Club Observatory

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:26 pm

Club observatory. Something I think we should aspire to.
I've talked to a solicitor friend of mine and the advice was to actually draw up a plan for what we would like.
Reason bring is if someone somewhere decided to donate a bit of land or we found a small site to buy cheap then we would need
A plan for what was to be built there.
Doesn't have to be a professional plan.
Just an outline one.

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:00 am

perfect, remember the outline idea I was talking about there a small while back, that would be my first preferance, to be honest I'd be happy with any viable idea,
We're due a committee meeting in November, maybe we could persue something before the meeting, we'll see.
Its like picking out a house
location, location, location !!

by god we were lucky that the one up on top of gallows hill fell through all those years back, it would have been a disaster given the security situation up there these days.

If we build it, we'll have to put a scope in there, be it the 12" or 10"
The ten will need a pillar, the 12 will need a pillar and mount.

Another thing is that there will have to be enough space around it for people to bring their own scopes there for observing nights, it would be the focal point of club observing sessions so the site would need to cater for member and other club scopes aswell.
So, I'm in favour of it, we just need to be carefull and smart about it.

To be honest, I wouldn't be thinking of it as an either/or situation regarding starparties, but now that we have the financial black hole that was known as the WSP off our backs, this is a viable project.

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:05 am

Jeasus, November already,
Ya ok so, let's put it down for discussion
at the Nov meeting.
If the committee decides to go ahead with it we
can talk about it at Dec club meeting,
Let everyone know what the club wants to do,
Hopefully fire up peoples imagination / enthusiasm (you never know, some poor farmer may want to donate a 100 sq meters of
a field to the club

)
I never knew MAC had one!
Pity they don't use it but there must be big issues with it
So I suppose.
I've emailed a few clubs in the uk that I've
Read about in astronomy now that have built observatories for advice and ideas
with regards to funding, legality etc.
I'll also put a post on the SPA boards
Just to see if any of those member clubs built one.
I do recall one club buding one and they had smaller numbers than sac.
(must have all been retired doctors & lawyers LOL)

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:58 pm

Hey Frank.

Have you thought about asking the national lottery for some local funding, it might mean doing some talks in schools and what not. But if the club made a proper proposal, who knows. Its worth a try. If it was up to me I'd donate all the land I have but its my Father Inlaws land. But as for funding I have a few friends I'd like to talk to 1st(I'm not promising anything)but I'll give it a try.

Cheers Roy

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:39 pm

Cheers Roy. Any help is appreciated.
I'll be putting together a proposal for funding soon, the Nat Lottery fund bring the first
Place to hit.
This is why we need an outline plan!
The very first thing people will want to know is
What it will be like (size, height, material, foundation, area etc etc)
And this is why I want members involved in the
Planning stage.

Roy Stewart · Post by **Roy Stewart** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:51 pm

Well theres no better man than me when it comes down to looking for funds, I'm a firm believer in the saying (50 No's and 1 yes still means yes).