RISS Observatory (RISS)

The RISS Observatory is located just south of Sierra Vista, AZ. at an elevation of about 5000 ft. on the eastern slope of the Huachuca Mountains. The domed observatory sits on a rear deck extending from the second story of our home affording the dome with a fine low eastern horizon. The dome is an 8 foot diameter (kit built) Explora-Dome, manufactured of very strong, UV stabilized, polyethylene plastic. A fork mounted, Byers clock driven Celestron 14 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope presently resides as the main scope, with an Orion 80ED refractor serving as a wide-field viewing and guiding scope. The C-14 can be configured as a high-power visual or photographic telescope, or as a wide-field photographic imager. The concrete pier holding the scopes drops down through the deck and deep into the ground below. The pier is isolated from the rest of the deck structure to reduce scope vibration. And the loft just inside the house serves as a convenient warm-room.