Setting The Base

With help from Sam and his loader we set the 14 ft base on it's concrete footer. This Beast of a machine was the only way to handle the 3800 lb metal tube. The dome will rest on the top with a warm room attached to the side at the upper level.

Doorway To The Stars

I used this shutter design to insure a good seal. We live in an area with intense seasonal winds and the dust that comes with it. I believe a system like this will give the best protection against the elements .

Domes First Daylight

The shutter is now mounted along with several coats of paint. With help from my nephew Harley , we moved the dome from the shop to within a few feet of it's final destination .

1.21 Gigawatt's

Another photo of Natures fireworks.
Enjoy

Alien Or Terrestrial ?

We are waiting for materials to arrive so we can resume work on the observatory.
So here is a macro I took of some cool lichen . Lichen is a symbiotic plant composed of a fungus and alga , combining to form a dual plant . There is beauty in all Nature .

Olympus Mons, Largest Volcano In The Solar System

I cannot take credit for this photo . It is such an awesome feature of Mars that I have to pass it on.

This volcano is 374 miles in diameter and almost 16 miles high. Mount Everest is about 6 miles high and the state of Arizona is about 370 miles in diameter.

Truly an amazing geologic formation on any planet !!!!!

Construction Progress

The 7.5 Ft diameter 3 phase geodesic dome has had fiberglass applied with epoxy resin and the slit opening roughed in. Ready now to construct a shutter then sand and paint.

Mercury Transits The Sun

Mercury is the tiny dot about a third of the way up from bottom center . Center right is a sun spot.

LX200 - 253 mm- Solar filter - Samsung A 503 -Through 32 mm Plossl " Free Hand " .

Do try this at home !

M57 Ring Nebula First Attempt

M57 LX 200 - 235mm - DSI C - 3 x 5 min exp .

Beauty In Natures Fury

Took this shot with my Samsung point and shoot digital while leaning against my METAL antenna pole . Sometimes it's tuff being blond !

In The Begining

To dome or not to dome.....

We decided to do the dome!