Telescope Reviews: Orion Ranch Observatory

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Orion Ranch Observatory
#3430560 - 11/05/09 08:26 AM Attachment (595 downloads)

Well, after a couple of months spending my weekends cutting and chipping cedars and scraping cactus off of the 11.2 acres I bought (Christened Orion Ranch) just down the road from the intersection known as Oatmeal, Texas (4 miles south of Bertram, TX), I finally broke ground on my new roll-off observatory this past weekend! I'll try to keep good picture logs, but this will give you an idea of where I started from.

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3430565 - 11/05/09 08:27 AM Attachment (292 downloads)

More cactus near where we were thinking of putting the observatory.

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3430571 - 11/05/09 08:30 AM Attachment (235 downloads)

And even more cactus and cedars in the area where we were thinking of putting the observatory.

Post Extras:

Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3430573 - 11/05/09 08:32 AM Attachment (387 downloads)

And after months of clearing...

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3430603 - 11/05/09 09:02 AM

Man...you've done a ton of work. My back aches thinking about it!

So, when do you think the first image will be taken?

David

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3430672 - 11/05/09 09:40 AM

Congratulations! Looks like you will have beautiful, dark skies! At least with the cactus around, don't have to worry about much creeping up on you!

This will be an exciting time for you; and we love taking the journey as it will be built!

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Starman27
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/29/06

Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: csa/montana]
#3430868 - 11/05/09 11:31 AM

Now the fun continues.

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andyschlei
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/05/06

Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3431012 - 11/05/09 12:46 PM

That looks like a wonderful site! Keep those pictures coming.

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Radiostar
professor emeritus

Reged: 10/16/08

Loc: Thunder Bay, Ontario

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: andyschlei]
#3431139 - 11/05/09 01:39 PM

Are you taking reservations yet?

Best wishes for your project.
Eddy B

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Radiostar]
#3431892 - 11/05/09 08:46 PM Attachment (340 downloads)

Here's another view looking back towards the "House" (shack) that was on the property. It's about to fall down, but at least there's stinky well water and restroom facilities! For a frame of reference, the cactus in that second picture above was in front of the fence around that "house". Although I had to crop/shrink it a lot, this gives you an idea of the slight grade I have to deal with. Also, compared to the grey cloudy skies for the past couple months, you can see the beautiful blue skies we're having now!

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3431915 - 11/05/09 09:07 PM Attachment (252 downloads)

And here's a view of the area that's nearest level. Unfortunately there's a nice big red oak (with the moon peeking over its shoulder) right by the area. I don't have a problem eliminating cedars (they grow like weeds) but a big beautiful old oak is another story. It's got a few dead branches, but is still a nice looking tree. Unfortunately, moving the location further down hill doesn't help much for viewing as the elevation of the tree remains the same. Ugh!

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3431970 - 11/05/09 09:41 PM Attachment (260 downloads)

And finally, here's last weekend's ground breaking.

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: David Pavlich]
#3432021 - 11/05/09 10:07 PM Attachment (232 downloads)

Quote:

Man...you've done a ton of work. My back aches thinking about it! So, when do you think the first image will be taken?

David

Thanks David. I actually took a few pictures a couple of weeks ago during the new moon. That was the first time we had clear skies long enough to even do any observing. It was also our "real" first light on our SkyWatcher ED-100 from Astronomics. That and the 8" SCT hits the limit on my CGEM SBS setup, but here's the Pleiades from that night. Turned out pretty good for a couple hours of shots and some quick processing. The ED-100 takes some nice shots and gives good views. My only complaint is that the focuser is too loose and doesn't hold when near vertical even when locked down. It also tends to shift focus when you tighten the focus lock. I've been meaning to contact Astronomics to see if there's an adjustment that could improve it. I lost about an hour or so of exposures due to shifting focus!

I'm hoping to pour the first pier this weekend and be able to try it out in the coming weeks.

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: csa/montana]
#3432059 - 11/05/09 10:26 PM Attachment (259 downloads)

Quote:

Congratulations! Looks like you will have beautiful, dark skies! At least with the cactus around, don't have to worry about much creeping up on you!

This will be an exciting time for you; and we love taking the journey as it will be built!

Thanks Carol. Funny you should mention the critters. I kept hearing something creeping around and shuffling in the leaves on a couple nights while I was out there. Finally got the flashlight on it and discovered a small armadillo. Certainly not uncommon here in Central Texas. At least now I know what's been digging all the holes around the area! And then last week we had a visitor come check out our carrying cases we'd left out overnight (attached).

On the other hand, we did catch a nice buck in the headlights when leaving one night. Looks like I'll have a few other things to try to take pictures of while I'm out there.

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432064 - 11/05/09 10:28 PM

Thanks to all for the comments!

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432097 - 11/05/09 10:49 PM Attachment (262 downloads)

Here's my attempt to verify the direction of true north. Either Starry Night gave me the wrong time for the solar transit or my attempt to align on Polaris was WAY off. My initial attempt involved setting a T-post with my red headlamp on it at one end of the field and then moving to the other side and attempting to site the post location to be directly in line with Polaris when vertical and in a position such that it blocked the light from the first post. That SHOULD have been a decent north/south line and is represented by the light shadow in the photo. I then hung a plumb bob from the line and photographed the shadows when the sun was directly overhead (supposedly). The shadow from the plumb line should be pointing straight north. Not sure which is which, but I'll have to try both a couple more times to decide. Once I get the first pier in place I can also attempt to use my telescope alignment to verify the axis as well.

Beo

Post Extras:

Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory [Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432116 - 11/05/09 11:05 PM Attachment (224 downloads)

Just about level. You can see the north-south line strung up here as well. But boy look at all that rock!

Beo

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory [Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432124 - 11/05/09 11:11 PM

Nice image of M45! It's one of the images that I never grow tired of seeing. The blue nebulosity is gorgeous. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about imaging it, printing a bunch, frame them up and send them to family and friend for Christmas.

David

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory [Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432132 - 11/05/09 11:17 PM Attachment (192 downloads)

And another view showing the wide orientation for the observatory. Of course right in the center you see that big red oak.

Beo

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Orion Ranch Observatory [Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3432141 - 11/05/09 11:26 PM Attachment (186 downloads)

So here all the cedars are down on the uphill side, and while I took down a couple big branches off the red oak, I just couldn't bring myself to cut it down.

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