Observatory Tour

Halfmoon Observatory is located out in the middle of nowhere in western Kentucky. It was named after a ridge near the observatory, Halfmoon Ridge. That ridge was named by my son for a very large, very crooked, semi-circular tree that sits prominently at the top of the ridge. We ride our horses past that tree often and after first observing it at age 7, the name just stuck and later was attached to the observatory.

The observatory is a roll off roof design with a computer control room located in close proximity to the north and west of the main observatory structure. The control room is fully insulated, sealed to light (actually to prevent light leakage during imaging), and climate controlled for comfort. The observatory itself is made of thin steel sheeting for quick thermal equlibration during times of temperature change.