I hope that all is progressing nicely with your observatory build.
My 'obscure' reference to 'huuuuge tracts of land' follows on from DarkArts '... an' noo singin'!' reference - both of which come from the Monty Python film - The Holy Grail. You'll understand both references once you've seen the movie - incidentally (from memory) both references come from the same scene in the movie (about a castle that was built in a swamp).