Waiting for dark---
A small folding camp chair and folding table suffice for most nights refractor viewing. Also stored in the shed is the camp recliner D. gave me for Christmas for binocular viewing.
A lunchbox holds all the .965 eyepieces for the Swift and doubles as prop for the starmaps. I'm finding that I can see the white background maps with black stars much better. ...
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Most of my observing is done along the equatorial on the south-facing balcony. From 35 degrees south to 20 degrees past zenith and no horizons, the view is limited, but changes all the time. To block out the neighbors' side lights coming through the trees, and some of the southeastern San Fran Bay light dome to the south east, I built 5 shade screens. Simple cut and slipfit pvc frames with rubber feet, painted to prevent UV damage.
Screens were made from heavy black plastic, edge-reinforced with duct tape. Plastic grommets are a snap to set. The plastic was attached to the frames with strips of double-sided velcro ties, and the screens attached together with figure * strips .
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A densely populated neighborhood requires that the observatory be unobtrusive and non-astronomical. A dome would scream "Telescopes inside, come and get me!"
So this toolshed from Pini's Hardware fit the bill, and holds everything, scopes, folding screens, chair table and paraphernalia.
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The obsevatory in the daytime doubles as an apartment balcony, and must leave room for entertaining and fun...So the whole sheband folds up into the rubbermaid "warm room" to snooze till dark
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11/04/2006
Shut the drapes to the warm room(livingroom), and unlock the little closet sized plastic shed on the second floor stucco balcony. Roof? No roll-off, no roof, as we only observe in clear dry weather.
Lift out the Swift 839 refractor set up on tripod, pop in an eyepice, and align with Polaris. Swing scope around to the south, raise hight of piano stool, consult notebook for observing plan and turn on PalmIIIC with Planetarium. Or juist lay back in the adirondack chair with the binoculars and an afghan.
Take a sip of hot tea, and consult Norton's chart .
Above all the creatures, thank God, and can even be found to wearing fuzzy slippers in the observatory.
Halftime into Mondaynight Football, the assistant comes out to replenish the cup, and add accompany it with a few biscotti.
"Take a look at this! -See that nebula? Stars are born there! You know how far away those are?"
"Huh...... Looks like lint. The 49ers are ahead . Gotta get back to the game."
The astronomess settles back down to her clear view of the skies, tucked in suburban California, and watches the heavens roll by. Somewhere below on earth, racoons bicker, distant traffic hums, and the game goes on...
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