[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Here is the Stairway to Heaven.

This is me at the eyepiece observing M51 in Larry Mitchell's 36"/F5 Obsession at TSP in 2007. The image was taken by Alan Dyer.

This scope has an eyepiece height in excess of 15 feet at the zenith. The climb up the ladder seems never ending, as does the climb down. Climbing up the ladder and observing can be quite a daunting experience. Many observers get 1/2 way up the ladder and freeze. it's not an easy thing to do in the dark for people not used to climbing ladders to observe. The views are something to behold and oh so worth the climb.

For size reference the finderscope (the white telescope on the mirror box) is a 6" Newtonian (A 1980's vintage Celestron Comet Catcher).

Cheers,
John B