Here I am getting ready for an observing session Normally, I observe from an
observatory in my backyard (see below). |
One of the best things I ever did for my astronomy hobby was to build this observatory.
If I decide to observe, I can open the roof, power up the scope and be observing in
less than 5 minutes. It takes me about the same amount of time to close up at the
end of the night. Prior to building the observatory, it would take me almost 30
minutes to set everything up (another 30 if I plan any photography). I would then have to
pack everything up for the night. That would take another 30 minutes or so.
My observatory is a roll-off roof design. I chose this design because it is one of the simplest to design and build. It has the added benefit that it looks somewhat like an ordinary shed. I decided to build it rather large since I may want a larger scope some day. It is 12 feet square with the runners for the roof extending an additional 15 feet from the back side. The 4 walls are approximately 6 feet high and there is a lockable door on one side.
Why build a permanent mount?
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Why build an observatory?
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