[Atmob-discuss] Con call re Observatory Issues?

[Bernie Volz (volz)]

At this point, I don't see how that matters that much (at least to me).
Whether several people want to get together for a single structure
either with one or many scopes or multiple separate buildings doesn't
change that much in my mind.

>From a pratical point of view, I think having one large facility to
house many scopes is an extremely bad idea:
- If any one scope needs service, it may impact others. How can you turn
on lights when the three other scopes around you are doing long
exposures?
- Large structures are much more expensive to build than smaller ones
and require much more complex systems. Mario can probably atest to that
- building a 16' dome was a lot easier than an 18'.
- A single structure has limits (such as height) that might restrict the
telescopes that can go in. If you can build what you need, you aren't
restricted (except by your own choices).

When we look at the provided examples (URLs in earlier emails) and at
professional observatories, you usually don't see multiple scopes in a
single structure.

Again, if two or three people want to share, there's nothing wrong with
that.

I do think that the concept of a group bunk house / remote control
center may be preferred over having small rooms attached to each
observatory.

- Bernie

-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Fleming [mailto:neilfleming at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:19 PM
To: Bernie Volz (volz); Buonomo, John; Nielsen, Gunnlaugur Petur,Md;
pbealo at comcast.net; bruce at scopemaker.com; Mario Motta; Brewster
LaMacchia; ATMoB
Subject: Con call re Observatory Issues?

Bernie, it would be good to hear your ideas re the
"one large vs many small" observatory issues.

I envision a chat of interested parties...not to seek
any sort of committment, but to sketch out ideas,
relative interests, and the issues involved.

For example, although I have used such facilities in
the past, both very remotely and fairly nearby, there
are many things I don't know.  I figure we can collect
issues that can be divided up and spooled off for
individual investigation, then checkpointed back to
the interested group.

I can set this up...but I need to know what time works
for most folks.  Saturday am?  Monday pm?

Thoughts?...Neil

--- "Bernie Volz (volz)" <volz at cisco.com> wrote:

> I really think that at least in terms of my
> property, it is important
> for people to see it first. And, I'd prefer to
> discuss these kinds of
> issues face-to-face at least initially.
> 
> So, please go ahead with a conference call but I do
> not plan to
> participate in it at this time. Your reasons for
> holding this call are
> much different than mine. I, for example, have no
> interest in
> investigating an alternative site.
> 
> - Bernie 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Buonomo, John
> [mailto:Jbuonomo at uhs.harvard.edu] 
> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:41 AM
> To: Bernie Volz (volz); Nielsen, Gunnlaugur
> Petur,Md; Neil Fleming;
> pbealo at comcast.net; bruce at scopemaker.com; Mario
> Motta; Brewster
> LaMacchia
> Subject: RE: [Atmob-discuss] volz at metrocast.net sent
> this to you
> usingGoogleMaps: Center Harbor, NH
> 
>  
> Bernie,
> I think that I speak for everyone in saying
> "Thanks!" for just offering
> the property, 
> 
> If this idea does not become a reality, it still
> does not hide the fact
> that you would be even willing to do this. This
> demonstrates why
> astronomers are a unique breed of individuals... <g>
> 
> 
> Please take the time in making this choice, for me,
> May is perfect but I
> still think that a conference call would be good
> start so that everyone
> could voice their Ideas and opinions...and determine
> if this is even
> feasible .
> I personally will do all that I can, to assist. 
> Cheers! And Well Done!
> John
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernie Volz (volz) [mailto:volz at cisco.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:54 AM
> To: Buonomo, John; Nielsen, Gunnlaugur Petur,Md;
> Neil Fleming;
> pbealo at comcast.net; bruce at scopemaker.com; Mario
> Motta; Brewster
> LaMacchia
> Subject: RE: [Atmob-discuss] volz at metrocast.net sent
> this to you
> usingGoogleMaps: Center Harbor, NH
> 
> Well, while I haven't consulted a lawyer and this is
> was just the seed
> of an idea, my concept would be to have a lease
> arrangement (and
> probably not for 99 years - I was thinking ~25). The
> concept would also
> involve shared expenses for "common" facilities -
> such as building the
> access road and bringing in electric/internet (from
> the currently
> planned driveway to the site) and maintaining access
> (plowing, roadway
> maintenance, ...). Leases might be transferrable -
> so that those that
> needed to, could find someone to "buy them out".
> Probably best if most
> of the observatories are fairly close together as
> that minimizes costs
> and the amount of land to clear.
> 
> My plan for this land (and why my wife and I
> purchased it two years ago)
> was and is to leave it undeveloped. I do NOT plan to
> sell any of it (it
> technically is 6 lots and has subdivision approval).
> I do own an
> additional 26 acres (2 lots) near by.
> 
> BTW: All I say in here is not a commitment or offer.
> It is just my
> rambling thoughts.
> 
> I think that once spring is finally here, it makes
> sense to get those
> that have an REAL interest to visit the land and
> discuss things a bit. I
> do NOT want this to be a large group.
> 
> I will be away the first two weeks of April, and I
> sometime in May will
> likely work best. Let me know if you have a REAL
> interest and which
> Saturday/Sunday in May works for you (as best you
> can tell now). May 3,
> 4 / 10, 11 / 17, 18 / 31, June 1.
> 
> You are of course free to go your own way - find
> some land, purchase it,
> ...
> 
> - Bernie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Buonomo, John
> [mailto:Jbuonomo at uhs.harvard.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 4:20 PM
> To: Nielsen, Gunnlaugur Petur,Md; Neil Fleming;
> volz at metrocast.net;
> pbealo at comcast.net; bruce at scopemaker.com; Mario
> Motta; Brewster
> LaMacchia
> Subject: RE: [Atmob-discuss] volz at metrocast.net sent
> this to you
> usingGoogleMaps: Center Harbor, NH
> 
> After hearing the responses from our little thread, 
> I contacted Gene
> with a few questions about his site and the problems
> he faced when
> starting up...
> This is his response....
>  
> 
>
========================================================================
> ===========================
> 
> The biggest original issue with MAC Hunter was
> getting people involved.
> Then after a few years it was growing so fast that
> it was the other way
> around, how can we slow this down. Its a great
> concept, I live here on
> the property and I originally bought this property
> to build an
> observatory.
> 
>  However its quit lonely out there by yourself. So I
> had this brainstorm
> to let people build on my property. Well after a few
> years we got an
> attorney as a member and we decided that we had so
> much money in the
> buildings that I should donate the land to an LLC
> that we all owned so
> that nobody would ever have to worry about if I get
> a divorce or
> whatever. So it evolved over time. It is wonderful
> in so many ways to go
> in your own back yard any weekend or clear night and
> find people back
> there doing astrophotography. 
> 
> I have come out the clear winner because the star
> party is at my house.
> But there are some down sides. Privacy becomes an
> issue. Also I provide
> the electricity and Internet so they do sometime use
> that a bit. There
> are things to consider but I would still do it today
> if I had a choice.
> Its the main thing I live for in life since I was a
> young adult so I am
> ok with it. I would not recommend it though to
> anyone that does not feel
> the same way. So its a great way to go when you
> consider the help you
> get. 
> 
> One of the guys in our group is a construction
> supervisor so he built
> the original super observatory that we used for our
> plans. We all
> pitched in to help each other out with ideas and we
> are all learning
> from each other all the time. 
> 
> I live here on 15 acres and I use about 1 acre for
> myself. the BOG uses
> one acre. So I still have some room to grow but at
> this point my sanity
> is my major concern, I have had many offers from
> people to build houses
> here. I think we have come far enough and I think
> that the 1 acre BOG
> owns now is enough.
> 
=== message truncated ===


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