[Atmob-discuss] Land for a club observatory?

Wed Mar 19 15:30:37 EDT 2008

Good idea...

Peter

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Neil Fleming <neilfleming at yahoo.com>
> Yup.  All issues to work through.  We might want to
> have a group chat of those interested via a con call
> one night or weekend to discuss various approaches to
> setting something up.  I can set that up, if
> interested.
> 
> E.g., one large roll-off setup versus a few small
> ones.
> 
>    ...Neil
> 
> --- "Paul A. Valleli" <valleli at rcn.com> wrote:
> 
> > One of the biggest problems are the legal issues.
> > Before you invest in the cost of an observatory,
> > warming room, deck, etc. We need to know what those
> > legal issues are. The guys down in South Carolina
> > were financially well off, from the nice job they
> > did with all kind of amenities, tile flooring, APM
> > mounts, etc.
> > What if a partner renegs for financial reasons?
> > What if one guy has an obnoxious dog making messes
> > everywhere, a boistrous loudmouth ???  Six kids come
> > along to visit?  
> > What zoning regulations exist?
> > I thought more development was forbidden by the town
> > because of the fragile ecosystem around the lake?
> > Mario and Bernie should know about that.
> > Can we have a separate
> > facilities/observing/clubhouse committee,
> > a condo association or caretaker to take care of
> > plowing and mowing?
> > Toilet facilities?
> > These are all the similar issues that the club faced
> > at Westford over the years and the minimal
> > restrictions and cost of a lease from MIT made it
> > possible.
> > I suspect that serious amateurs and semi-pro's won't
> > want to deal with such hassles, just observe and
> > take pictures.
> > Boy, if these problems can be solved ! I believe it
> > takes 75 to 90 minutes to legally drive there as
> > opposed to Mario's flying sports car.    ;< ) gr
> >  
> > Paul   
> > ---- Original message ----
> > 
> >   Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:41:53 -0400
> >   From: "Buonomo, John" <Jbuonomo at uhs.harvard.edu>
> >   Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Land for a club
> >   observatory?
> >   To: "Neil Fleming" <neilfleming at yahoo.com>,"Peter
> >   Bealo" <pbealo at comcast.net>,"Bernie Volz (volz)"
> >   <volz at cisco.com>,"ATMoB" <atmob-discuss at atmob.org>
> >   >
> >   >What are the 1st steps to making this a reality?
> >   :)
> >   >
> >   >I think that a picture speaks a thousand words...
> >   >
> >   >This comparison show's the difference in the
> >   night sky from my
> >   >observatory in Billerica MA and a site in
> >   Hillsboro NH which appears to
> >   >be about the same for sky conditions
> >   >http://www.astronight.com/lp.htm
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >-John
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >-----Original Message-----
> >   >From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org
> >   >[mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On
> >   Behalf Of Neil Fleming
> >   >Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:06 PM
> >   >To: Peter Bealo; Buonomo, John; Bernie Volz
> >   (volz); ATMoB
> >   >Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Land for a club
> >   observatory?
> >   >
> >   >I dunno about you guys, but while "pristine"
> >   would be great merely
> >   >"dark" would work for me too.
> >   >
> >   >I think I'd place the following items higher on
> >   the criteria list:
> >   > - Physical security / someone close by
> >   > - Emergency response (like open/close roof) /
> >   someone really close by
> >   ><g>.
> >   > - Access to power
> >   > - Access to internet, or barring that, cell
> >   phone coverage for cellular
> >   >broadband
> >   >
> >   >I'll have to think some more, but most of the
> >   other items would be
> >   >design elements independent of location.
> >   >
> >   > ...Neil
> >   >
> >   >--- Peter Bealo <pbealo at comcast.net> wrote:
> >   >
> >   >> FWIW: Bernie's place is LOTS closer, but I own
> >   some truly dark sky
> >   >> land in Moxie Gore Maine that might be
> >   interesting. The "only" issues
> >   >> are: A) Its 3 hours away near the Kennebec
> >   River B) Its ~ 6 miles from
> >   >
> >   >> the nearest power and phone line...
> >   >>
> >   >> But it IS very dark. No town of any size closer
> >   than 30 or 40 miles.
> >   >>
> >   >> Peter
> >   >>
> >   >>
> >   >> -----Original Message-----
> >   >> From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org
> >   >> [mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On
> >   Behalf Of Buonomo, John
> >   >> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:51 PM
> >   >> To: Bernie Volz (volz); Neil Fleming; ATMoB
> >   >> Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Land for a club
> >   observatory?
> >   >>
> >   >> Neil, Bernie, ...
> >   >>
> >   >> I would be interested in building a remote
> >   observatory in NH
> >   >>
> >   >> look at this idea...
> >   >> I know a group of astronomers in SC, Hap
> >   Griffin, and Gene Hunter (I
> >   >> CO sysop a web site with Gene,
> >   http://www.astrophotogallery.org/ )
> >   >>
> >   >> Gene has been building a site for observing
> >   with other local
> >   >> astronomers and astrophotographers
> >   http://www.machunter.org
> >   >>
> >   >> After Talking with Gene and seeing what they
> >   did, I started thinking
> >   >> about something like this around here with
> >   local observers, I was
> >   >> going to post this idea to NHAS and ATMoB
> >   >>
> >   >> I would be willing to offer what I can, in
> >   skill, equipment and money,
> >   >
> >   >> I am wondering if you and others would be
> >   interested?
> >   >>
> >   >> They worked 2 astronomers per observatory, and
> >   they are now up to 5
> >   >> observatories..
> >   >> Some with showers and mini kitchens
> >   >> It works well for them..
> >   >>
> >   >> -John
> >   >> -----Original Message-----
> >   >> From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org
> >   >> [mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On
> >   Behalf Of Bernie Volz
> >   >> (volz)
> >   >> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 11:50 PM
> >   >> To: Neil Fleming; ATMoB
> >   >> Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Land for a club
> >   observatory?
> >   >>
> >   >> I own about 40 acres of land near my house in
> >   Center Harbor, NH. As
> >   >> there is a right-of-way across it to another
> >   parcel, and that person
> >   >> is building a single house (they own about 50
> >   acres), I've been
> >   >> thinking that it might be a nice site for some
> >   >> observing/observatories. A driveway is going in
> >   (it is about .75 miles
> >   >
> >   >> long) for the house. The area has good skies
> >   (Mario has his NH 32"
> >   >> nearby).
> >   >> There will be good
> >   >> access to power and one could easily bring in
> >   Internet (via cable).
> >   >> There would be some infrastructure costs (to
> >   clear land and build a
> >   >> driveway, etc). There is a ridge, so there are
> >   some higher places
> >   >> easily accessible.
> >   >>
> >   >> It may be something I'd entertain. My current
> >   plan for the land is to
> >   >> leave it be (other than what's required for the
> >   neighbor's driveway),
> >   >> but I've been thinking ...
> >   >>
> >   >> ---
> >   >>
> >   >> You might also want to speak with Gary Walker.
> >   He bought a place on a
> >   >> hilltop about 30 years ago and in talking to
> >   him a while back I
> >   >> distinctly got the impression that he probably
> >   won't have done it
> >   >> again because with the newer equipment - such
> >   as CCD cameras - you
> >   >> really don't need pristine skies and having
> >   immediate access (no
> > 
> === message truncated ===
> 
> 
> www.flemingastrophotography.com 
>   Direct from Boston - brilliant diamonds in pea soup
>   Also check out the astro_narrowband Yahoo group!
> 
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