Lesson 4: Building Overview
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[edit] Nomenclature
The various areas and components of the observatory building are referred to as:
- Plaza: The concrete pad in front of the observatory
- Papa Bear: The main room of the observatory, housing the telescopes
- Mama Bear: The 'middle' room of the observatory, used for seating
- Baby Bear: The storage and warming room
- Service doors: The two main entry doors
- Dutch doors: The swinging doors providing access between Papa Bear and the plaza
- Bi-fold door: The electrically powered lift-door that is part of the roll-off roof system
[edit] Security System
The building is protected by an alarm system. Each keyholder is assigned a 4 digit code to disarm and arm the system. All the doors are protected with switched sensors and motion detectors cover Papa Bear and Baby Bear.
[edit] Parking
Parking is only allowed on the roadsides and parking lots of the park. Please do not drive or park on grassy areas of the park grounds. (Exceptions are sometime made durng work parties to facilitate drop-off of equipment or material.)
[Note: Planning for a paved driveway and limited parking at the observatory building is underway.]
[edit] "Papa Bear"
The main room of the observatory -- "Papa Bear" -- houses the permanently mounted telescopes and their accessories.
The room is covered by a roll-off roof. The roof is manually operated, and can be opened by a single person, with some effort.
[edit] "Mama Bear"
The 'middle' room of the observatory is used for presentations and general seating.
The alarm system control panel is located just inside the east service door. (More information is available in the 'Alarm System' article here on OnanWiki.)
Room lighting is switchable between white and red light. The red lighting is controlled by dimmer switches. The main on / off switches for all lighting are found by the service doors. The red / white selection switches and red lighting dimmer switches are located at the far ends of Mama Bear's walls.
Video monitors are mounted on each wall of the room. These are controlled using a special keyboard, that is plugged into a wall-jack located just below the telephone. (More information is available in the 'Video Distribution' article here on OnanWiki.)
The rolling benches in Mama Bear double as storage space. Each seat is hinged. Be careful when opening the benches--the seats are heavy. Close them gently, don't let them slam back into place.
[edit] "Baby Bear"
Baby Bear serves multiple purposes.
Storage is the primary purpose. Sliding doors cover storage shelves, a closet and a pull-out library. Three drawers line the floor on the west side of the room. Other drawers are found under the microwave oven on the east side of the room. Areas below the built-in benches / bunks and the above the cabinets are also used for storage.
The room is also used for warming. Electric baseboard heaters are installed under the built-in benches / bunks. These are controlled by a timer switch on the east wall of Baby Bear. Portable electrical heaters are also kept in Baby Bear to supplement the baseboard heaters.
On each side of the room are combination benches / bunks. These are available for overnight use by keyholders who supply their own bedding.
[edit] Storage organization
The general layout of Baby Bear storage is:
- Storage shelves (west side)
- Laser collimators
- Binoculars
- Equipment cases
- ETX-90 telescope
- Pull-out library
- Atlases
- Reference books
- Handouts for public events (membership forms, newsletters, business cards, etc.)
- First drawer (along floor, west side)
- Cable ties, misc. hardware
- Second drawer (along floor, west side)
- Keyholder badges
- Bug spray
- Third drawer (along floor, west side)
- Portable red lighting
- Dew removal blow dryer
- Microwave
- Coffe carafe (stored in microwave to keep it away from mice)
- Countertop (below microwave)
- Closing checklists and clipboard
- Coffee maker (carafe stored in microwave)
- Top drawer (below microwave)
- Laser pointers (3)
- Office supplies
- Middle drawer (below microwave)
- First aid kit
- Batteries
- Bottom drawer (below microwave)
- Cleaning supplies (Note: All paper goods, such as paper towels, are kept in one of Mama Bear's rolling benches to protect them from mice)
- Closet (east side)
- Extension cords
- Electrical panel
- Observing ladders
- Overhead storage
- Observing fans (summertime mosquitoe relief)
- Portable electric heaters
- Spare flourescent tubes (west side)
[edit] Plaza
The plaza area is available for member use whether or not the observatory building is open. Two sets of exterior electrical outlets are available for use. Power is available 24/7 at these outlets.
[Continue to Equipment Overview]
