[Atmob-discuss] Con call re Observatory Issues?

[Neil Fleming]

A bunch of good ideas here.

I spent some time today calling my buddies in the
hobby, as well as some of the vendors.  I received a
few good ideas.

I'd like to set up a chat for Monday night,say, at 8PM
Eastern.  Here is the freeconferencecall dot com
dial-in information:

 Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-1699
 Participant Access Code: 604809#

If, for some reason, this doesn't work out, we can
used one I have associated with work.

Any takers?...Neil

--- Fred Ward <drfred at hughes.net> wrote:

> Without throwing cold water on any proposal, the
> Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock,
> NH, just down the road from Stoddard, has indicated
> interest is being the site for an observatory (or
> two or more).  They offer a heated building and
> facilities for our use, but with the caveat that
> they can use some equipment for astronomy courses
> and star parties.  The main limitation appears to be
> whether we can find a suitable spot on their land,
> but they are interested in talking.  Also, they
> would love to host one of our meetings, if the
> distance and lack of any guarantee of clear skies
> are not insurmountable.  
> Fred Ward
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Paul A. Valleli 
>   To: Bernie Volz (volz) ; Neil Fleming ; Buonomo,
> John ; Nielsen, Gunnlaugur Petur,Md ;
> pbealo at comcast.net ; bruce at scopemaker.com ; Mario
> Motta ; Brewster LaMacchia ; ATMoB 
>   Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:48 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Con call re
> Observatory Issues?
> 
> 
>   First of all, Bernie, Thank you for removing 40
> acres from development. That is a very difficult
> decision to make when the developers come along
> waving wads of cash. This is a beautiful, somewhat
> remote, but not to much so, section of NH and I wish
> I was in a position to do likewise. 
> 
>   It is on the way to my favorite summer vacation
> spot on Meredith Neck. The LP there is disgusting,
> no thanks to Weirs Beach.
> 
>   Those that have not seen it should visit the large
> rolloff at Wallace Observatory. I believe that Bruce
> Berger can get you in to see it. If I remember,
> there are six piers installed,each with a 14-inch
> S-C for student use. Each section is partitioned but
> only red lights are permitted during any
> observations. Servicing is done by the observing
> assistant during the daytime. While working for
> Ealing, I was project manager for the optics of the
> 16-inch and 24-inch scopes on the property. 
> 
>   Stellafane is considering a similar rolloff obs.
> to be located to the south east of the McGregor Obs.
> This would house Brian Lula's 20-inch astrograph and
> would be slightly larger than the Ed Knight Obs. at
> Westford.  Dave Prowten may have some comments on
> that building, but we can't start it until the
> Pavilion is paid off.  Stellafane is a 2 1/2 hour
> drive from home, about the same as to Gary Walker's
> dark sky site way up north.
> 
>   The LLC ownership concept seems like a good way to
> deal with the leases, if that is what is desired.  
>   Paul
>           
>   ---- Original message ----
> 
>     From: "Bernie Volz (volz)" <volz at cisco.com>
>     Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Con call re
> Observatory Issues?
>
<GNIELSEN at PARTNERS.ORG>,<pbealo at comcast.net>,<bruce at scopemaker.com>,"Mario
> Motta" <drmariomotta at gmail.com>,"Brewster LaMacchia"
> <brewster at mds.com>,"ATMoB" <atmob-discuss at atmob.org>
>     >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
> 
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