We are fortunate to have sufficient land to clear a large area for the observatory, giving us a 30° horizon in most directions. The under-construction observatory is visible in this satellite photo, and our round house is 300 feet to the west. North is up.
The observatory roof is rolled slightly open on two rails projecting from the north end of the building. It's almost high-noon. If it were, the observatory shadows would line up with the roof and rails, which are aligned directly north-south.
The blue rectangle to the right of the observatory is a trailer covered with Hardieplank lap siding Louise just painted. The larger blue rectangle nearby is 12' lengths of painted siding laid on the ground until needed.
This chart shows the current and predicted sky conditions at our location. In all cases, the darker the squares, the better for astronomy. Light blue and white are poor.
Here is a 360° panoramic view from the observatory position at approximate telescope height, and shows the horizon the telescope will see.
Here is the new horizon compared to our former site. The expanded viewing area is dramatic (and welcome).
Updated May 23, 2023