Telescope Reviews: Observatories-the down side

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Observatories-the down side new

#5670193 - 02/09/13 06:27 AM

I guess this happens to all-with time.

I built my observatory about 10 years ago in my yard (really pasture) on small acreage near a small city. It was great
-my man cave
-a place to store my toys
-a few minutes from house to observing
but since then
-the area's population has doubled
-I have gone from rural to in city
-an interstate highway was build 1/2 mile to the south
-the electric company "asked" for easement on the north side
-the sewer company "asked" for easement on the south side
-naked eye magitude has decreased by one mag-at least
-now a ball park is being build on the land just beyond the power line

I have no regrets to building, but..........................observatories are temporary
my interest have gone from DSOs to Solar System

sadly
edj

Post Extras:

rimcrazy
super member

Reged: 03/03/12

Loc: Overgaard, AZ

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5670211 - 02/09/13 07:00 AM

Pick up a Lunt or Coronado and have fun in the sun!

Post Extras:

RobertED
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/11/03

Loc: Johnston, RI

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: rimcrazy]
#5670227 - 02/09/13 07:29 AM

The fir trees have gotten much taller in the last 15 yrars or so.....effectively blocking my entire Eastern sky!!

Post Extras:

Mirzam
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/08

Loc: Lovettsville, VA

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: RobertED]
#5670231 - 02/09/13 07:32 AM

Look into live-view cameras. You will be amazed at what is visible from a light polluted setting.

JimC

Post Extras:

edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: Mirzam]
#5670441 - 02/09/13 10:17 AM

rimcrazy-got one

RobertED-trees far enough away that not a problem yet

Mirzam-I am not sure that I want to know what occurs between observatory and the ball field

edj

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5670509 - 02/09/13 11:01 AM

This is exactly why I searched for a house that had little vacant land in the area. No schools or playground parks nearby. A pair of small strip malls a 1/4 mikle away. When you buy near undeveloped land you run the risk of more people and lights.

Mike

Post Extras:

1965healey
The Snarkster

Reged: 06/23/07

Loc: San Antonio, TX

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5670853 - 02/09/13 02:29 PM

Oddly enough things have become better rather than worse in my neighborhood. All of the street lights have been changed out so the only focus downward, most folks have rid them selves of those awful monster beehive security lights. The main street 1/4 mile away is changing out it's street lights as well. Woodlawn Lake has new lighting on the walking paths and the tennis court and basketball court lights shut down at 11:00 p.m., they really aren't bad even when they're on because the park has huge trees that block them. The park puts on a fireworks show a few times a year and I've got the best views from the Obs.

Post Extras:

Lorence
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/15/08

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5670895 - 02/09/13 03:07 PM

Quote:

I have no regrets to building, but..........................observatories are temporary
my interest have gone from DSOs to Solar System

sadly
edj

Take a look at the Night Skies Network and see what others are seeing with their video cameras.

http://www.nightskiesnetwork.com/

The camera of choice on the network is the Mallincam Xtreme. With one of those cameras you will more objects in the now light polluted site than you did when the site had dark skies.

Post Extras:

Raginar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/19/10

Loc: Rapid CIty, SD

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: Lorence]
#5672377 - 02/10/13 01:34 PM

Go narrowband for DSO and light pollution I imagine doesn't effect planets as badly since the SNR is so high. I live on the outskirts of a medium city and I was able to capture some wonderful images. Is it 'dark sky' awesome? No, but you just have to adapt

Post Extras:

WStewart
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/02/05

Loc: Dallas, TX

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: Raginar]
#5676262 - 02/12/13 04:50 PM

Try to look at the bright side (no pun intended)...with an observatory you at least have some protection against those encroaching lights.

Post Extras:

John Fitzgerald
In Focus

Reged: 01/04/04

Loc: AR

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5679460 - 02/14/13 01:20 PM

Quote:

I guess this happens to all-with time.

I built my observatory about 10 years ago in my yard (really pasture) on small acreage near a small city. It was great
-my man caver
-a place to store my toys
-a few minutes from house to observing
but since then
-the area's population has doubled
-I have gone from rural to in city
-an interstate highway was build 1/2 mile to the south
-the electric company "asked" for easement on the north side
-the sewer company "asked" for easement on the south side
-naked eye magitude has decreased by one mag-at least
-now a ball park is being build on the land just beyond the power line

I have no regrets to building, but..........................observatories are temporary
my interest have gone from DSOs to Solar System

sadly
edj

Ed,
You are welcome to go out and use my dark sky site roll off observatory. No development anywhere close since I bought the place nearly seven years ago.

Post Extras:

edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: John Fitzgerald]
#5682870 - 02/16/13 06:22 AM

thank you John,
have planned to for a long time
but just never got around to it

edj

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5684013 - 02/16/13 06:25 PM

Actually there is a downside. Everyone and his dog wants too come over and mooch!

Mike

Post Extras:

John Fitzgerald
In Focus

Reged: 01/04/04

Loc: AR

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5684066 - 02/16/13 06:58 PM

Actually, my dark site observatory is SO remote that very few have visited when repeatedly invited. There is a warm room and electric power. The obs doesn't have a scope in it unless I am there, but tables, chairs, etc are there.

Post Extras:

Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: John Fitzgerald]
#5684100 - 02/16/13 07:23 PM

Feeling guilty on clear nights for not going out there when I don't feel good...

Post Extras:

edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: John Fitzgerald]
#5692564 - 02/21/13 11:32 AM

Quote:

Actually, my dark site observatory is SO remote that very few have visited when repeatedly invited.

Post Extras:

DeanS
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/12/05

Loc: Central Kentucky

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5696333 - 02/23/13 10:44 AM

When I built I could see M31 visually no problem, now I think I can only on the best nights. Gone from being on the edge of green/yellow, to yellow/orange. However I still can see the Milkyway overhead and to the south. Have no regrets building it, just wish I could teleport it to John's place

John, ever mind people camping for a few days during new mooon?

Dean

Wanted to add, one reason to go with a concrete pad was so that future use could be a garden/storage shed of some kind when we eventually move, or it gets too light. I framed in a double door on the end so it would fit mowers or garden tractors. Would just have to bolt down the roof, remove the warm room wall and it becomes a 12 x 18 room.

Edited by DeanS (02/23/13 10:52 AM)

Post Extras:

csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Observatories-the down side [Re: edwincjones]
#5696442 - 02/23/13 11:44 AM

I'm very fortunate that there is no down side to my observatory. I only have one year-around neighbor. My skies are as dark as when I first started observing, averaging 21.5 SQM.

The upside of mine, is viewing almost instantly, whenever I want.

Post Extras:

nytecam
Postmaster

Reged: 08/20/05

Loc: London UK

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: Mirzam]
#5699302 - 02/25/13 04:39 AM

Quote:

Look into live-view cameras. You will be amazed at what is visible from a light polluted setting. JimC

Took that route decades ago, via brief exposure SX CCD cams [link below], and never looked back - I need to here with 8M neighbours in 'white zone' London - there's virtually nothing in the Sloan DeepSky Survey that's not within range of my cam in a few seconds

Post Extras:

LoveChina61
sage

Reged: 06/20/09

Re: Observatories-the down side new

[Re: nytecam]
#5699552 - 02/25/13 10:07 AM

I enjoy my observatory a lot so I have to make sure that I first take care of responsibilities and spend adequate time with my family before it's "play time"

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

Extra information

3 registered and 12 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: csa/montana, Chris Erickson

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 1795

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics