Permanent Pier Construction Progress! In December 2002, my father and I began installation of a permanent pier at his home in Bear Valley Springs, CA. We completed its installation in June 2003 and have begun using it. Future plans may include a second pier and an enclosure around the two piers. The Base of the Pier This is shortly after we poured the Quikrete foundation (about 4 feet deep) and set the pier's template in place. Control Room and Pier The storage shed that will become the control room is in the foreground. The pier is about 30 feet away. Inside the Control Room So far there is a small desk and some shelves (on the right, slightly out of view). Set Up for Imaging June 9, 2003: The utility box is not finished but all the necessary connections are present to start using the scope. First Light Image: M16 June 9, 2003: I took this image just to test the cable connections, polar alignment, etc. The object wasn't well centered, collimation was off, seeing wasn't that great... what other excuses can I think of? Here are some other locations I frequent in the southern California area (see map at upper right): «1» Mt. Pinos more info If there is an old or a new moon and it's a weekend, you can bet there will be a mini star party in the parking lot at Mt. Pinos. «2» Bear Valley Springs more info I have the advantage of room, board, and some good company at this location. The skies aren't bad either. «3» Jawbone Canyon/Red Rock Canyon more info It gets windy in the western Mojave Desert and off roaders happen to like this particular area. But if you can find an isolated spot on a calm night this can be a pretty good site. «4» Mt. Wilson/Angeles Crest more info With the heart of Los Angeles just below this site isn't the darkest place available but the peak of Mt. Wilson is known for its steady skies. «5» San Gabriel Canyon Highway 39 ends just a bit beyond Crystal Lake in the San Gabriel Mountains. There are city lights below but it beats being in the thick of them. «6» Big Bear The YMCA camp that hosts the annual RTMC Astronomy Expo can offer some great Spring weather and viewing conditions. «7» Joshua Tree National Park Joshua Tree can be great for Spring and Autumn observing sessions. Plenty of scenery to boot! «8» Salton Sea Beach This can be a great winter location but atmospheric conditions can create a situation tantamount to viewing the sky from the bottom of a pool since the elevation is so low (about 80 feet below sea level!).  MORE ON OBSERVATORIES »  The Hubble Space Telescope »  The VLT at Cerro Paranal »  Mauna Kea Observatories »  Arkansas Sky Observatory »  New Mexico Skies »  Amateur astronomer observatories »  Le Seuer Astro Piers »  Advanced Telescope Systems Piers  OBSERVING LOCATIONS The numbers on the map correspond to the descriptions below and to the left. The "X" marks the location of my home. As you can see, I'm in the middle of a thick soup of light pollution.