stars_in_my_eyes
sage
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 453
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As I design my dream observatory, I would like advice as to what you have done for a warming room.
What do you have and has it worked out?
Pictures would be great.
Thanks
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5656
Loc: Eastern PA
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My warm room looks exactly like my family room (or any other room that has a broadband connection).
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Snaproll
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 3492
Loc: Wisconsin
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Mine is my livingroom. The obs is out on the deck so I just duck in if I get cold.
Usually though I just tuff it out in the obs with a snow suit and a heated motorcycle vest.
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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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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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I have a desk, homemade table with lamp (red light) and couple of bookshelves. I also have a three drawer cabinet. I store lots of stuff I use alot on the bookshelves. I have a sliding window with a black curtain to the obs room. I have a small fan for the summer and portable heater for the winter.
I do mostly AP and once I kick off my imaging run I retreat to the house where I can control the computer remotely so I just check it periodically.
Things that work well for me is my wireless Autostar for the scope and a usb hub on the mount so that I can connect everything up to the computer in the warm room. I have a cat5 connection to the house router so I can get on the internet and transfer files to and from the house. I also have telephone and a cable connection but I never put a tv in since I'm in the house alot when I image.
The room is carpeted and I try to make it comfortable and I put pictures I take on the wall. I'll post some pictures.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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more
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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more
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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more
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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more
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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last one
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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Another thing that's a great accessory: Saitek red backlit keyboard!
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2330
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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One bit of advice I'd also give on this, don't try to plan every detail up front. I have made changes as I got in the observatory to suit my needs and I'm sure that will continue.
When I first built the obs I bought a used recliner because I saw one in a guy's warm room on the internet. He slept in it while he images. I originally was going to install a tv so that I could nap in the chair or watch tv but I didn't spend that much idle time in the warm room so I ditched the recliner because it took up too much space and added office type stuff for function. I also added the backlit keyboard when i got tired of shining a flashlight at the keys.
Just get the basics you think you will need and figure it out as you go. I would also set up cable runs and leave a way to add more as your equipment grows. I have a 2" conduit buried to the house just for cable, telephone, cat5 etc with a pull string so I can run anything I need in the future to the obs and the warm room.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1257
Loc: AR
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Mine is at a remote site. I have a 12 x 16 (outside dimensions) sleeping/warming/cooking hut about 60 feet N. of the roll-off. It's equipped with electric heater, microwave, hotplate, etc. I am in the process of insulating and tightening it up better so I can use it in colder weather. I think it best to keep food and drinks out of the observatory, and sources of heat waves well away. I dread the colder weather coming, as I don't take it very well, and seldom observe when it is below about 40 degrees F., but the warming hut definitely helps.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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Tom Clark
super member
Reged: 11/14/07
Posts: 144
Loc: Chiefland, Florida
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Being a visual observer, there is no warm room at my place, but my neighbor built one to dream about. He has a 24" Ritchie and a 36" Newt in his two domes, and images from the warm/cool room between the two. Life is tough! Those who attend the Chiefland star party in three weeks may get to see it…
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soreneck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/01/06
Posts: 696
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Quote:
Being a visual observer, there is no warm room at my place, but my neighbor built one to dream about. He has a 24" Ritchie and a 36" Newt in his two domes, and images from the warm/cool room between the two. Life is tough! Those who attend the Chiefland star party in three weeks may get to see it…
Wow. With a setup like that, I'd *never* sleep.
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WO 110 FLT
WO 66 Triplet
Celestron C11
SkyWatcher EQ-6 Pro
Stiletto focuser for Canon DSLRs for sale
One small but fearless dog (observing companion)
my astrophotos on flickr
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DeanS
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/12/05
Posts: 506
Loc: Nicholasville, Kentucky
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Mine is about the size of John Novaks broom closet I imagine 
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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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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Here's mine so far:
View facing the opposite way:
Exterior view:
The "warm room" is off to the right of the photo.
Note: Please don't inform my wife that I consider this entire structure to be an extension of "the warm room."
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 6024
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Must be exhausting....to suffer so much for your hobby... 
Just for therapy purposes...could you also include an image of your Yerkes size dome outside the warm(mansion)?
It just might aid us in finding words of comfort to console you in your suffering.... 
Rob(amazing) 
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
Providing a great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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LOL, thanks Rob! 
Here you go:
I've been out here all week, testing to see if I can effectively work from here. If I can, I'll likely move out here permanently early next year, and dump my house in Dallas. (Emphasis on "dump."  )
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 6024
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Quote:
LOL, thanks Rob!
Here you go:
I've been out here all week, testing to see if I can effectively work from here. If I can, I'll likely move out here permanently early next year, and dump my house in Dallas. (Emphasis on "dump." )
Oh...well there you go... Maybe a 12-15ft dome?
Anything less and I surely would have thought a counceling session would be in order.....
What instrument are you hiding in that wonderful dome?
I am building a 16X16 roll-off roof for my 10"f/16 refractor. I just can't seem to imagine a 25 ft dome in my future. Plus the elevating pier would occlude with the dome, and make for fancy accidents to happen.
So is this home your *second* home, or your retirement project?
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
Providing a great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 916
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Yes, it's a 15' T.I. dome, housing a Planewave CDK20 mounted on a paramount, which is itself mounted on a piertech PT3 pier.
Sorry that this isn't the best picture ever, but there it is.
Quote:
So is this home your *second* home, or your retirement project?
It's kind of a retirement project. When I bought the place last year, there wasn't any way I could work here - there was no high speed internet service available out here. That left me kind of stuck needing to keep the place in Dallas. (Well that and the other homes in my neighborhood were selling SLOWLY - so I probably couldn't have sold it even if I'd wanted to.)
Eventually though I'll live out here full time, and get rid of the place in Dallas. Nothing against Dallas, and my home there, neighborhood, and neighbors are all really nice. It's just really hard to sell there. (It was really hard to sell homes in my neighborhood two years ago, when most places weren't having any problems.)
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