After two glorious all night sessions imaging from my new observatory I am kicking myself for not building it sooner. No more: lugging out and back the mount head, and trying to polar align yet again, standing around with cold feet in wet grass, or sitting on a wet chair, or trying to find a way to cover up equipment and batteries, or trecking back into the house looking for something I forgot to carry out. The absolute luxury of having carpet underfoot, sitting in a comfortable chair at my workstation in my slippers sipping a drink, while my equipment does it thing is truely rewarding. And being able to go back inside and go to sleep, safe in the knowledge that your system will look after the run, when you need some rest. Why did I wait so long? It didn't cost much (cheaper than any boat I ever owned) and takes up about the same space. If you own your land most observatories would be "exempt developments" under NSW planning rules (no council approval required). Now if I could just move it out to a darker site I would be in heaven, or the heavens.
