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From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Alpha Carinae)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Fremont Peak Observatory Update
Message-ID: <2179@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 11:46:05 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2179
Posted: Fri Nov  1 11:46:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 03:52:49 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: RA: 6h 22m 30s; Dec: -52d 36m
Lines: 93


  Here is the latest information on Fremont Peak  Observatory.   For
  those  who  haven't  seen  my  previous postings, the Fremont Peak
  Observatory Association was formed last  January  by  a  group  of
  local  amateur  astronomers, whose goal is to build and operate an
  amateur-run observatory at California's Fremont Peak  State  Park.
  For  further  information,  contact  me  at  one  of the addresses
  specified at the end of this article.


                           PROGRESS REPORT

    1.  Our contract with the State of California has been approved.

    2.  The detailed architectural drawings are complete,  and  have
        been  turned  over  to  the  State  of  California for final
        approval.

    3.  Association  member  Charlie  Carlson  has  volunteered  his
        services  to  be  our  general  contractor  for the building
        project.

    4.  We now have the  funds  necessary  to  purchase  the  needed
        materials for the building.

    5.  The 30" telescope's components are basically  complete.   It
        just needs to be set up and "debugged".

    6.  The ground has been cleared and staked out at the  observing
        site.

                          OBSERVATORY STATUS

  The 30" Observatory building consists of two rooms, each 20' X 20'
  on  a  side.  The observing room has a sloped roll-off roof with a
  skylight to allow natural lighting in the daytime.

  The adjacent meeting room can serve as a lecture hall, a place  to
  "warm  up",  etc.   Our  initial plans did not call for the second
  room; the State of California strongly recommended it.

  The building is  supported  on  concrete  piers,  since  it  is  a
  temporary   structure  without  a  permanent  foundation.   It  is
  surrounded on three sides by a wooden deck; one side  has  a  ramp
  for  handicapped  access.   The  current issue of the FREMONT PEAK
  OBSERVER (our official  publication)  has  a  couple  of  drawings
  depicting the Observatory.

                            GROUNDBREAKING

  Official ground-breaking for the 30" Observatory  will  be  taking
  place  fairly  soon.   The  date  can't be set until we have final
  State approval of our detailed architectural drawings.   (Approval
  is  expected within four weeks).  The Association's annual general
  membership  meeting  will  be  scheduled  to  coincide  with   the
  groundbreaking date.
      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  NOTE:  Those outside of the S.F.  Bay  Area  may  skip  the  COMET
  HALLEY section.

                             COMET HALLEY

  Our original, somewhat overly ambitious plan was to have  the  30"
  scope  up  and  running  in  time  for Comet Halley observing this
  November.  However, do not  despair!   We  (the  Association)  own
  several smaller, more portable intruments, which will be set up to
  view the comet (weather  permitting)  on  the  following  Saturday
  evenings at Fremont Peak State Park:

          - November 16, 1985

          - December 7, 1985

          - December 14, 1985

          - January 11, 1986

                       FOR MORE INFORMATION...

  If you wish more  information  on  the  Fremont  Peak  Observatory
  Association, please contact Frank Dibbell at either

                    408-746-6493 (work)
                    408-735-9597 (home)
                          -or-
                    710 Georgia Avenue
                    Sunnyvale, CA  94086
                          -or-
                    ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!canopus
-- 
Frank Dibbell     (408-746-6493)     ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!canopus
Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA     [This is the obligatory disclaimer..]