My Observatory is a combination deck and observatory. The telescope resides inside a roll-off box that locks to the deck. The observatory is shown here in the closed position
The box rolls off to the North where there is also a wall to block the wind and light coming from my neighbors houses. The telescope rests on a pier coming up through the deck. The pier is isolated from the deck so no vibration from the deck will effect the telescope.
Here the observatory is still shown in the closed position.
Here you can see the pier going down to the ground from the center of the deck. No part of the deck touches the pier.
This photo shows the observatory in the closed position from the North-East.
Here you can see that the wall folds down to give a better view of the Northern sky when needed. Notice the hinges in the middle of the wall
This photo shows the door opened with the observatory still locked down. Notice that the pier is isolated from the deck. The space between the deck and the pier is about 5/8 inch all the way around.
The telescope with the observatory in the open position.
Getting ready to do Astronomy!
The main telescope was built by me and is a computer controlled ALT/AZ mount using Mel Bartel's software.
The observatory box makes a very nice small room for CCD imaging. The small white electric heater, located directly below the computer in this picture, keeps everything nice and warm when the door is closed even when the temperature is below freezing.
My youngest daughter Kellie (age 4) and myself.
Getting ready to do CCD imaging. The large scope is a 17.5 inch 2000 mm fl and the small guide scope is a 4.5 inch 450mm fl. The cameras have not been mounted yet in this photo!
The observatory in the open position viewed from the North.