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C. G. Anderson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Darklight Observatory Redux tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Darklight Observatory Redux

Imagery of the and from the newly resurrected Darklight astronomical observatory. Gone is the old Celestron Fastar 11 OTA. I have upgraded the system to include a Takahasi FSQ 106EDXIII optical tube (running at f/3.6), SBIG 8300M CCD camera with FW8-8300 color filter wheel running Astrodon LRGB+Ha/OIII filters, and a Finger Lakes Instruments Atlas focus device. This all tops my venerable Astro-Physics AP900 GTO German equatorial mount. For visual work I have a piggybacked Takahashi Sky 90, complete with Baader Cool Ceramic Herschel Wedge for solar use. Recent additions include a new Explora-Dome roof and pier upgrades...
DLOTAKFSQ
DLOTAKFSQ
First Light
First Light
SoCal Rings and dovetail plate
SoCal Rings and dovetail plate
Fiddling
Fiddling
20120605 Venus Transit Composite
20120605 Venus Transit Composite
20120605VenusTransitUM05
20120605VenusTransitUM05
Portable setup...
Portable setup...
The Poly Dome semi arrives!
The Poly Dome semi arrives!
Delivery right to your door...
Delivery right to your door...
Poly Dome
Poly Dome
There she is!
There she is!
Drop ship...
Drop ship...
Loaded on the trailer.
Loaded on the trailer.
Under the car port for work.
Under the car port for work.
Wheel assembly.
Wheel assembly.
Rounding the dome base.
Rounding the dome base.
A perfect circle...
A perfect circle...
Ready for mounting.
Ready for mounting.
Laying out the roofing.
Laying out the roofing.
The roof plywood.
The roof plywood.
A test fit.
A test fit.
Test measurements.
Test measurements.
More testing...
More testing...
Curtis in the old room...
Curtis in the old room...
Cutting the roof panels.
Cutting the roof panels.
Roof panel installation.
Roof panel installation.
Roof panels installed.
Roof panels installed.
Rafter work.
Rafter work.
Ring installed.
Ring installed.
Taring the roof
Taring the roof
Moving the dome...
Moving the dome...
Phase One complete!
Phase One complete!
The new dome and old roll off roof assembly.
The new dome and old roll off roof assembly.
Having some fun...
Having some fun...
Shingling.
Shingling.
Roof work.
Roof work.
Cutting the shingles from the old template.
Cutting the shingles from the old template.
Shingles work...
Shingles work...
Garage door seal.
Garage door seal.
Caulking. Lots of caulking....
Caulking. Lots of caulking....
Water tight?
Water tight?
Another view of the garage door seal.
Another view of the garage door seal.
Mixing concrete for the pier riser.
Mixing concrete for the pier riser.
Heavy!
Heavy!
Hard work...
Hard work...
Pouring the new pier addition.
Pouring the new pier addition.
Set in stone.
Set in stone.
Now to cure...
Now to cure...
Done!
Done!
Paint....
Paint....
Whitewash!
Whitewash!
Leveling the Astropier.
Leveling the Astropier.
Ready for first light?
Ready for first light?
Tubes and wires....
Tubes and wires....
Finished dome!
Finished dome!
2013 Harevst Moon over DLO 01.jpg
2013 Harevst Moon over DLO 01.jpg
2013 Harevst Moon over DLO 02.jpg
2013 Harevst Moon over DLO 02.jpg
8300LUM.00000225.jpg
8300LUM.00000225.jpg
North Celestial Pole over DLO HR.jpg
North Celestial Pole over DLO HR.jpg
Imagery from the new Darklight Observatory
:: Imagery from the new Darklight Observatory ::