Alan Midkiff’s Unique Home Observatories (Observatory Tours #4)

Today we are touring Alan Midkiff's home observatories. Alan has two very unique observatories: a roof-top observatory built into the home, and a roll-off building design in a field housing a 50" folded Newtonian.
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[@willrothfuss8470]

Thanks for the video Nico. I am in the NWNJA club which meets at Alan's and so have had a chance to look through all of these scopes. Alan hosts the meetings at his house and observatory. He is a commercial pilot, and this has allowed him to visit many of the great observatories, including Palomar, where he was lucky enough to befriend one of the operators and get observing opportunities on the 200"! He has given us a presentation on that! I had known him casually long before I got into astronomy as our daughters were best friends in high school. He is class act. Besides being a pilot, he went back to school for his MS in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT.

[@bruschi8148]

That 50 inch scope is insane!!!

[@woody5109]

Always good to see what others do, very interesting and informative, thanks for sharing your observatory with us, it’s brilliant.

[@raghuramanr8070]

2 days ago I had a dream of building a massive telescope at home and then I see this video today❤. I also have another dream of having a high tower and an observatory on top of that 😊. Thank you Nico for sharing you are an inspiration to all who want to get in and get better in astrophotography

[@IonizedSun]

NASA Headquarter: "We need some images of the crab nebulae". Alan's telephone rings.... ;-) Really impressive (also the idea at that time to become independent of the power grid) !

[@codacoder]

fantastic! love that you do these tours!

[@AstroSeabee]

I love this new segment you are doing. I won’t ask you to come tour my attic though. It’s way too hot😂

[@damienk2372]

Love Harry Sieberts work with glass

[@zacharyknox3007]

It blows my mind when I see the kind of equipment some people have. Like everyone watching I wish to someday have a permanent observatory but, it’s a long way off. Great series!

[@JeronimoStilton14]

@@ImproveConditions YUUUUP

[@Sharpless2]

im getting extreme amounts of aperture fever when i see this absolute monster of a scope. Ive been using an 8" dob for visual observing for over 5 years now, just recently managed to get the Horsehead nebula with an Hb filter in bortle 3 skies and to be honest, basically everything in the 8" is getting quite underwhelming. Im on the hunt for a 16" dob but im not paying 3000€ And theres no used ones around me whatsoever.

[@13Voodoobilly69]

@@ImproveConditionsWhen that old man was growing up he was stuck with the bag of inflation that was way higher than when he was born. The difference was he didn’t sit around sniveling and instead he went to work and made something. Now what are you going to do?

[@flatoot]

This guy is super eccentric and super interesting. Such a deep thinker. Blows my mind the way this guy has done the things he has done. It's not difficult to do, it's just usual. Where I live in Northern Scotland a building/roof on rails would be in our neighbours field after a strong wind in winter. 100mph winds happen every several years and nobody calls them hurricanes here, just stroms. In the last decade or so 115mph was the most I remember

[@truthseeker5890]

It all starts with an idea. It can be done.

[@PafMedic]

Holy Smokes.I Have The Smart Astronomy Portable Observatory,Thats Gonna Do It For Me,lol..Thats Amazing Thank You Nico

[@jc4evur661]

Does this scope have a drive? Otherwise, even with low power you'd be constantly having to recenter objects...it is amazing regardless.

[@Sedaytad]

Dope

[@DR_SOLO]

What if you did away with the whole Rail and track system? Used for pneumatic rubber Wheels at the corners if you wanted to go three you can add one to the middle of each side. And then use a hydraulic jack press to raise the roof so to speak up onto the wheels and then you could push it with ease or use a pulley snatch block system to give you greater Taurus and pulling strength to be able to do it by yourself with these

[@rcpattaya230]

So how rich you have to be to build something like that?

[@GermanMythbuster]

*Why use plastic wheels!?* Metal on Metal friction is *WAY* lower. The rail system wheels should have a much smaller contact area, again to reduce friction. Side skirts could be done with a soft PVC skirt. Like truck tarps or pool liners are made out of. Don't need to remove them, they just bend out of the way by them self.

[@DanielPierce]

My dream is to build an observatory in a really good dark part of the country and have full remote access to it over the internet so I can use it wherever I am in the world.

[@jeffreyalanday7432]

There is nothing here. The page is blank.

[@danielmead146]

how is this guy funding all this?

[@groundhoppingwlkp3622]

probably he is a businessman

[@sejuanisupportonly7385]

With Money :)

[@M104-q9y]

These observatory videos are fantastic. Big or small they're all worth seeing.

[@greatvaluegalileo]

50” is ludicrous. Love it so much. Please keep up the great work Nico.

[@DeepSpaceAstro]

Heading the the attic with my chainsaw now!

[@Anthony-lh7kw]

A 50 inch scope is the minimum size required to see through the light pollution here in NJ. 🤣

[@RijoeDamy6444]

I love the observatory tours it's interesting

[@JustAskThisDad]

Love these videos. One day I hope to have the enthusiasm and energy (and money) to have a similar observatory of my own. P.S. How are you so good at recording yourself but so bad at recording others? :D I feel like most of the times you are leaving too less headroom in all the shots.

[@shalabazertheboltstruck8645]

So that's his travelscope? Hahaha amazing, i can not imagine what it's like to peek through a light guzzling scope like that

[@confuseatronica]

OMG huge Dobbsonian! good priorities- the scope is the important part, the shed needs to gtfout of the way when its not needed. It's my dream to have a roll-off shed.

[@groundhoppingwlkp3622]

It looks like Ritchey-Chretien system, not a Dob

[@goose300183]

I've been looking at converting my garden shed into a slide-off roof. Or possibly a custom "fold-off" roof to save footprint. I even tried to draw out a system which would use air springs (the kind used for the boot/trunk door in hatchback cars) to lift and shift the roof. I'm in the UK and in a suburb, so we don't have big open fields along with our houses. The main part of my garden is only about 30ft x 30ft, and I already have a large garage and shed taking up a lot of space! I don't have any crazy equipment, just an 8" reflector currently, but it would be VERY nice to have a pier inside a permanent building for it. It's a pain to drag the heavy mount and heavy scope onto the patio every time. It's also not very repeatable, as block paving moves up and down in response to how much rain there has been.

[@tikilal]

The whole time I am wondering how he got the cash for the project. Nice setup and best of luck out west, you will not be disappointed.

[@begobogo2583]

This makes me feel poor

[@fundiambb]

fix your mic settings i dont need to hear the person smack there lips or breath

[@rdallas81]

Leave!

[@artiraina5857]

This is the biggest telescope someone could get Bigger than 50inch are super rare only few have on the entire planet. Love such videos of observatory tours. ❤❤ Clear skies.

[@Sharpless2]

the worlds largest privately owned reflector is 70" (1.8 meters). Its 35 feet tall (10.6 meters). Its just crazy- i wish i could just take it to Bortle 0 with perfect seeing conditions...

[@jc4evur661]

@@Sharpless2 You really need those types of skies with big scopes like this...can't imagine seeing much in NJ

[@geniferteal4178]

I live on Long Island and never experience stars in their real glory. I visited a friend in Flemington new Jersey and holy cow. I couldn't understand why the sky looked so cloudy until I realized it was that many stars. really change my perspective on things.

[@hholton7245]

Great video Nico, seeing how people overcome problems and challenges passes on knowledge, ideas and inspiration to others. Thanks to you both.

[@philvale5724]

Hi 👋, Nebula Photos, it is amazing what some enthusiasts will go to to build their Observatory so it can be moved, I live in the region of the Correze in France, dark sky’s, I have a very large pair of Oberwerk binoculars, great for looking at the moon, it only has one pair of eye peace’s is it worth spending some money on it and getting a electric eyepiece, as at present, I cannot afford to buy a large telescope, ? I am hoping to have my roof repaired soon as it has got storm damage from hailstones, it’s a pity that I do not have a lot of money I could have the roof opened up a telescope up in the attic which I think would be amazing as my property is well above the tree lines, Great tutorial , look forward to seeing your next project stargazing. Phil from the moulin France

[@richiewitkowski7142]

A secondary mirror bigger than massive commercial primary mirrors lmao

[@solareclipsetimer]

Great video showing these custom observatories! Boy, a lot of thought and work. I have a friend who put a 10-foot dome with a slit on the top of his house. He was nervous when he first did it, but it ended up working out great. I am more boring; I only have an 8-foot clamshell dome on the ground in my backyard.

[@ironsimonx4221]

Pictures of what he can see with the telescope???

[@actudoran]

haha Nico! plenty to aspire towards!😂 just had my C11 out last night and it was the first time i could fit my camera on it. very different ball game ! another league... i felt so out of my home water .... talking about managing variables and such ... dang ... took me 3 hours to figure it all out ... got the starburst galaxy! yes I too dream of an obsy ... keep it up! great stuff 👍 best of luck to the guy with q 50" ! may God one day bless us all with our optimal setup... whatever that might be!

[@cdz9400]

I am newer to this channel so its cool that I keep getting to see new types of content

[@mattlabrecque1265]

Love these observatory vids. Bonus that this one is in my own state. That 50 inch dobsonian is massive!! The views in it has to be jaw dropping

[@johnm.4141]

I like watching random videos that seem interesting. I couldn't find a price for a 50" telescope. Is it one of those things where if you have to ask for the price you can't afford it?

[@mtbevins]

I live in Arizona, love to see where his new place will be.

[@williamcurry2444]

Now take all of that stuff and aim it at the Moon so that we can see what's really going on up there. I look forward to seeing it here on KZbin. LOL

[@jackiemcdonell1737]

Apparently solar panels emit more EMF's than one would expect.

[@backtoobasics]

Now thats a honestead

[@Beckerphotos]

take a photo of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module on the surface of the moon to prove to all the moon landing non believers?

[@markmeridian3360]

The best seeing isn't just from having Bortle 1 skies or being at elevation. I used to live at over 7,000 feet in New Mexico on the side of a mountain. Most nights, there would be up or down slope winds creating a very turbulent layer above the site. On calm nights the seeing would be excellent, but that was fairly rare. The conditions there were quite often worse than my current site near sea-level.

[@goose300183]

yeah, you want darkness and high elevation, but also flat terrain for miles around

[@mojojojo7923]

That just sounds like a pain in the butt. Problem after problem.

[@groundhoppingwlkp3622]

I see that glimpse in the Nico's eye, so maybe in few years we will see photos from similar monster on NP 😅😅

[@bobbymckenzie3202]

Nothing like using a 12" newtonian for a guide scope 😂

[@thesummerhillstead2577]

Great series Nico, thanks very much for doing this. In particular, these setups- the cost, the care, the time that's gone into it all- it really makes me question why the decision was made to construct it all in such a poor location on the East coast. Sad to think that none of this will likely provide an observer with more than 150x magnification for most of the few clear nights we get out this way. Amazing concepts, beautiful design, and good execution, but what a waste of potential!

[@NatarajanGanesan]

Having plans for your own setup someday? 😊.

[@KF-bj3ce]

What a delight to see this I currently a design for a Building extension and a Observatory will be part of it. Thanks for telling us of the triumphs and the pit falls. Happy viewing.

[@lornaz1975]

Here is the set up for the 50 inch . kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3LJhnWfjLSdhMU

[@Peyre]

TIL there are people with their own private observatories O_o

[@cemoguz2786]

I love big telescopes

[@philluvschips3787]

Now I really do have equipment envy :) Thanks for the tour.

[@OscarShu]

wow, this is eye-opening, thank you for the interview!

[@ruthlessrog1]

This was rad! Very cool setup

[@yesyes9698]

No pics of what it produces?????

[@sissitrudi2010]

Wowwww a vary home telescope

[@ronm6585]

Thanks for sharing.

[@stevewhite3753]

What does a 50” cost?

[@free2befree]

Crazy awesome setup!!

[@josephwilliamcosta]

WTF? No images?

[@MountainFisher]

I live in Southern New Mexico and Bortle 2 is 30 minutes away and it is next to Bortle one to the east and I can't tell any difference without a light meter as it is 90 minutes away to Bortle one with rolling hills and no mountains. There is plenty of ranch land not terribly far to shopping in Alamogordo. He should find some place easy.

[@nadirteymurov1]

Fantastic telescope !

[@netwolfstar]

A Sitech user nice

[@SuperMassman]

☝️😏,, if you search around there is an incredible industry of talented people creating custom equipment in this field..

[@kenjordan5750]

I spotted a dome observatory on top of a house while driving home from vacation. It's in a small town on Rt. 89, between Panguitch and Zion N.P. in Utah.

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Excellent! But I'm Puzzled as to why an astronomer doesn't consider Sol an energy source. I feel its energy every day. Alan said he put in the Solar panels so he "wouldn't have to rely on an energy source". Eccentric genius'!

[@buddyguy4723]

very cool.

[@billblanshan3021]

Very cool Nico!

[@DR_SOLO]

If you had ball bearing like a fidget spinner rolling the lid back and forth. Instead of in a circle you can line the ball bearings up linear I think that's where most you issue comes from those Caster ball bearings

[@graphguy]

Never forget all us hotshot out there... There is always someone else out there that we are just gum on the bottom of their shoe! Wow, amazing!

[@backgammonbacon]

I too wish I was extremely wealthy. Lol this guys solar panels probably make more income than i do.

[@jesuschrist2284]

I have 3

[@ssrattus]

Wow!

[@deevnn]

Impressive...

[@gwthomas52]

Wow.

[@BiscuitAdvisory]

epic

[@MikeLikesChannel]

That 50” scope is incredible.

[@lawrencejones1517]

A very impressive setup! A real shame that he has to move it, but knowing what worked and what didn't will definitely improve the next iteration.

[@bhwrice]

Thanks for sharing! Begs the question, when will you move to the southwest :D

[@Beckerphotos]

What can you see if you point that big one at the moon??

[@andrewr823]

Foot prints

[@ToneyWilson-j4k]

CAan you do a how to NGC 6302 Butterfly Nebula

[@paullinski9867]

This is my friggin dream! Absolutely incredible!

[@HamguyBacon]

should have just made a raised deck with the telescope at the top and put it inside a greenhouse on the deck when not in use.

[@billiondollardan]

That household observatory is pretty darn cool. Wow

[@PetterAstrom]

I´d love to see some images from the observatories.

[@makskk6spm275]

Way cool! Place of dream.

[@concernedcitizen780]

Yes I envy this guy

[@christophercharles9645]

You'll get to Arizona just in time to view Star Link's 42,000 satellite array competing with Blue Origin/Amazon's completely different 5,000+ array of flying light reflectors!

[@jakefuller7597]

Corporate Pollution

[@Space-Stuff]

Wow, what an incredible setup / Observatory!

[@theguythattalksshitonyoutube]

Absolutely Brilliant