My first observatory was build my Dad and me in Spring, 1969, to reduce telescope and mount setup time for celestial photography. The observatory was a roll-off-roof design which is much simpler to build and operate, as well as less expensive. The design was published in Sky & Telescope Magazine in July, 1969. It was located in our Mahwah, NJ, backyard at 515 ft elevation (41deg N) about 25 miles northwest of Manhattan under 4th magnitude skies. It housed a 10-inch Cave Astrola Newtonian telescope with drive correctors and guidescope. My dog, Binky, would join me each clear night at the observatory until about 1AM when she would pack it in. I tested the original Williams Cold Camera on this telescope at this location. I used this observatory primarily during high school.
