Horizontal Heavens Observatory "...From  A Galaxy Far, Far Away"
Clear Sky Chart  

This page was last updated on 06/22/16.

Local Conditions of area:

Horizontal Heavens Light Pollution Map in Texas

The Observatory Project - The Elevated Building Construction

Wash Day Observatory

More Information: 

Dome Interior *includes metal pier construction and dome control system

Observatory Plans

Observatory Concrete Construction

Elevated Building Construction

HD-10 Dome Construction

Light Polluting Neighbor

Back To The Observatory Project

(Below) Notching Posts - After acquiring $2K of Pressure Treated Lumber, it was time to notch the posts for the multi-leveled deck/observatory.

(Below) Erecting First Posts - Leslie and I managed to erect the easiest posts on Christmas Day.  Sure hope help arrives on Sunday for the TALL posts for the 10' high deck of the observatory!

          <--That is an 8ft ladder next to the 14ft post on 2ft foundation!

(Below)

     These folks are standing 12ft above ground AND smiling! :>)  Well Done!

(Below) Leslie and I continue to install 45 degree cross-braces and decking.

(Below) Ready for decking on 10' observatory floor.  Note the mid-span joist braces from scrap wood to stiffen up things.  Also, the underside shows promise as a future arbor.  The 2"X10" joists ended up 14" OC, way over-built for longevity  and will have 3/4" ply flooring to boot.  On the second row the first 3 images shows view to the West and the last, the view South.  The upslope neighbor is now complaining of   H I S  lost view to the lake caused by the observatory.  Never mind that all we can see is the underside of his pool decking and his parked construction vehicles along the fence when we look West!  Plus, this neighbor (a developer) owns ~90 lots in the subdivision, yet never thought to buy the lot we picked up last month to build the observatory on, go figure.

(Below) Walls framed and 3/4" plywood flooring installed using lots of "strong-ties."  Also, the HD-10 rectangle skirt roof frame installed.

(Below) 1-23-2005 Jamie Ryan and Dave Street to the rescue!  Many thanks to these two as we were able to sheet the observatory with OSB today after Leslie coated the interior sides of the OSB with a dark redwood stain.

(Below) As of early February, we are ready for the dome.  The extra flashing for the larger 12X12 OBS is done, the OBS is sided  and with 3 coats of paint, most of the pre-build in the garage is also complete.