Now with the observatory finished, the day has finally come this weekend, the installation of the instrument in which the structure was built for, the 8 inch schmidt camera. The schmidt tube assembly rides in a six sided cradle with the hinge slot canted 60 degrees to permit the mounting of the guidescope on the same bottom piece to avoid flexure. The camera is tracked with the Meade 2045 prototype (which explains it unusual plum color), a 2x barlow with diagonal, and an ST-4 Autoguider. It was hailing during this photo, and the snow started that evening and put about an inch and a half on the ground. The structure appears to be quite weather resistant, not a drop of water was seen anywhere inside.
The Final installment - Putting the Schmidt Camera on the Mount.
