Hi all: Here’s my entry into this new endeavor. I’m fortunate – I observe 70% of the time on a patio 5’ outside my “studio” door; I’m also fortunate in that when the sky is really good, M-31 is just noticeable right out the door. So when it’s time to observe (basically every clear night), I select scopes that match sky conditions for the evening, carry them outside – set up a few observing chairs and I’m ready in less than a minute or two. On those real frigid nights (below 40 degrees) I can duck into the red-lighted interior for a minute, grab a cognac, and I’m good to go again. Not visible is a comfy lounge chair used to catch a few winks during “all night sessions”. To the left of the exterior door is a fairly complete parts storage and work - repair area; the desk is also set up for computer photo imaging and holds some of my reference “library”. The patio is curtained or protected from all direct neighborhood lighting; and when needed, there are red bulbs in the outdoor sockets and two hair driers at each end. Not shown in the outdoor photo is an additional, 12’ section of astro-turf that is rolled out over the patio as an observing “cushion”, and a recent addition - a semi-permanent pier set up to carry a new Burgess focuser equipped (really great!) 150 mm refractor that also carries a 100 mm wide-field as a finder. The patio was also wired for computer connections for my earlier “LX 200 days”. No – the pool does not appear to bother my viewing – but it’s great to lay in and do late night meteors in the summer! …..Happy New Year!...Tom
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