| December 12, 2009 | APASS initial calibration imaging run commenced. "Huston", we have lift-off! |
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| September 30, 2009 | APASS survey astrogrphs and CCD cameras have arrived at the Dark Ridge Observatory. We are now awaiting the Paramount telescope mount that is being loaned to the project by Software Bisque. |
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| April 19-20, 2009 | Assisted in a Chandra Education DS9 software workshop in Portland Oregon. | |
| April 10, 2009 | DRO site choosen to conduct the AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS) | |
| March 4 , 2009 | Morgan telescope moved into it's new roll-off observatory home and rebuild commenses | |
| February 16, 2009 | Regional radar map centered on DRO was added to the weather page. Map from Weather Underground. | |
| February 14, 2009 | Morgan building completed except for the motorized roof. Morgan telescope to be moved into the observatory for rebuild. |
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| February 10, 2009 | New webcam installed on rotating mount outside the control room to monitor the
observatories and surrounding grounds. Check out the Webcam link on the left. |
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| November 18, 2008 | Construction completed on the housing second 8' X 8' roll-off observatory | |
| October 19, 2008 | Construction has begun on the second 8' X 8' roll-off that will house the 14"
LX200R telescope. See DRO Construction photos for updates. |
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| October 12, 2008 | The Morgan 24" Cassegrain rebuild and observatory construction page has begun. | |
| July 17, 2008 | Temporary wildlife images have been placed in the Webcam page until actual
cameras can be installed. These are all images taken out the back deck of the main house on the ranch. |
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| July 2008 | Dark Ridge Observatory web site received a cosmetic make-over. Also added a new
"Historical Weather Data" link on the weather page that displays recent data graphically. |
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| July 2008 | Building foundation footings have been started for the Morgan 24" telescope. Manual digging is slow but seems doable. |
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| July 2008 | Dark Ridge Observatory took possession
of the AAVSO's Morgan 24" telescope from the Lowell Observatory for rebuild and installation at the Dark Ridge Observatory. The telescope is currently dismantled and in the shop at Dark Ridge ready for upgrading. |
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| June 2008 | The Dark Ridge 20" RC is in the shop being rebuilt. See the Telescope Page or the Photo Gallery Page for the link to the DRO 20" rebuild for images and information. |
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| May 2008 | The first roll-off observatories is complete, all but roof automation. This roll-off now houses the 14" LX200R telescope and is in operation doing scientific research. |
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| March 2008 | The first of four planned roll-off observatories is nearly complete. System automation will follow the facility physical construction. This roll-off will house the 14" LX200R telescope. |
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| February 2008 | DRO has installed a new Davis weather station that now feeds the Weather page. Additionally this weather data is published on the Weather Underground |
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| January 2008 | The power company finally installed the new pole, transformer and wiring to the
DRO control room. The control room is now complete and ready to move in. |
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| December 2007 | Power Company contract signed for new service to the observatory. Now we wait in the queque for installation. One complete pier has been poured during the long wait for local power. New Meade 14" Lx200R has been received and is being prepared for operation. |
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| November 2007 | Dark Ridge Observatory Control Room construction nearing completion. Six pier holes have been dug two contain rebar and ready for concrete pours. Three roll-off building designs are near complete with construction to begin when piers are poured. DRO helped to support the refirbishment of the Cloudcroft High School observatory dome and assisted with the "first light" star party for the schools donated 10" Meade LX-50 telescope. |
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| September 2007 | Dark Ridge Observatory Control Room construction nearing half-way point. Six pier holes have been dug ready for rebar and concrete. |
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| July 2007 | Dark Ridge Observatory Control Room construction begins. | |
| April 2007 | DRO website modified to reflect new logo and branding | |
| March 2007 | Dark Ridge Observatory, Inc. was affirmed by the IRS as a tax-exempt
non-profit company in accordance with Section 501(c)3 of the federal tax laws |
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| March 2007 | DRO (west) officially decommissioned and relocated to New Mexico now to be known simply as DRO | |
| January 2007 | DRO purchased a 20" Ritchey-Chrétien alt-az telescope from Winer Observatory, formerly the University of Iowa Robotic Telescope |
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| August 2006 | Dark Ridge Observatory, Inc. became a non-profit corporation in the state of New Mexico |