[xelasnave]

As you probably know I purchased another 100 acres and have the perfect spot for the next observatory.

It may or may not happen at all but my legs really seem to have improved recently and the day must come when I can be up here full time once again.

Experience tells me one needs an observatory for astro photos and although I may go for a small simple set up deciding on the observatory is occupying much of my thought.
I am thinking I would like say 2 mtrs plus square or diameter.

If a dome I have a designed something using thin ply upon which I will layer up fibre glass.

I have the ply eighth of an inch and easy to work with.

From my boat days I feel my glassing skill is rather good and building a round dome does not worry me.
I have probably 6 ton of sandstone in a pile close to the site so the idea is stone walls say to shoulder night with the dome on top.

Should look nice.

But having had a small roll off shed set up I lean that way for ease of construction and once rolled away I liked being in the open.

I guess with a dome I could have a desk with the computer etc whereas my last set up that stuff was in the house (the shed was just outside and frankly the whole house was astronomy dedicated.

So maybe the dome would be best.

I expect the glass on a ruff costing not to exceed 3k and likely closer to 2k so building will be much cheaper than buying a dome.
I would rotate it manually I expect in an effort to minimise power use age and have less things to worry about.

Or I could do a shed and I have all the framing in a pile next to the rock.
Say 2.5 mtrs shed or dome?

I feel the shed may work better and really wonder what I may gain if I go for a dome.
Appearances don't worry me but the dome would look rather nice.
I need all new scopes and probably go for a new mount but I do like what you can get in a 12 inch...
But for simplicity probably won't use a dedicated astronomy camera.

And I used to be able to run my old mount, after some work on it, unguided ...I had a reticle to check things thru what was to become a guide scope but finding guide stars was a pain.
In other words exposure times and focal length will be determined by how good I can have the mount run unguided....at this stage ..I can go to auto guide latter but I got joy from making the mount run so well unguided.

I am trying to rebuild my enthusiasm to start again...but I don't want to get to complicated.
Still starting point do I start carrying rocks or framing to the site?
Alex