Another small step toward an observatory
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- depratnt
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 242
- Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 7:06 am
- 4
- Location: Pine, Colorado
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Camera: ASI1600mm-PRO
Guide cam: QHY5L-ii monochrome
Filters: Astrodon Ha/Oiii )3nm) / LRGB
l
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
With the exception of the deck, everything will be portable. The only financial risk to me, should I need to relocate is the deck. If I can get 10 years out of the site the cost of the deck would have been well worth it.
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 596
- Posts: 12405
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- Makuser
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 6394
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:53 am
- 5
- Location: Rockledge, FL.
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
- yobbo89
- Moderator
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2604
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:44 pm
- 4
- Location: australia qld brisbane
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
btw it looks like a nice site!.
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
I'll also give another quick update on choosing a location other than my back yard. The location I chose is exactly 3 1/2 miles fro my door. Three houses down from my house a grocery store recently remodeled it's parking lot with bright lights that are on 24/7. I can now read a book at midnight in my back yard. In addition, my house is not as safe as it once was. Our community has been having problems with youth breaking into cars at night. The location for my observatory is on a private lane, far enough from my friend's house to be private, yet close enough for his dogs to scare away intruders. It was kind of him to offer a lot for my use.
I am cutting corners everywhere I can, with the idea of making some possible upgrades later. Phase I is the observatory. Phase II is a warm room with bunks so my grandchildren can join us. Phase III might be the possible upgrade of my telescopes, depending on how many corners I cut in the process.
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- pakarinen
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4038
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- Star Dad
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 744
- Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:05 pm
- 4
- Location: Norwich CT
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Are you going to have power out at your site?
Orion 203mm/f4.9/1000mm, converted TASCO 114mm/f9/1000mm to steam punk, Meade 114mm/f9/1000, Coronado PST, Orion EQ-G, Ioptron Mini-Tower and iEQ30, Canon 70D, ASI120MM,ASI294MC, Ioptron SkyHunter
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 596
- Posts: 12405
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- pakarinen
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4038
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Boo-yah!
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
I'm taking it a step at a time right now, but I don't plan on running power to it at this time. Instead I am considering going off grid and using solar power. That could change.
This is my retirement project. I am cutting every corner I can to put the shell up. Then I hope to do some tweaking after retirement. This is phase one.
Phase One: Skyshed POD XL3
Phase Two: putting up a warm room with sleeping space for grandkids
Phase Three: updating my scopes
I imagine it will take me most of the year. I started planning and saving for this a few years ago. I ordered the POD in September.
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- pakarinen
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4038
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Oh boy! Projects!
I will build my wanna-have obsy vicariously through your adventures, so keep posting!
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- Mac Online
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2770
- Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:07 pm
- 4
- Location: Akron OH
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Keep us updated with the details and share them please.
Scopes : Explore Scientific ED102 Triplet APO - Radian Raptor Triplet APO - Orion 50mm
Mount : AVX EQ | Software : KStars - EKOS - Stellar OS | Cameras : ZWO ASI533MC ASI1600MM ASI120MM-mini
CPU : Mac Studio, iMac - Kstars-Ekos on Raspberry Rpi4/RPi5 | Misc : Thousand Oaks dew controller - DewNot straps - Optolong L-enhance - ZWO EAF
Image Processing : PixInsight - LightRoom - Photoshop - macOS 14 - Windows 11
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
- jrkirkham
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 954
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:37 am
- 4
- Location: Illinois United States
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Another small step toward an observatory
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute