I'm pouring the deadman (a 3'x4'x3' 5000lb solid block of concrete in
the ground) for my concrete pier this coming weekend and am still
undecided on how to design the building which will house my 10" LX200.
I'd like to get feedback from those experienced souls on this list as to
the best option for me. I have about a $1000 budget for the whole
observatory (excluding scope and wedge). Clearly this budget will not
permit the purchase of a Home Dome or equivalent.

My observatory location will naturally be sheltered from most of my
neighbors lights just by its location, but there are a few houses in the
distance which will have porch lights in a direct line of sight. I also
live right next to an easement road which on occasion will have a car
drive by at night. For these reasons, some kind of dome design may be
preferable. The building I am planing will be 10' x 12' with the floor
about 3' above grade.

A roll off roof design would be simpler, cheaper and easier to build
than a dome structure, but to have the roof move off to the North will
force me to chop down some pretty beautiful cactus and I don't
particularly like those rails and those stilts sticking out when the
roof is not rolled off. A roll off roof has several advantages in terms
of simplicity, and the idea of having the whole sky open at one time is
preferable as well.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else who has dealt with these
issues and also any other ideas which might be helpful.

Thanks,
Chris Vedeler
http://www.isomedia.com/homes/cvedeler/space.htm
Tucson, AZ

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