Planning

[Cosmic]

Hi team,

If you had to block out partly one direction N S E or W what would you choose? I cant have obs in the middle of my block...the other half will crack it haha.

I was thinking or having clear views low as 5° SEW with N about 70° (trees).

Cheers :thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Block the west :) The south has too many nice things, many objects transit the north and east is good as you get things as they're rising as opposed to setting.

[Cosmic]

Thank you Colin, your constant input is greatly appreciated:) That actually works out good as well.:thanx:

[Allan]

The most important part of the sky for us is the North, for people in the northern hemisphere its the south. I'm not saying it's the best part of the sky for objects. However if your south, east or west are blocked out, eventually you will get to see those targets at some time during the year. If your north is blocked out, there will be stuff you will never see. Think M51 or M31 at 10 to 15 degrees altitude.

Personally if I had to block out one part it would be the east, because my least observed time is objects at dawn, so this is the least important part of the sky to see objects low down.

[Atmos]

Taking Allan's comments into account, I suppose it doesn't matter whether the East or West is blocked as it is just the difference between seeing something earlier in the season or later.

So then if possible, block the side of more light pollution (east/west).

[KWR]

I was confronted with this exact same dilemma, only circumstance made the choice was made for me. View is completely blocked from SE (300) to SSW (35) to a near on 90 degree elevation. If I wanted to setup a permanent obs, it was my only option. Given I don't have a huge light bucket, some times of the year I'm sure there will be a feeling of replicating the Hubble deep field by having nothing but empty sky to image. This time of year there is very little to see above light pollution until midnight.

That said, I still built it, and I'm very glad I did. Half of something is better than nothing.

[Allan]

Actually, that's a good idea, I would run with that.

[ZeroID]

I have no East, Trees and CBD to about 80*, I have limited North, there is a volcano in the way to about 40* dec. My West isn't too bad, to about 25* but I have SCP and a slice of overhead sky. I just have to be patient and\or stay up real late but I still get good use out of my Ob.
I would say preserve your southern view as much as possible, there are so many targets of interest for us Southern Hemisphere dwellers and it all revolves around that little spot. Anything else is bonus.

[Cosmic]

Thank you all for this great information, currently working out a deal to have it in the middle of our block. If that fails ill be blocking the west as that has the most light pollution orrr block 60 degrees of the north with full view of the south.


Well...I'm yet to buy a chainsaw :D so I'm yet again taking that into consideration as well. Its been one of the hardest decision to date, as this will be a life long setup :D