 shed on a 12 foot deck would allow me to use it the same way carol does hers.
Carols site is here: http://tinyurl.com/557nbl
Today I built the deck, squared it , leveled it, and built the shed , just in time for a heavy rain storm. Took me about 6 hours start to finish, is it professional grade work?? nope. But its all Ill need.
Still need one more piece of three quarter inch exterior grade plywood to finish the deck.But thatll come next payday,hopefully.
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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pic 2
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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leveling the deck
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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my helper
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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three corners up
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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shed all done
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andy
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Mike Lewis
sage
Reged: 01/20/05
Posts: 303
Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA
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SWEET!!!!!!!!!!! 
Nice job Andy!!!
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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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 25568
Loc: montana
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Andy, Nice job! Tell the truth though, your helper did most of the work, right? 
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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thanks for the kind words yall......theres still a lot to do, finish th decking, put up some kind of sideing all the way around, the whole idea is to let me observe without fear of running "afoul" of my black and white kittys I have nightly in my yard, or the ground hogs who have theyre babys under my shed annually then move on in the early fall or late summer.Or even the semi weekly raids the raccoons, who will and have forced theyre way through my window screens to get to the cat food.
I have some old privacy fence, still in pretty decent condition, I might wrap the open part of the deck with that to create in a sence walls with no ceiling.we'll see.
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andy
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Chris Schroeder
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 4678
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Looking good Andy
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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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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Thanks Chris ....that means a lot.
2 more photos......the first from this morning
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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and this evening........
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andy
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Digital Don
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 804
Loc: Manteno
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That's a very nice setup! You'll probably wonder how you ever did without it before.
Don
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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yessiree bob ...Don....its skunk proof, ground hog proof, and raccoon (mostly)proof.
The fact that it sheilds my neighbors three outside lights. Is a plus,lol.
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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right down the middle.This should be the last ...I think. I cant wait for first light. In the mean time I have a tree to trim.
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andy
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 25568
Loc: montana
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Andy, what a nice setup you have there! The fence completes it for stray light.
Great idea!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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oldsalt
Astro Philosopher
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 7887
Loc: Pa - between starparties
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Looking good, Andy.
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Jim
"A professional warrior prays for peace and trains for war. All else is folly."
Atlas mount
AT Voyager w wooden tripod
ETX70 "Lilliput"
AT80EDT(carbon fiber) "Beauty"
Antares 127mm refractor "Star Walker"
12XTi "Skyclops"
LX200GPS OTA "Blue Boy"
AT66ED " Silver Surfer"
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WidowMaker
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 656
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Good for you, Andy! Looks very nice!
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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helpwanted
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 1575
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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that's a beauty! if i tryed taking up that much backyard, my girlfriend would kick me out!! you are lucky!!
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XT8 (8" f6)
EPs: Hyper, Pan, SPL, TMBs
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Thanks for the kind remarks.....they are much appreciated.
Yesterday I climbed up into my grandsons fort 6 feet above the ground and set up an 8 foot step ladder inside the fort , then climbed four steps and started sawing off branches, naturally I didnt have any safety glasses , so I kept looking down, and the limb split off a little over half way through or so , and smacked me in the head.
Man do I hate trees.... 
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Well...........last night the new observatory saw first light.I had a couple of freinds over and mother nature helped by giving me the most gorgeous night sky until 2am when a haze settled in.
I showed them the two galaxys below the rear end of the Lion,(M65 and M66),oddly NGC 3628 which every one says is easy , and in fact one of the so called Leo triplets, eluded me??.
And on to M81 and M82 in the front of the big bear, and M51 in the back.
M81 and M 82 were both situated so that they looked like a pair of eyes hanging in the eye peice.
M51 was a ghost at best, but was clearly there an improvement for sure over glare from street lights reflecting off my lenses.
The great hercules cluster M13 and the lesser hercules cluster M92 were to be had, the sky transparency made M92 an easy sweep from the location I stopped at in the telrad.
The ring nebula M57 was easy though my two freinds thought it was disappointingly small in the C102 refractor, I assured them the view in my U2K would change that opinion.
Our last stop for the night was Albireo, I love showing this pair to beginners and asking them what color the stars are.One said blueish green and bright yellow , while the other one said blue and creamy colored yellow.
At this time the haze moved in , and I closed up for the night.
Some notes:
inaugeral music :Cinstance Demby (Novus Magnificum)
First light instrument the C102HD
Shared with: Sherry and Mike.....thanks guys for putting up with me yapping.
And to the mods...I apolegize if this doesnt belong here...I just wanted to share my first light with those here who have followed my Rose observatory thread.
clear skys all............... 
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andy
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Chris Schroeder
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 4678
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Congratulations Andy, sounds like you had a grand opening
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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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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 25568
Loc: montana
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Andy, couldn't think of a better place for your First Light!
Congratulations on such an awesome night! Wish we all could have been there, but it would have been a little crowded But with your great report, we were able to share it with you anyway!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3435
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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Does the roof open up on your shed/observatory or is it literally used for storing the scopes.... 
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow-- + A few bits and pieces..
Don't think expensive equipment will make up for lack of talent or practice..
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 1478
Loc: Novato
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Great set up. Andy!
Nice to have a place to store your scopes all ready for the night! Great idea with the fence, too!
Congratulations!
Carol
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Clear skies and half-moon pies!
LC Carol
"Ad infinitum et praeter!"
Susurrus Annoluminis
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Quote:
Does the roof open up on your shed/observatory or is it literally used for storing the scopes....
Actually , the observatory section is the open section.The shed stores all my stuff at the ready.
It works very well, everything Ive recreated has already been done by others here at cloudy nights.
From the patio style observing ,to the pvc frames with tarps, to the plastic shed.
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Carol; thanks for the compliment.The fence is my version of your pvc frames.I had it ready to haul away , seemed appropriate to recycle it.
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andy
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Mike Lewis
sage
Reged: 01/20/05
Posts: 303
Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA
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Andy,
Great first light report!!!!
Best skies
Mike
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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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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3435
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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Thanks Andy, it' an idea I have been playing with for a while. Now I know it works I can make a start..... 
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow-- + A few bits and pieces..
Don't think expensive equipment will make up for lack of talent or practice..
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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while I was at work.....this arrived..............
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andy
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droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 2976
Loc: ohio
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Well Rose Observatory has survived "my " first scare.
Several days ago my grandson told me he was shooting bees with water all over my observatory.
I blew it off....what can a bee do.Well these jumbo sized suckers bored like 6 holes all through the new wood.
I actually stood a |
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