Finally got the electronics set up, and was able to grab some great views of Jupiter (easy) and M3. Seeing was moderately unsteady.

Need to refine the polar alignment just a small bit as the image was not quite boresighted in the eyepiece for alignment

probably need to adjust the clock as well by about a minute - will do that tonight and double check the alignment

very dusty atmosphere last night - we've had 4 straight days of red flag conditions

so far so good

have contacted a contractor to now fabricate the pier for the scope so I can eliminate the tripod and isolate the scope from the building floor

What altitude is your observatory?

Jealous! LOL

My wife and I watched a segment this morning on CBS News Sunday Morning about astrophysicist, Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He spoke about his early interest in astronomy and his rooftop stargazing. Because we've lived in a number of places in the rural West with spectacular night skies, we've talked about an astral telescope several times. This morning's show rekindled that interest.

We lived on a ranch north of Wickenburg, and up around Williams, Arizona. Hope your night sky is similarly dark

Awesome I am so jealous!

Maybe try a glock to deal with that high bore axis?

quote:

My wife and I watched a segment this morning on CBS News Sunday Morning about astrophysicist, Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

I saw this as well. It was a great piece until CBS interjected their liberal agenda.

Back to the question: Will you be posting photos on the forum? I hope!

RMD

Jealous! I have a bunch of trees on the property, so often with the planets I don't bother aligning the scope. I'd love to have a fixed position observatory, but I'd need to build a 50' tall one or knock down about 15 tall trees. Neither very desirable.