I see that we have a number of new members to this discussion group now.

I would like to say hello to everyone, and post a short update on what
is going on at the ranch right now.

We have been sucessful in raising enough money this past summer and
fall to begin construction on our warm up building. We are out pricing
steel buildings and concrete right now and gathering up the skills that
will be necessary to get this first phase completed within a few weeks.

I am very excited about this process moving forward right now.

We also have been issued a generous challenge matching grant from the
Kerr Foundation. We have a year to raise some money (or pledges to
raise it over the next 3 years) and that money will be matched. I feel
that this is do-able and would encourage those of you who are
interested in making a pledge to this project.

Brad will be sending out letters to the OKCAC membership shortly
outlining the program.

We will also be meeting shortly to outline the use policies at CRO for
those of you who would like to have your own concrete pad or even build
your own observatory there.

After a certain amount of quiet time in this group, we are about to
start moving again.

Jeff

Dan, do you have an updated layout of phase 1, and the sighting that
was done for the pads/personal observatories? I think it would be
great if we could update our files section.

I will try to get some more pictures posted as well.

I just posted an album (Ken H.) with a few pics from June
23rd...really was a beautiful night (except for the dew)...

About all they really show is the power pole, the treeline, the
fence, and my bald spot... :(

--- In CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Lessmann"
<dlessmann@...> wrote:
>
> Dan took no pics that day.
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Christian
> B
> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 12:18 PM
> To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Too Quiet Out Here...
>
>
>
> I have only a few from fencing but didn't Jack have a report
(maybe with
> pictures) of the day?
> Just checking...I'll bet Dan has a few.
>
> Christian
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jeff Tibb <JeffTibb@... <mailto:JeffTibb%40hotmail.com> >
> To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:CheddarRanchObservatory%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:23:57 PM
> Subject: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Too Quiet Out Here...
>
> Does anyone have any pictures from the day of fencing or the first
> couple of star parties we hosted out at the ranch?
>
> I also wanted to add in this space since not everyone attends the
club
> meetings that we are drawing closer to the permanent loan of a
moth
> balled classical Cassagrain that is the property of a large state
> university in our area.
>
> If and when this comes to pass, we will be well on our way to
> establishing the CRO as a premier public observatory.
>
> Jeff
>

Dan took no pics that day.



________________________________

From: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Christian
B
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 12:18 PM
To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Too Quiet Out Here...



I have only a few from fencing but didn't Jack have a report (maybe with
pictures) of the day?
Just checking...I'll bet Dan has a few.

Christian

----- Original Message ----
From: Jeff Tibb <JeffTibb@... <mailto:JeffTibb%40hotmail.com> >
To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:CheddarRanchObservatory%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:23:57 PM
Subject: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Too Quiet Out Here...

Does anyone have any pictures from the day of fencing or the first
couple of star parties we hosted out at the ranch?

I also wanted to add in this space since not everyone attends the club
meetings that we are drawing closer to the permanent loan of a moth
balled classical Cassagrain that is the property of a large state
university in our area.

If and when this comes to pass, we will be well on our way to
establishing the CRO as a premier public observatory.

Jeff

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have only a few from fencing but didn't Jack have a report (maybe with
pictures) of the day?
Just checking...I'll bet Dan has a few.

Christian


----- Original Message ----
From: Jeff Tibb <JeffTibb@...>
To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:23:57 PM
Subject: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Too Quiet Out Here...

Does anyone have any pictures from the day of fencing or the first
couple of star parties we hosted out at the ranch?

I also wanted to add in this space since not everyone attends the club
meetings that we are drawing closer to the permanent loan of a moth
balled classical Cassagrain that is the property of a large state
university in our area.

If and when this comes to pass, we will be well on our way to
establishing the CRO as a premier public observatory.

Jeff




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Does anyone have any pictures from the day of fencing or the first
couple of star parties we hosted out at the ranch?

I also wanted to add in this space since not everyone attends the club
meetings that we are drawing closer to the permanent loan of a moth
balled classical Cassagrain that is the property of a large state
university in our area.

If and when this comes to pass, we will be well on our way to
establishing the CRO as a premier public observatory.

Jeff

>Has any area of the new Observing Site been set aside for development
>of personal Observatories?

Yes, it has been reserved, others are requesting domes or roll offs as
well.


>I would be interested in putting a small 10' dome to house a  12"lx
>
>If this can be done what steps do I need too take for this to happen.

First the Administrative steps need to be finished up, that includes a
list of Policies for CRO includung Building Stanards.

>IS the club selling lots, if so How much?

Yes, sorta, maybe. Most likely it will be a rental deal. Details are
still being worked out.
>
>I would like to know what matterals are going to be use on the larger
>dome and public building. So the smaller personal dome would look the
>same.

Most likely a sheet metal type exterior. This is to reduce maint.
costs/labor in the future, as well as help in fire safety. probably
underlayed with plywood or similar for security features.
>
>Thanks
>Kevin D.
>
>
Hope it helps, We are trying, but things take time especially when
it's not your full time job, and with Okie-Tex coming up alot of
attention is focused there.
>

~Travis

Good to hear from you again Kevin!  The short answer is yes, we are
setting aside part of the property for private observatories.  The lots
will not be sold, but rented out.  Currently we are discussing the
policies necessary to maintain our site, so stay tuned to this page for
more information and the time of our next meeting.

Brad F.




"Kevin Davis" <talk2kev@...>
Sent by: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
08/21/2006 04:41 AM
Please respond to
CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com


To
CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
cc

Subject
[CheddarRanchObservatory] Observatory






Has any area of the new Observing Site been set aside for development
of personal Observatories?

I would be interested in putting a small 10' dome to house a 12"lx

If this can be done what steps do I need too take for this to happen.

IS the club selling lots, if so How much?

I would like to know what matterals are going to be use on the larger
dome and public building. So the smaller personal dome would look the
same.

Thanks
Kevin D.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Has any area of the new Observing Site been set aside for development
of personal Observatories?

I would be interested in putting a small 10' dome to house a  12"lx

If this can be done what steps do I need too take for this to happen.

IS the club selling lots, if so How much?

I would like to know what matterals are going to be use on the larger
dome and public building. So the smaller personal dome would look the
same.

Thanks
Kevin D.

Tonight and Tomorrow Night at the CRO...

Been a long time since anyone posted here, but that doesn't mean that
we have forgotten the ranch.

Since our last posts, work crews of volunteers have put in the corner
posts, 2 gates, electricity, water, and fenced off the whole 6 acres.

We have also mowed and are now ready for our first two nigh shin-dig at
CRO.

My thanks go out to everyone who has contributed to the efforts so
far...

Jeff

Justin tells me Carol McCrary turned 65 years old yesterday.  I asked
him to wish her a happy birthday from all of us.

Just a reminder that our first meeting is tomorrow night (04/04) at the
Church of Christ-South Yukon, 7:00 p.m.

Just a reminder that our first meeting is tomorrow night (04/04) at the
Church of Christ-South Yukon, 7:00 p.m.

This past weekend, I travelled to Topeka and the surrounding area in
the company of Bill Wilburn, Travis Swaim, and Brad Ferguson.

We met with Gary Hug of the North East Kansas Amateur Astronomers
League (NEKAAL) and Mike Ford who teaches astronomy at Holton High
School.

They both have great observatories that are doing both research and
education. And both men were very helpful and gracious to us,
answering a thousand quesions that we had about their operations.

I think the trip was very beneficial to all of us trying to plan out
both the building and the funding of our own Cheddar Ranch
Observatory.

I will have more to say in my newsletter article about the trip and
hopefully we will post some of the pictures Bill took in there as
well.

But in the mean time if you are interested in learning more about Far
Point and Elk Creek Observatories, check them out here:

http://www.nekaal.org/farpoint.html

http://www.elkcreekobservatory.org/

Jeff

PS - Travis also shot about an hour and a half of video tape about
the facilities and interviews we had with these guys. If you are
interested in seeing any of this footage, let us know.

I'd kind of like to watch it again in a few days myself.

Ya'll considered taking the December meeting up a notch and turning it
into a fundraising banquet? Noticed some other clubs nationwide do
this sort of thing and bring in a distinguished speaker. We might not
have the membership/interest #s in OKC to do this sort of thing though.

Yeah and that place had a nice pool too.  Just the thing when the muggy summer
seeing isn't cooperating for observing. ;-)

________________________________

From: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Jeff Tibb
Sent: Wed 2/1/2006 6:24 PM
To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Re: Check this out...



If we had bought that mansion on the OK-Arkansas border for 4 Mill
this would fit, but alas so many opportunities lost...



--- In CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com, Travis Swaim
<cheeto4493@...> wrote:
>
> I looked at the pricing for a new one....
>
> RC24-140FN          RC 24" f/8, OGS140 Fork Mt., TCS
> Nano Drive            $187,000.00
>
> That's without the dome, I wonder what their used
> price is.
>
>
>
>
> ~ Travis Swaim
> cheeto@...
> 02-01-2006
>
> "Psalms 19.1 - The heavens declare God's glory, the
> sky displays his handiwork, Day after day it speaks
> out, night after night it reveals his greatness."
>
> This message is composed of 100% post-consumer
> recycled electrons.
>
> A day without fusion is like a day without sunshine.
>
> "Today, everybody remembers Galileo. How many can name
> the bishops and professors who refused to look through
> his telescope?" - James Hogan, Mind Matters.
>
> The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one
> that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but
> "That's funny..."' - Isaac Asimov
>
> There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who
> understand binary and those who don't...
>
> ======= At 01-31-2006, 23:26:40 you wrote: =======
>
> >Larry pointed this one out to me:
> >
> >http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/pre-owned_3.htm
> >
> >A 24" RC pre-owned.
> >
> >They are closing down the science center and it needs
> a new home...
> >
> >JT
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CheddarRanchObservatory/
> >
> CheddarRanchObservatory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>







Yahoo! Groups Links

If we had bought that mansion on the OK-Arkansas border for 4 Mill
this would fit, but alas so many opportunities lost...



--- In CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com, Travis Swaim
<cheeto4493@...> wrote:
>
> I looked at the pricing for a new one....
>
> RC24-140FN          RC 24" f/8, OGS140 Fork Mt., TCS
> Nano Drive            $187,000.00
>
> That's without the dome, I wonder what their used
> price is.
>
>
>
>
> ~ Travis Swaim
> cheeto@...
> 02-01-2006
>
> "Psalms 19.1 - The heavens declare God's glory, the
> sky displays his handiwork, Day after day it speaks
> out, night after night it reveals his greatness."
>
> This message is composed of 100% post-consumer
> recycled electrons.
>
> A day without fusion is like a day without sunshine.
>
> "Today, everybody remembers Galileo. How many can name
> the bishops and professors who refused to look through
> his telescope?" - James Hogan, Mind Matters.
>
> The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one
> that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but
> "That's funny..."' - Isaac Asimov
>
> There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who
> understand binary and those who don't...
>
> ======= At 01-31-2006, 23:26:40 you wrote: =======
>
> >Larry pointed this one out to me:
> >
> >http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/pre-owned_3.htm
> >
> >A 24" RC pre-owned.
> >
> >They are closing down the science center and it needs
> a new home...
> >
> >JT
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CheddarRanchObservatory/
> >
> CheddarRanchObservatory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>

I looked at the pricing for a new one....

RC24-140FN          RC 24” f/8, OGS140 Fork Mt., TCS
Nano Drive            $187,000.00

That's without the dome, I wonder what their used
price is.




~ Travis Swaim
cheeto@...
02-01-2006

"Psalms 19.1 - The heavens declare God's glory, the
sky displays his handiwork, Day after day it speaks
out, night after night it reveals his greatness."

This message is composed of 100% post-consumer
recycled electrons.

A day without fusion is like a day without sunshine.

"Today, everybody remembers Galileo. How many can name
the bishops and professors who refused to look through
his telescope?" - James Hogan, Mind Matters.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one
that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but
"That's funny..."' - Isaac Asimov

There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who
understand binary and those who don't...

======= At 01-31-2006, 23:26:40 you wrote: =======

>Larry pointed this one out to me:
>
>http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/pre-owned_3.htm
>
>A 24" RC pre-owned.
>
>They are closing down the science center and it needs
a new home...
>
>JT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CheddarRanchObservatory/
>
CheddarRanchObservatory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hello, Jeff Tibb,

ooooohhhhh! got cash? I bet they wouldn't accept our
plea that we are a poor astronomy club, and would
graciusly put there name in BIG letters on the side of
the dome and on every piece of equipment if they gave
it to us.?.?.?  You know. it doesn't hurt to ask.....



~ Travis Swaim
cheeto4493@...
02-01-2006

"Psalms 19.1 - The heavens declare God's glory, the
sky displays his handiwork, Day after day it speaks
out, night after night it reveals his greatness."

This message is composed of 100% post-consumer
recycled electrons.

A day without fusion is like a day without sunshine.

"Today, everybody remembers Galileo. How many can name
the bishops and professors who refused to look through
his telescope?" - James Hogan, Mind Matters.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one
that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but
"That's funny..."' - Isaac Asimov

There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who
understand binary and those who don't...

======= At 01-31-2006, 23:26:40 you wrote: =======

>Larry pointed this one out to me:
>
>http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/pre-owned_3.htm
>
>A 24" RC pre-owned.
>
>They are closing down the science center and it needs
a new home...
>
>JT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CheddarRanchObservatory/
>
CheddarRanchObservatory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Larry pointed this one out to me:

http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/pre-owned_3.htm

A 24" RC pre-owned.

They are closing down the science center and it needs a new home...

JT

i think we need to fence the whole area and put up new gates.to kept
the cows out of the area.sorry i miss the meet last nite but if need my
help just let me know what i can do
thanks
david

----- Original Message -----

From: Jeff Tibb

To: CheddarRanchObservatory@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 11:50 PM

Subject: [CheddarRanchObservatory] Development Committee Meeting - Jan 24th - 7pm Travis' Church

I hope that everyone who is a member of this group will be making it to
the CRO Development Committee kick off meeting the 24th.

When I anounced it last night I probably should have asked for a show
of hands and/or passed around a sign up sheet.

I think it's important that we get a good turn out in order to get this
phase of the project started well.

So let me ask those of you in here how many are planning on attending?

Jeff

I hope that everyone who is a member of this group will be making it to
the CRO Development Committee kick off meeting the 24th.

When I anounced it last night I probably should have asked for a show
of hands and/or passed around a sign up sheet.

I think it's important that we get a good turn out in order to get this
phase of the project started well.

So let me ask those of you in here how many are planning on attending?

Jeff