Telescope Reviews: Blueski Observatory begins

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5567274 - 12/12/12 10:21 AM

Oh yeah before I forget. You'd better change the name to something else. Everytime I see it I think of only a cold beer!

Mike

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5576257 - 12/17/12 07:16 PM

Well, it is actually memorializing my dog Blue, who sadly died November 18.

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins [Re: Aquarist]
#5634437 - 01/21/13 07:45 AM

Ok, an update. Building permit approved; nontrivial amount of negotiation about location. Exact location approved by the building inspector. Telescopes will be Takahashi TOA 150 (change from CDK 17) and Lunt DS 100. Mount will be Astrophysics 1600GTO. Permanent pier will be from ATS. All of which is ordered with lead times varying up until about March. Technical Innovations Dome with ship date promised March 6. So, things are moving along but my impatience is growing.

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5659879 - 02/03/13 12:17 PM

Notification from ATS yesterday that my 10" metal pier will be delayed until the middle of February because they sold far too many 10 inch piers. Wow! Observatory from Technical Innovations ships March 6. Astrophysics mount ships in March. Takahahshi TOA150 waiting in Houston. Lunt DS100 being completed for about April. So, it all is going to get exciting rather quickly. Today I am reading the observatory forum for "finishing ideas".

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5659903 - 02/03/13 12:32 PM

Steve, you will be busy; and we want photos to follow all this excitement!

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rlandsboro
member

Reged: 02/23/12

Loc: Scottsdale, AZ. USA

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5660939 - 02/03/13 11:53 PM

I'm just curious - what made you decide to
change from the CDK to the Takahashi?

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: rlandsboro]
#5661329 - 02/04/13 09:15 AM

Quote:

I'm just curious - what made you decide to
change from the CDK to the Takahashi?

Several things: first of all, my wife will be only a visual observer, and while a CDK is optimized for imaging, that capability is also good on a Tak. I too like visual but hope to do imaging eventually. But more importantly, I was not able to get good response to questions posed to Planewave. I figured that response in pre-sale mode is as good as it is ever going to be and if they are non-responsive now, help later would be most likely worse. While the costs of both scopes are generally similar (CDK is more), I felt that information was more readily available for Takahashi.

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rlandsboro
member

Reged: 02/23/12

Loc: Scottsdale, AZ. USA

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5661629 - 02/04/13 12:07 PM

Sounds like a good decision. It's much easier to give hard-earned dollars to vendors who are accessible and forthcoming with information. And especially to vendors who are willing to say "no - it doesn't do that" so a buyer can really understand their purchase.

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: rlandsboro]
#5815682 - 04/22/13 04:48 PM Attachment (16 downloads)

Well, it has been a long time and the lead times to acquire stuff such as mounts, observatories, telescopes, etc. were very long, but things are finally coming together.

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5815685 - 04/22/13 04:51 PM Attachment (18 downloads)

But, I had no concept of how big the Technical Innovations shipping carton really was, at least until it arrived in my driveway. Needless to say I am not moving it in its present form as it weighs in at 2000 lbs and is 102 inches long, 80 inches wide and 100 inches tall. Next step is to drill a hole for the pier, but that will require some dryer weather than we have been having.

Edited by Aquarist (04/22/13 04:51 PM)

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starbob1
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/11/07

Loc: IN

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5815823 - 04/22/13 05:41 PM

Wow what a box. Your equipment is first class your putting togeather.I am coming over'hehe. I live just over in IN. I love my observatory' even though I do not use it all the time. But just knowing it is their makes me happy. Please post many pics. Bob

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Project Galileo
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/14/07

Loc: Jefferson County, Colorado

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: starbob1]
#5815961 - 04/22/13 06:10 PM

Great start!

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stmguy
super member

Reged: 10/11/12

Loc: Western NH

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Project Galileo]
#5816876 - 04/23/13 06:36 AM

You look like a happy camper ! The fun begins.

Norm

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5817082 - 04/23/13 09:52 AM

Quote:

Well, it is actually memorializing my dog Blue, who sadly died November 18.

Very sorry about your loss; naming your observatory in memory of Blue is very special!

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: Aquarist]
#5817083 - 04/23/13 09:54 AM

Quote:

But, I had no concept of how big the Technical Innovations shipping carton really was, at least until it arrived in my driveway. Needless to say I am not moving it in its present form as it weighs in at 2000 lbs and is 102 inches long, 80 inches wide and 100 inches tall. Next step is to drill a hole for the pier, but that will require some dryer weather than we have been having.

Wow! I don't think you have to worry about it being stolen!

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Aquarist
sage

Reged: 08/27/12

Loc: Illinois

Re: Blueski Observatory begins new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5833156 - 04/30/13 08:27 PM Attachment (6 downloads)

Well, the next step in building the observatory happened today. Here you see a rather substantial piece of equipment which is going to drill the hole for the pier. It will be 2 feet across and 48 inches deep.

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