MOST RECENT
ATM / Electronics / Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Bits and bobs
The Observatory is getting awfully close to First Light. At this point, I think the construction “to do” list (Jared doesn’t like calling it a “punch list” until he feels it’s complete) […]
Observatory 2.0 – You get what you need
As an astronomer, I never thought I’d be so grateful to see a rainstorm. We got the dome up on Thursday, and Friday was super rainy. This gave me a chance to […]
Observatory 2.0 – Dome installation
Well, the day has finally arrived. After 4 years of planning, and a year of big chunks of fiberglass sitting in the shop, and weeks (and weeks) of concrete and wood, today […]
Observatory 2.0 – Roof math
I have spent a long time with this observatory stuck inside my head. It is very interesting to watch as it unfolds “in real life”. A lot of the design is fairly […]
Observatory 2.0 – Dome foundation
The ol’ shed is getting close enough to being built that I needed to make sure that the dome is ready to install. In particular, I needed to patch some dings in […]
Observatory 2.0 – A solid framework
This just in from The Rubber Meets The Road Department — the observatory structure build is underway! The concrete has finally cured enough to pull the forms, including the very fun process […]
ATM / Electronics / Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Manual dome control
I have skipped a couple of steps, here, so let me first fill you in on what’s been happening with the observatory build. When we last left, the dome had just gotten […]
Observatory 2.0 – A Dome Emerges
With the length of time that I’ve spent in design and development of this observatory, I can’t quite recall which things have been clearly stated on the blog, and which exist only […]
Observatory 2.0 – In goes the pad
The King County rules state that an external structure must be “single story on-ground”, so that means that I either have to build the observatory directly on the dirt (not the best […]
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
I have been a nervous wreck for the past week, in anticipation of today’s events. I have been planning this building for almost 4 years, but this is really a point-of-no-return step. […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.