(August 29, 2000): The the siding, roofing, and some of the interior have been completed. Today we put most of the dome on. We need to put some more pieces in the shutter area, seal openings and seams, and  install motors, but the remainder of the dome is in place.  It was an excellent day to be doing all this. Normally temperatures around this time of the year are close to 90. Today the high reached 71 degrees. The four photos show the completion of the skirt, azimuth track, start of the ribbing, interior of the dome, and preparation for the main shutter. The main shutter weighs about 150 pounds, and we hoisted it up with the back-hoe. Nate and I worked on the outside and Dan on the inside to get it onto the shutter tracks. There's a threat of rain tonight in the mountains, but we have enough of the dome in place to protect the innards from getting rained on.

The roof has been put on the two work rooms and the dome ring is in place. Triangular flashing was added to the four corners on the observatory roof. Construction of the rest of the dome can begin

Left: Dome ring and corner flashing                                       Right: Putting the ribs in place

Left: Dome ribs are in place                                                    Right: Nate the Great preparing for insertion of the main shutter
 

{August 30, 2000): Another tiring day of hoisting parts into place, but we are almost finished with the dome. We discovered that we had put the main shutter in upside down and had to reinstall it. It only took an hour, but the shutter weighs about 140 pounds. An important feature of the dome is its Lamphier shutter. This shutter is a glass plate about 3 by 3 feet that resides in the dome aperture. Construction of the shutter enables one to completely close up the dome, so there is no substantial draft in and out of the dome. The Lanphier shutter weighs as much as the main shutter, maybe more.  We installed both the main and Laphier shutter today, and tried it out. It was a pleasant surprise as to how well it worked.
 

 Left: Hoisting the window portion of the Lanphier            Right: Lanphier window in place, main shutter rolled back

The Lanphier window probably weighs close to 150 pounds, and once we got it on the roof, Nate and I wrestled it into position. Dan worked on the inside installing the rollers and securing the frame. Once I finally saw how all this was constructed, I was quite impressed. Allowing the main shutter to be detached from the window is a nice feature, and allows one to view more of the sky if necessary.
 

Left: Main shutter and Lanphier window attached                Right: Lanphier window at zenith, wind shield drawn up

Note the protruding wind screen box along the skirt at the bottom (left). The wind screen is drawn upward as the main shutter and Lanphier window is moved upwards (right).

At the end of the day, we were treated to a beautful sunset while standing on the roof of the observatory. In the photo on the right is the lay of the land. The observatory can be seen off the right. It's not as big as the house, yet ...

(August 31, 2000): Today we spent the morning attaching motors, greasing rails, and installing seals. We cut a notch out of the roof for the wind screen box, and are now waiting for the flashing fellow to complete the roof modifications. Dome rotation and shutter movement are working fine.

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