Rancho Del Sol Observatory

3000' Elevation

Camino, Ca

Member of the Foothill Gang

 
 
 

My Hole In The Sky

Featuring dark skies but tall trees my backyard observatory is made up of a roll off roof design wired to the main house for remote imaging. The RCOS 20" barely fits in this 12x10 structure. There is an air conditioner installed for faster cool down after a hot day and the fan blowing across the floor during imaging helps with the FWHM. The observatory was built with the help of friends and family including my lovely wife Lisa.

    
 
   

Looking East from the Observatory

The trees are at about 30 degrees up

               
                                         
Located in the Sierra foothills about 15 minutes off Hwy 50 and about one hour from Sacramento. The seeing in the summer can be very good but if the wind blows from the North East it creates turbulence off of the mountains. The winter is normally the wet season making imaging very hit and miss.
       
                                 
In the Spring of 2002 Rancho Del Sol Observatory was completed
  
   
                       
   
                       
   
                       
                     
       
Good Friend Don Golman helps Ken clean the 20" Primary mirror.