Star gazing

I'm sorry, Gail, have you been peeking??

 

I take it you were talking about the Telescope??

 

People keep telling me that, Gail, can't understand why??

The Telescope is a Meade 12 inch aperture LX200 which was originally fitted on a Mead Fork, but I de-forked it and placed it on a GOTO NEQ6 mount.










On the NEQ6 Mount..............

The Telescope alone weighs about 65lbs, which is why, Gail, it's in a permanent position in the Observatory.

 

Well, the Telescope and the Mount weigh in at around 120lbs, but it's all automated. The GOTO mount "talks" to the Dome Roof which turns as the Telescope tracks and follows a Star, which makes things a bit easier.

 

Good clear skies at night, Gail, are more rare than you might think, so I grab every clear night sky there is. During the Winter I wear Cold Weather Clothing, Thermal boots and have a Thermal Mug, no food, full of Hot Chocolate as there is no, deliberate, heating in the Dome. Some nights ice forms on the inside of the Dome roof but I usually stay warm and busy. If it's a good night with clear skies and good "seeing" [usually when the Stars aren't "twinkling" then I can be in the Observatory until 2 or 3 am/.

 

It would be nice to have a Heater, Gail, but when warm air mixes with cold air coming in from the Shutter opening in the Dome it turns to dew which forms on the Telescope lens. I have to use a Dew Shield and heater band around the front of the scope to stop cold air condensing on the lens.
I often forget about the time when in the Observatory as some of the sights in the skies makes you lose time.

 

That's what my Bank Manager keeps saying in his sleep, Gail