One to make you drool

[AlexN]

True Fred... And who really wants the wide field setup anyways.. 24" + AP3600 would be real nice!

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Gaud its frustrating, oh those with too much money and no.......... well brains. i could manage this Obs, for a minimal fee, and some imaging time, sheesh. And, I like it Alex, anti 16" wide field rubbish, My kind of dream

[rider]

yes, but he's missing out on the best bit.

Wrestling scopes, mounts, eyepieces out side into the the light bloom from the house next door and the street light which is strateagically aimed at the white carport next door, whilst listening to the 7.2 2000wt stereo from the doof-doof-doof-doof boys down the street. Rigging up tarps to find a dark bit of backyard, 5 tries at a reasonable polar alignment.
Ok, now wipe off the dew, look up....

where did those clouds come from?

rider

[h0ughy (David)]

LOL @ the arguement between Paul, Fred and Alex. Green eyes on the gear and indeed everyone is different. be happy with "cheaper" setup but able to go places to image eclipses and other stuff at a moments notice

[Terry B]

How much would a research type 1m scope cost?
It would be a much better way to spend 1/4 mil USD.

[Zaps]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

...[It] makes you wonder if hes into observatorys more than astronomy...

Many, if not most, Americans believe astronomy = telescope, or in this case = observatory. See Cloudy Nights for more proof.

[micko (Michael)]

That would have to add quite a bit to the cost of building it I'd say. it doubles as a tornado shelter. Actually that would be an awesome place to hide from a tornado. Imagine if your house got wrecked and you had to live in your observatory..

[Wavytone]

He said the sides are vinyl cladding on a steel frame, the cladding is designed to blow away in a tornado leaving the steel framed structure... probably the only way it could withstand an F5. I don't see how you could use that as a "tornado shelter", if not blown away you'd be speared or literally sliced and diced by airborne debris. There are photos showing things like 4x4 wooden posts driven like a toothpick through a car tyre, or what happens when a sheet of corrugated iron slices through large objects, never mind livestock or people. I wouldn't expect much of the scopes to survive either, with the cladding gone, the first decent object that hits will smash the optics. The mount should survive though.

The only place to be is in an underground cellar - I assume that is what he has underneath the slab. Presumably he would put the valuables including the optics down there if one is coming.

Having the slab and frame intact to re-clad afterwards is nevertheless a big start.

[leon]

It is a grand building. but i still love my humble roll away Observatory, and fora 1/4 of a US Million, I 'm sure I could put some serious equipment in there.

Leon

[Paul Haese]

Wavytone, in the gallery you can find images of the construction. He has vinyl as an outer layer but there is steel plate welded to the super structure. The roof is very solid too. The vinyl will go but the structure will be pretty safe.

[Wavytone]

steel plate welded

Hmmm... now that's more likely.

[netwolf]

Wow nice observatory but the Telescopes are not up to par with the observatory. I would think a 20"+ Keller Cassegrain would be awesome.
Like the one in this observatory, which is more humble but the telescopes do sure pack a far greater punch.

http://panther-observatory.com/

20" KC that can do F3 and F9. Thats my dream scope maybe a bit bigger.
Or even a CDK design 24"+ on a Fork EQ mount like the one Gamma has.

[TrevorW]

and let us not forget

http://www.stargazer-observatory.com/