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After retirement, it seemed like a good idea to build an observatory that could be used during the winter months when Backridge Observatory was closed because of weather and heavy snow. On my way to the Winter Star Party, I would often stop at an astronomy community in Chiefland, FL where I met Jack Newton who later helped develop Arizona Sky Village in Portal, AZ. I built a home at ASV in 2006 and the next year a 12.5' domed observatory. The observatory is a smaller version of Backridge Observatory with similar construction. The site has very dark skies, and the elevation is 4530 ft. It is automated with Home Dome motors and control box and houses an AstroPhysics 1200 mount. The main instrument is an AstroPhysics 130mm EDF refractor telescope used with either a field flattner or focal reducer. Cameras include a QSI 683wsg CCD and a Canon 6D DSLR. Sometimes I piggyback a QSI 583wsg camera with Pentax medium format lens or the Canon DSLR with various lens.
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Observatory construction
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