Hello APMLer's!
You may remember me as using my former email
address emkgkr@reflexnet.net.
I am the victim of several DSL companies that went bankrupt here on the west
coast a few weeks ago. That being the case, I lost my email address (As
well as high speed internet access and my web site) without any notice at
all. (No, I was NOT a hppy camper!) Anyway, this is my new email
address for APML.
Enough about that! Let's get down to
business! :)
I have recently found an observatory
locally that is not being used, and has not been for nearly 25 years.
The building has been crudely taken care of, but definatly needs some
TLC. It is a two story building with the oberving deck on top and a
darkroom (soon to be converted to a control room and digital imaging area with
cable modem internet access) on the bottom. The dome is 10 feet in
diameter. It has a poured foundation of cement with a 6 inch cement
filled pier that streches up to the oberving deck to mount a telescope
on. (The observing deck is no connected to the pier to reduce
vibrations.) The rest of the structure, including the dome itself, is
made of wood... with the exception of the rail and rollers that the dome
rotates on... which are really rusted and need to be replaced or
restored.
The observatory is located in what is now the
Portland, Oregon metro area... though I"m sure it was far from city lights
when it was constructed. Also, trees have since grown to all but
eliminate the southern sky. It has a very good view of the north,
north-east, and north-west... as well as the zeinith... but the south is
gone. :(
MY QUESTIONS:
1. How much is a fair rental
price for such a place (per month)? Is it even worth it since the
southern skies are no longer visable?
2. How does one lift a dome in
order to restore and rebuild the structure benieth it, including the rail that
it rotates on, without flexing it out of shape? It's wood and VERY
heavy!
3. What things should I
consider doing to "update" this observatory that I might not think of... this
being the first observatory I will have ever had?
Your help with this would be GREATLY
appreciated! I'm very excited about having a place to semi-permantly
mount my 152ED and LX750 mount!.... but also have great concerns about that
southern sky... or lack thereof.
Sincerely, Geramy Rapp