https://www.geekgrandpa.com/blog daily 0.75 2021-07-12 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/blog/so-it-begins monthly 0.5 2021-07-12 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/blog/category/Travel monthly 0.5 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/blog/category/Food monthly 0.5 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/home daily 1.0 2025-04-28 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/about daily 0.75 2021-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/1626092243841-KR5BG0S06W3PH2VL6DPJ/Phil_Overgaard_Obs_small-400x284.jpg About GeekGrandpa - Phil Hoppes Phil Hoppes resides in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Purdue University in 1976 with a BSEE degree. He and his wife Lynn moved from West Lafayette, Indiana to Phoenix after his graduation. He received a MSEE from Arizona State University in 1983. He has worked as a IC designer and design manager in the high tech industry for about 28 years. Over that period of time he’s worked on various projects. His initial employment was with the Motorola Government Electronics group. While working there he helped develop custom radiation hardened CMOS devices that were part of the NASA Standard Transponder and NASA TDRSS Standard Transponder. He has designs still flying today on the Hubble Telescope. He also worked on various secure communication projects for a number of those three letter organizations of the government. In 1986 he moved on to the commercial electronics working for VLSI Technology Inc. While at VLSI he lead a team of engineers who produced the most successful 3rd party ASIC chipsets for manufacturing IBM compatible PC’s. After VLSI there were a number of other semiconductor companies located in the Phoenix area working in computer and telecommunications. He left engineering in 2003 and started a fused glass studio, Enfusiasm and a 2D/3D animation studio, Phil FX. He has worked freelance as an animator and has produced an number of projects for local video production companies and professional astronomical observatories. His interests are wide and varied from engineering and astronomy to glass art, teaching and animation. He’s a husband, father and grandfather to a wonderful and loving family. When he’s not being a geek, he’s out cycling, walking and doing things with the family. https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery daily 0.75 2022-09-25 https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/am5-portable-mount-setup-with-redcat-51 monthly 0.5 2022-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/38191c7f-fc80-431b-afe1-11c40a061d74/IMG_1371.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d1d39567-4522-421c-944c-61d11ffb6839/am5meridianflipstill.jpeg https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/project-one-eybnb monthly 0.5 2021-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4519cf20-99e4-41e9-b954-abc253894e6e/Observatory_stemwall_trench.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Stemwall Ditch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/c3807f43-28a7-4d77-b9a1-64a77d7ea872/ObsFootingsStemwallAssy.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Footer and stemwall construction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/2aef9281-9c34-4743-8536-d8245fed1f95/InitialMainPier.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Main pier poured https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/b8503419-0683-420a-960d-a3e91f585424/NorthViewShowingPierAndRoofSupports.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction North view of foundation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/f65df0b1-a258-47a0-b3fa-bbc169e092ef/SouthViewShowingPierAndRoofSupports.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction South view of foundation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/7a3c9056-a80e-428d-8c50-b870bb9e82d3/SouthViewShowingPierAndRoofSupports2.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction South view of foundation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4cf22d18-aa07-43dc-9b00-c579e82bd6a2/MainBuildingDoneNoDome.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Initial building done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/fca60424-9441-4f2f-93a7-4f5ba990e330/InitialFlooringBeforeDesignChange.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Original flooring with pier foundation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/c4c8d4ae-1b75-45b1-8181-3df937b98826/PierFootingExpansionDig.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Floor removed for pier foundation expansion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/bbafa1d9-a829-4bcb-b53b-6a840ba58ed6/PierFootingExpansionPoured.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Pier expansion complete https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/e18b87ce-e3f9-4b1e-a632-fda553286d6d/PierFootingWaitingForPier.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction New floor with expanded pier foundation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d6a69619-7021-4f86-8c3c-6d038ab797b8/WinterConstruction.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Construction through the winter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/2208fe9e-54ac-4b08-bad6-87e0c5ac93fc/DomeArrivingAtMattsShop.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome arrival at Innofab https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/a62b56d7-edde-4f3e-ba98-118691c6f309/TIDomeInShippingBox.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome in a box https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/bd5d6b9b-4262-4768-912d-ed8446f9dc61/DomePiecesOutOfBox.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome out of a box https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/dc9d87cd-9ce6-43b4-b176-d304f1d5feba/DomeTestAssyInOffice.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Trial dome assembly for fit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d9aedbbc-cd6f-4459-9b81-f638662da261/DomeLooseFitAssy.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome support ring trial assembly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/8a1d12b4-fcd8-4369-984b-860b5b397f16/TrailerLoadedWithPierAndDomeParts.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome and pier packed up on trailer to Overgaard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/11f7da87-4045-4573-b9cd-19a61d99bbb3/ReadyToUnloadPier.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Arrival in Overgaard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/5e48ae21-0aa0-48ab-9174-88c55d41a57f/ArrivalAtObservatory.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Preparing for crane lift of pier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/a64d7317-168a-4fbb-a764-8ee096a72bba/AttachingCraneToPier.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Attaching crane to pier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/ed0136ff-3778-4e2f-bf00-eae6601cc5b2/InitialPierLift.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Lifting the pier up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/885a8894-ecd5-4fe7-a338-600ab9e64509/UpAndOver.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Lifting the pier over and into building https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/ec123eaa-122a-4dc3-9563-69f115f8aee8/AndDown.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Lowering pier into observatory https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/167fa948-cbe1-4b1c-bf7c-8609687f0f14/HereItComesDown.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Lowering pier for final placement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d7f25c95-881e-44c0-80c0-4ac81a0308eb/DownAndInPlace.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Pier down and ready to bolt in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/b8bf498d-127a-41a0-a1b7-a4108119dc49/HiltiDrillsAreAmazing.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Hilti concrete drills are a beautiful thing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/8f69662e-7c66-4d46-b585-4e926b86229a/PierBoltedDown.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Pier bolted in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d5f6ddc7-659f-4b12-8b90-bb1f90105274/ReadyToBoltDown.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Ready for the top https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/867fc39a-39cb-4be8-ba5b-137de4217664/ViewDownWithPierInPlace.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Top view looking down on pier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4b0d88f5-d836-4e70-9b5b-b4e4a6091f64/Pier_Installed.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Preparing to assemble the dome on building https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/e16c0a01-be58-4061-af11-6ba0bcb97a56/LayoutOfDomeAssy.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Finishing touches before dome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d21803c2-d074-4795-8838-b7ab675572c6/BuildingConstruction.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome flashing layout https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/490c6385-bbb0-4376-9340-f8929c3b53ec/SquareToRoundFlashing.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome flashing detail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/7b941901-6b52-4241-ba42-c0aa28958964/TempCover.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Flashing in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/c154b616-8135-43f9-a8f8-e9d0bbd9bf10/ViewOfFalshingOnBuildingEdge.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Inside view of flashing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/876cd247-d32c-412a-b574-8006799028bd/MissMatchOfFlashingFit.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Obvious mismatch of dome flashing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/fcbbf3e0-5634-4b40-b982-99a92ec8dffd/StainlessSteelFlashingToFixGap.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Stainless steel patch to fix flashing mismatch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/1a923ed0-7f05-433f-948e-78bce9f776f7/DomePartsWaitingToGoUp.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome support ring in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/5f31423b-62d1-4653-82e4-594635287b0f/BracingBeforeShutterInstall.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Main dome in place waiting for shutter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/0bcd4fd3-6c72-42e6-833d-2d5052cb72c7/DomeOnButNoShutter.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome shutter to be assembled https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/f7170d11-7653-4193-9ec4-40e6d7312dc6/CompletedDomeAssemblyNWView.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Dome shutter in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/74ac5aaa-40c9-48d6-8525-48694d8b8a72/CompletedDomeAssemblySWView.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Completed observatory building west view https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/114e103f-ba62-45a8-9389-f6201a026a40/FinalShutterInPlace.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Completed observatory NE view https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/6fb83b31-a5da-47fd-914a-38ee5e720a00/CompleteObservatoryBuilding.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Final observatory with lightening antenna https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d4fb89f5-b418-4d2d-9824-df4ae89b7dbb/LighteningRodInPlace.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Another view of complete observatory https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/ddb57a18-2e9d-4771-9bba-5f336a7d51cb/ViewLookingUpAtDome.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction View from inside looking up at the dome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/838ee109-c0c7-442e-a814-ca3666a48a2e/ProjectForeman.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Project foreman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4af88982-f717-4f68-ad33-5274e7557710/TheWeldingMasterOnHisPerch.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction The master welder surveying his domain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/d664831f-c078-403e-9ccc-96b20ccc2692/MIdwestMotionMotor02.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Midwest Motion Products DC Motor for Dome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/30a5f185-d58e-4f16-9699-56e0b21cced2/MidwestMotionMOtor01.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Midwest Motion Products DC Motor for Dome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/289dd66a-e34b-4a71-bfe5-029b5403b99d/DriveTrack.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Gear track from Exploradome to fix dome rotation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/002761af-7137-48d9-bcba-3e8520af8f43/DriveGear.jpeg Astronomy - Building Construction Drive gears from Exploradome to fix dome rotation. https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/pier-construction monthly 0.5 2021-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4335ff60-fb69-402c-9cbf-27f5a4aaede0/01_Initial4x8SteelPlateOnCNCPlasma.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction 4' x 8' x 1/2" Sheet steel plate on a CNC Plasma cutter bed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/3c9e878f-bd71-42ee-bc64-cd6e5cf61b58/02_DropLeftAfterPlasmaCuts.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction The "drop" after cutting the required pieces for the pier. My son Matt on the right and his associate Chris on the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/8da5beb6-1f4a-4d8b-8fde-c2ae953cd627/03_SetupOnPlasma.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Another view of the plasma cutter. My son Matt making adjustments before the cut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/44be9bb7-c986-41a1-b2fe-9639d5c2f161/04_TheMasterJiggingUpForAssy.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Matt setting up the welding jig for the project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/41c3388f-f446-4a8d-a1ae-d4d97a22fe80/05_5_2x4_SteelLegsForPier.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Five 2"x4" x 10' steel bars for the pier uprights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/7c0004c0-cc9f-40b1-8d24-b4703ca74d38/06_GussetFactory.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/a9e79f80-3671-4ca6-8eb5-fb0716b5cc3d/07_AllThePlatesToWeldUp.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction All of the plates, pre assembly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/2fdb64ce-5fd2-442b-8182-4744d0171058/08_StartOfWeldingAssy.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Matt setting up the jig and getting ready to weld. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/50987b20-1991-4477-9375-9648e2e3940d/09_MasterWelderAtWork.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction The master at his best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/62da76db-fbb3-447e-b30d-2aee3daae312/10_MoreWelding.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction More MIG welding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/9fbd815f-262a-4259-8c71-fe5e7e96d2c8/11_GettingToTheEnd.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction A few final touches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/f40c8d43-ced0-490e-8d5d-d69a477fd442/12_FinishingTouches.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction ..... and a few more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/cf8dcdb4-3bf5-4e6d-84c0-4a87a0c714d4/13_FinishedPier.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Final welded pier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/84a58b82-01e3-47a8-a057-1a321d933fef/14_ReadyToSendToPowderCoat.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction My son Matt with his creation ready to ship to powder coat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/8efba353-69e9-458c-87cc-67ac0f59ad7f/15_CustomTopPlate.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Custom Water-Jet cut top plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/62636878-64a1-404c-a8be-9fb47ee3be79/16_FinishedCustomTopPlate.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Top plate back from powder-coat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/77cde3f4-6dd3-4a7b-b8be-f0ff473d34d0/17_TopPlateWithLX200BaseInstalled.jpeg Astronomy - Pier Construction Top of the pier with an LX200 mount wedge. https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/telescopes-mounts monthly 0.5 2021-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/1860c016-3092-4077-b7a9-a9eb789e7cee/OriginalLX200.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Original LX200 on wedge mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/baa6ee69-f06d-47a0-8178-baa1d1f924ac/OriginalLX200_2.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts LX200 mounted on pier in Overgaard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/3d263f44-8060-4079-b86b-3cb258e16799/AP1600Mount.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts AP1600 Mount initial installation in Overgaard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/57548b2d-7940-4cdd-a8ff-d6ae5dd5f890/AP1600Mount2.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Different view of AP1600 mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/e3e669bf-97ba-4d9f-aa1d-34c036b691fd/AP1600_02.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts AP1600 loaded for business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/087dda67-f09b-4a6c-933e-75897ed4fb43/Coronado90Max.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Coronado 90 Max Solar Telescope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/9f5787c2-5b23-4f6a-99b2-6ec2fcaabb20/Coronado90Max2.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Coronado 90 Max stand alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/0eaf3840-e9a2-44db-9b01-a6285578e082/IMG_1215.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Orion short tube 80mm guide scope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/e724ca0c-4b98-4a62-a5eb-7b6e19fd01db/VixenUpNorth.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Full Monty up in Overgaard. LX200, Vixen 103EDS, Coronado 90 Max, Orion 80 Guide Scope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/e9128e77-5665-46f0-b553-9b0bf444c099/OpticalMonster.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Maximum Glass! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/67117338-4083-415b-9306-d56ae59d0b50/CloseUp.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Close up of 103EDS with finder and QHY5III462 Color camera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/b22bda88-d423-4340-ace9-04c5b94eb021/CurrentConfig.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Current configuration of Vixen refractor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/f9dd47c7-e1c3-422d-b00c-7cfe22dba5e0/EQ6R-ProCloseUp.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Closeup of EQ6R-Pro mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/c794cf30-229e-43a6-8c85-00b3c1e9e532/EQ6R-Pro_Vixen_103EDS.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Phoenix setup circa March 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/fc9d6fdc-c926-490c-995b-7733acaf99f1/EQ6R-Pro_Vixen_103EDS2.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Another view of Phoenix setup https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/fd8a0631-14a4-41d9-a1bd-3e6583c42e42/FlipFlapCover.jpeg Astronomy - Telescopes & Mounts Closeup of Flip-Flap telescope cover. https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/phoenix-observatory monthly 0.5 2021-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/fac31772-e7f4-4e7d-a803-a8708287b59c/Vixen_tableview.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory View of Vixen ED103S on EQ6R-Pro mount https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/bfb9949e-f310-47e8-922f-880d54508b71/Vixen_sideview1.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory View showing "Scopebuggy" dolly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/45c04579-8891-4f92-b86e-c8de38c45a54/IMG_0899.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory Location of the piers. One solar and one night time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/14858431-4e2c-44a0-b1a7-22f9fa9893b2/IMG_0901.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory Bases are 2'x2'x3' for about 2000 lbs of concrete. There are 2 - 3/4" conduits going from each base to the side of what will be a new shed where I will keep a Jackery unit to power everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/1220d5e2-6158-4274-86d3-66fc4a0dd14c/IMG_0903.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory Concrete poured but too wet to place the base plates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/0357e7f1-63df-4ac9-a88a-33335b0eca48/IMG_0906.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory Plates are in and things are drying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/4e2b454b-7866-4c12-bb79-9024b96cf39e/IMG_0904.jpeg Astronomy - Phoenix Observatory Just need some piers.... and the back yard to be finished. Delivery of my C14 Edge HD and EQ8 mount would be nice too! https://www.geekgrandpa.com/astronomy-gallery/lunt-ls80mt-solar-telescope monthly 0.5 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/0f21b210-3161-48cd-972b-92412f6422cf/IMG_0835.jpeg Astronomy - Lunt LS80MT Solar Telescope https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/c0a3bab2-4192-43b8-befc-b60f6ead5b0e/IMG_0831.jpeg Astronomy - Lunt LS80MT Solar Telescope This is how the scope was received from UPS. Clearly they dropped it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/efb0000c-f967-4f69-8de9-e875a6dd0b28/IMG_0832.jpeg Astronomy - Lunt LS80MT Solar Telescope You can see how the blocking filter punched through the side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/2bde61fd-e214-42c1-bc36-0ebccb0bd321/IMG_0833.jpeg Astronomy - Lunt LS80MT Solar Telescope All of the main parts of the kit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f633336cae73d2408a4a4a8/9771d1b6-38f7-43ac-b4ea-42f90cecb27e/Second_MasterSolarImage.png Astronomy - Lunt LS80MT Solar Telescope First "Good" image of the sun