Z-Field Observatory

 

History

The Z-Field Observatory began with the ordering of optics for a 20" f/16 Cassegrain telescope in the fall of 1986.  It is a classical Cassegrain design with a perforated f/4 parabolic primary and a hyperbolic 4x secondary yielding the final f/16. This was just a few months after my son Paul (seen climbing the ladder in the picture) was born.  The optics were delivered on May 31, 1988, the same day my daughter Pam was born.  Because of the pressing parental demands first light for the telescope was not until two years later.  The first (and current) incarnation of the telescope is a Newtonian-Dobson design seen in the picture at left.   This picture was taken in July 1994 while observing the impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter. The telescope is actually observing Jupiter at the time the picture was taken with acquisition being performed in daylight.
The telescope is still in the initial Dobsonian arrangement.  As of this writing (7/07) the Cassegrain secondary has never been used. In 2000 there was a renovation done on the telescope which made the mirror box smaller allowing for a shorter fork arm box.  In addition, larger altitude bearings were installed as well as provisions for digital setting circles.  Unfortunately, it also changed the center of gravity of the entire telescope more than expected.  Life changes intervened and the telescope remained unused until August 2003 when the close approach of Mars convinced me it was time to fix the problems and make the telescope functional again.  In 2006 I finally found the digital setting circles and the renovation was completed.

Z-Field Observatory Plans

In 2004 we purchased 8 acres of land near Princeton, Texas for the purpose of building a house that was halfway between my work in Greenville, TX and my wife's work in Richardson, TX.  This also allowed for a place to put the telescope to make it more usable.  Plans for the house also include the laying of a foundation for Z-Field Observatory.  One side note: the electric gate to the property, which was installed by the previous owner, has a large Z welded onto it which is the origin of the name Z-Field.

The plans for the telescope involve a total rebuild.  The configuration will be changed to the Cassegrain design.  A new fork mount will be constructed complete with digital drives on both axis. 

Observatory Building

The observatory building will be a 16' x 24' fold down roof building.  The telescope will be centered in the east 16'x16' section with the 8'x16' section to the west set aside for equipment, computers, and other equipment.

 

Observatory Building

Current plans call for the roof to be a half cylinder split 60/40 with the shorter section to the south.  Each section will be hinged on the long axis and allowed to rotate down for observation.

 

 

Observatory Building

The image at right is a 3D model of what the observatory will look like when opened for observing.

 

 

Building Begins

In July of 2007 construction of the observatory was begun with the laying of the foundation.

 

 

House slab with observatory slab to the east (right).

 Sunrise and Moon over the observatory slab.
Pier for telescope will set on a isolated pier set into the foundation.

 

First time to use the slab 10/13/07

Close-up of the observatory slab.