The observatory has a unique variation of the traditional roll off roof design.  The primary roof retracts inside of the larger secondary roof.  This also provides for a warm room and houses PC's and other technical gear.  The observatory was  constructed to match the llama barn here at  Lazy B Llamas .

Celestron CR-150 on Losmandy G-11 Gemini Computerized GOTO Mount

I just want to say a hello and I really like your site! I like your observatory very much! I will build one when I have the money for it and of course the plans! I have an 8" f/5 F1000mm Newtonian Sky-Watcher on a CG-5 mount with dual axis motor drive and hand controll. I'm looking to find some plans for a home made pier for that mount. Here in Cyprus we have almost 365 sunny days and very clear skies.
Keep up the good work.

Greetings from Dayton, Ohio. I'm looking at sliding roof observatory designs and I really like yours. It looks like you have a very nice observatory! I like the warm room idea (aka control room, mosquito room, etc.) and this is the first I've seen of the nesting roof design. Neat concept. I had thought of a single roof that would slide out over the warm room such that the warm room would always be under roof, but your design would make the rolling section much lighter! Great idea! I also like the llamas - in fact, my daughters were more impressed with the llamas than the observatory, but they're not as interested in Astronomy as I am, :) Thanks for the web site - clear skies.

Thanks for the wonderful presentation. My son and I live in Toronto, Canada and what you have is a totally different kind of life away from 5.2 million souls all living twenty feet from each other. We applaud you on what you have accomplished.  Congratulations. Sean and Jim

Your observatory is one of the best executed roll off's that I've noted to date. I can appreciate the work that you had to put into it! I also tend to do projects without plans and sometimes I paint myself into corners, but it usually turns out well. BTW, perhaps it's mentioned somewhere, but what did you employ for the track and rollers?

I've been tempted by a C-14, but may wait; I hear rumors that they're coming out with a NexStar version. Was there a problem with the Meade 12, or did you just decide to go with more aperture? The M-12 is also a possibility that I've been considering. Thanks, Mark