Observatory Overview

Niteskys Observatory is located on the Colorado Front Range. It has evolved over the years from a simple scope on a tripod to a fully automated observatory. I would like to say that it was designed to turn out the way it did, but the journey from the tripod to the observatory was not a planned one. While I have enjoyed each and every setup, it did not take long to discover the challenges of each as my interest in imaging grew. Over the years of using different setups, I developed a checklist that described my ideal imaging setup.

• Quick setup and tear down.
• Wind protection.
• Light pollution protection from cars and nearby street lights.
• Maintenance free materials.
• Low heat retention materials.
• Provide some security.
• Reuse existing equipment and infrastructure.
• Neighborhood acceptable.
• Something that could be automated.
• Affordable.
• Large enough for two observers.

Constructed in 2006, the current observatory addresses many of the items on my checklist. It's an ever-evolving experiment that would never have happened without the patience and understanding of my family.