This is my pride and joy! When I decided to get back into astronomy, I decided to do it RIGHT! There are many different telescope models on the market. I have always wanted to see galaxies and deep sky objects that smaller scopes can't see. I also needed to make it portable, yet powerful! 

There were a few different options. I decided to stay local with the vendor and bought an Astrosystems 14.5" telekit. After the mirror was made by Nova Optics, Astrosystems made the rest of the components for me. It was completely unassembled and in two boxes.

Over a  4 month period, I sanded, routed, glued, hammered, cut and finished my scope. It was a lot of work and one of those projects that you don't rush on.

I spend most of my time with the scope at local star parties for kids and the public. I haven't gotten to use it myself all that much. I have added a computer to the scope so when I'm with the public or school, I can move to  different objects very quickly. Otherwise, it takes me a little bit to hunt/navigate from star to star to find the object I'm showing.

I've made many good friends in this hobby. Cliff Simpson and Keith Pool of Castle Rock, CO Matt Russell, Peter Rallis, Al Schlafli and Rick Meinig of Colorado Springs. We have a lot of fun and every year we all head for Rocky Mountain Star Stare. If you ever want to see a diverse group of telescopes, get out to a star party sometime. We have so much fun and that's what it's all about. Having fun with family and friends. Even if we don't get to use the scopes, it's a great camping trip with family and friends!

Other things that keep me busy is umpiring High School baseball from March until May! I am the Public Relations director for our astronomy club, Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSAS), speaking to the local area pilots on behalf of the air traffic controllers at Colorado Springs Control Tower, showing off, I mean, taking my telescope out to local star party events, classroom visits to local schools and helping with other events in the astronomy field.

I find it hard to sit around and do nothing. I'm very active and that seems to keep me going although at times, my body just wants to rest for some reason.