More construction

[lindendave]

Hi friends!

With the weather starting to get a little better I have begun another phase of construction on my little observatory. When winter 2008 gets here I plan on sitting in the comfort of a new warm room so I don't have to don all the Eskimo gear! 

I have a new account at Flickr so let's see if I can drop photos over here.



If that doesn't work the url is; http://www.flickr.com/photos/baobservatory/

[whitespider]

Hi friends!

With the weather starting to get a little better I have begun another phase of construction on my little observatory. When winter 2008 gets here I plan on sitting in the comfort of a new warm room so I don't have to don all the Eskimo gear! 

I have a new account at Flickr so let's see if I can drop photos over here.



If that doesn't work the url is; http://www.flickr.com/photos/baobservatory/

An addition of  warm room, smart idea. Did you orginally build the flooring with that in mind or did you use that as a "patio" before?  Bob / Colorado Springs

[lindendave]

Hi Bob,

Nope, the warm room was always part of the plan. When I put in the 4x4 post footings I did them all, it's just the building construction that has been done in phases. The warm room floor and walls just got added this month but construction has not been constant due to unstable weather here, i.e. a couple ice storms and now bouts of rain!

If you look to the right of the door and down near the warm room floor you can see the 3" PVC pipe I have installed to run cables and cords into the observing room and telescope. I have nearly everything, like AC/DC power supplies, under that floor in a vented box. After that the connections for things on the pier run through another pipe up inside the pier and exit just under the lower pier plate.

[Ron]

Dave,

Is that your pool in the back?

Is your warm room going to be a cool room also ?

Looking good,

Ron

[lindendave]

Ron,

Yep, that's where the wife likes to spend her summer afternoons down here, well I get in once in a while too! When we bought the place that was our one point of major disagreement. I knew who would end up with the maintenance load and wander to tear it down. Well I changed my mind after we had a few really warm summer days with the mercury pushing triple digits!

As you probably noticed I have not framed in any window or air conditioner openings in the warm room...haven't figured out if, 1) I want any windows, and 2) where I would put an air conditioner. I have thought I might pick up one of those portable air conditioners and I might just build my own small window in the west wall. I'm not an air conditioner person and I really like the warm weather but I do like my ventilation. Still trying to work all this out on what to do! 

[Grizz]

Looks good Dave! A warm room...Hmm.....I have a scope that could use a warm room! 

[AdkStars]

On those warm summer nights a screen door will do nicely.    Rick.

[roccodm]

Looks like it should be nice when done- i could not help but admire the surrounding area- must be a great observing site- clear skies rocco

[lindendave]

Hi guys!

Grizz,

Yeah I need to poke Doc again to see if we can't get your problem sorted out and fixed!

Rick,

Actually I am planning on installing a screen door and have already planned on the entry door swinging in to the warm room. That is one of the reasons I have been deliberating whether or not to install an air conditioner, along with the noise it would introduce.

rocco,

Having lived most of my life in southeast Michigan I have really come to appreciate my surroundings here, and to top it off I have great neighbors! On good nights I can distinctly see the Milky Way from horizon to horizon but the data at my Clear Sky Clock host's light pollution map only gets me a 4.5 rating on the Bortle Scale. I would disagree with them on that but I don't make the rules! 

[lindendave]

March 23, 2008

Even though I am slightly handicapped at the moment I did manage to get the siding installed and a temporary roof on. Next month I am taking my Dad on a camping trip, he lives in SW Missouri, and while I am at his house I will be picking up some extra metal roofing he has lying around....I'm cheap!  At least if we get any rain this should keep things dry inside so I can start running electrical.

[Ron]

Dave,

Looking good

Enjoy your camping trip.  My next one will probably be next month New Moon with the Astronomy Club.

Thanks for keeping us updated on construction.

Ron

[lindendave]

I won't go into the myriad of excuses why it's taking me so long to get the observatory done but suffice it to say that I have made some great progress of late.



There are a couple more shots from different sides on my Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/baobservatory/

[Ron]

WOW,

That's GOOD progress   Sure looking good.  Looks like that grass is growing pretty good too, maybe time for a few head of cattle

I sure like that star, that's really neat

Thanks for the update,

Ron

[lindendave]

Ron,

There's about thirty head just to the north (right in the photo) and they would certainly like to graze in my yard. Well actually they have done that from time to time but the racsals leave really big, deep holes!

Would you believe I mowed less than a week ago? We have been getting quite a bit of rain and in between I have neglected the yard in order to use up some paint. The star was a gift from my best friend, I got it last April when we went to visit and do some camping in Arkansas.

[drclay]

What a beautiful observatory!
Just in time for some dark rich Milky Way skies of summer.
Congrats to Dave and BAO for the completion of H53.