• http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/garden/04observatories.html

Melissa has been wanting to get a telescope. The thing that concerns me the most is ambient light. We live in an area that is pretty well lit at night, and that makes it hard to see. A private observatory would work a lot better in a rural area out in the country, away from city lights.

Unlike the old days, telescopes can now be completely interfaced with home computes to the extent that one can sit at the kitchen table and observe with complete control and comfort. I used to like freezing my ass off just to look at the perfect sky, but now I'm way too old.

I would love to have private observatory. Two issues would concern me: convenience and security. I have a hard enough time just walking downstairs and listening to my system. Also, theft and vandalism would always be a real possibility.....C

I imagine having an observatory on the hosue, mentioned in the original artice, would be less than ideal as well. I think the thermal currents from the roof would kill any high power observing.

What kind of scope is Melissa looking at?......C