Project Notes

Multi-Telescope Private Observatory, Colorado

The observatory is an attached configuration.

Observatory Solutions installed the following:

  • Ash 12′ 6″ dome with automation
  • ASA Equatorial Pier that allows all telescopes to rotate without a meridian flip
  • ASA DDM 160 Direct Drive mount with high resolution encoders on each axis
  • Customized ASA mounting plate and PlaneWave Tandem Bar for attaching multiple telescope systems
  • TMB 175 refractor with MoonLite NightCrawler rotator/focuser and QHY 267C Camera
  • PlaneWave CDK20 telescope with IRF90 rotator/focuser, Apogee U-16M camera and FW50 filter wheel, Monster MOAG and QHY 5III-174 guide camera
  • Celestron C11 telescope with MoonLite LiteCrawler rotator/focuser and Shelyak Spectroscope with Atik cameras (LISA Pak)
  • Takahashi FSQ106 telescope with Optec Posi Drive focuser, SBIG STT-8300 camera with FW8G filter wheel / guider
  • Dual web power switches
  • Dual USB extenders – 1 for USB 2.0 and 1 for USB 3.0

The ASA DDM 160 mount was selected for its ability to carry up to 660 lb. (300 kg). Total configuration weight is estimated between 370-400 lb.

To the right is a time lapse of the Ash Dome installation.