Telescope Reviews: Re: New Observatory Project

Lots of traffic flying on this site about observatories and heat now that summer is here! Fixes have run the gamut from screened grills to ridge vents, from temp controlled fans and Reflectix Radiant Barrier to full blown HVAC units. Some of us use just one thing and some use a combination of several or even all of them. Alot depends on when you plan on being in the obs, if you're only going to be out in the obs at night then just keeping it below about 100F will probably do according to most of the conventional wisdom.. Above that and electronics and adhesives tend to get cranky and unpredictable. Dr. Clay Sherrod takes a bit of a harder line and says to treat your obs like a baby's nursery and he keeps his insulated and no hotter than 80F. My vote goes with him and I'm adding climate controls as my overtime checks permit. This week it's Reflectix Radiant Barrier and a Gable End Fan that's thermostatically controlled, next weeks check it'll be a "portable" HVAC/Dehumidifier unit. The first two fixes will keep the HVAC unit when it's installed from having to work overtime (unlike me!). I would think that if you followed Dr. Clay's advice and just kept things at 80F you'd be fine. I like the idea of the AC unit for working in the obs during the day when it's 110F outside and you want to be COMFORTABLE inside! Then you just turn off the gable end fan and keep all that nice cool A/C air inside!

--------------------
1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII

Post Extras