Black Star Observatory

42°n, 73°w

Above you can see the 1st light images taken 3/28/06

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Black Star Observatory was created to permanently house my 20" Obsession Telescope along with several others telescopes. The 28'x15' building is a combination Shop (15'x13') and Observatory (15'x15') to fill all my needs at our new house here in the Berkshires. It is a roll-off roof design with many very original design features. Including the most obvious, a roll-off roof that rolls onto another structure  (the shop). This design maximizes space and utility.

Click a thumbnail below to see a larger view.

Day one (Oct 3rd, 2005)

Day two (Oct 5th, 2005)

Shop floor - A little help from Jim B. - Me

Day three (Oct 7th, 2005)

3 walls of shop and floor of observatory are up

Day four (Oct 11th, 2005)

Megan on pier - Looking north - Looking southeast through observatory access door at our house

Day five (Oct 20th, 2005)

Notice warm room window framed up, but yet to be cut out on left - Isolated Obsession pier - All walls framed up

Day six (Oct 27th, 2005)

All the siding is on, window and garage door cut out!!

The structure looking northwest - The structure looking north, you can see the small "under observatory garage"

Observatory southeast corner - Shop southwest corner - Shop northwest corner - Observatory northeast corner

"under observatory garage"

Day 7th-10th (Nov 3rd, 2005)

Structure fully painted & shop roof ready for glasteel panels - Wide shot looking north

Day 11th-14th  (Nov 11th, 2005)

Paint, doors, trim, and shop roof completed (looking north)

Day 15th-19th  (Nov 28th, 2005)

Roll off roof constructed, rubber weather-stripping 1/2 way installed.

Day 20th  (Nov 29th, 2005)

Roll off roof paint done!

Day 21st  (Nov 30th, 2005)

All trim, paint, and rubberizing finished

Interior framing detail

Roll off roof track and caster close ups

Day 22nd  (Dec 4th, 2005)

Track extensions added, exterior finished!! Yahoo!!

Day 23rd-25th  (Dec 5th-8th, 2005)

Shop/warm room walls & ceiling insulation completed...

Shop/warm room walls hard boarded & peg boarded...shop basically ready to go...

1st light Dec27th....bam!!!