Observatory Site Selection
The observatory building site selection may be the most important decision one makes when beginning to design an observatory. Whether you currently own land or are searching for property there are a few notable things to consider when selecting a site for your observatory building. Many of the items on this high level, on-going list are intricately related to one another - if you make a decision about one it will have an effect on another. Below are some general considerations to research when deciding on where to locate your observatory. While this is a high level list you may find some links below to other more in depth articles and resources.
Use & Zoning
Easements
Vegetation & Trees
Access to Site, Utilities, Services, & Other Infrastructure
Weather Patterns & Climate
Taxes & Insurance
Topography
Soil & Geotechnical Conditions
Astronomical Requirements
Use & Zoning - In many jurisdictions your property zoning can be the deciding factor as to whether or not you can build an observatory on your land. You should gain a good understanding of allowable building areas and setbacks.
Easements - Some lots may have a utility easement or similar running along a property line or else where on the property. But these are not the only types of easements. There could be others so you need to do your research. An architect can help point you in the right direction where to find this information.
Site Access - How is your site accessed? What building code or regulatory requirements are in place in regard to site access? You will need to know the answers to these questions before you select a location for your observatory building specially if you are in a more remote location. For example what is required for the fire department to gain access to your observatory building should there be a fire?
Vegetation & Trees - Vegetation and trees can be both a blessing and a hindrance. Sometimes that tree we see during the day as a hindrance turns out to be a blessing at night when your neighbor turns on that bright light. When selecting a site make sure to visit the site at night in order to scope out where the lights may be and whether or not that seemingly annoying vegetation is really what you thought it might be during the day. You should also consider the maintenance requirements of that vegetation as well and whether or not you need a defensible space. See our article on fire protection for more info by clicking here.
Access to Utilities, Services, & Other Infrastructure - There are many potential services and utilities that you may need for your observatory. The two obviously major utilities are high-speed internet access and electricity. But you may want to consider others as well such as water, security monitoring, and sewer. The First question you need to answer is what utilities and/or services do you need access to? How remote is the site you are considering? Many of these do not necessarily require a direct connection to a utility provider any more but it can be useful. For example, in some locations you can use photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricty and a battery system to store the power during the day with a generator as backup. On the other hand if you are connecting to the power grid most likely you will need to obtain a permit. Water maybe resourced from a well or even a tank, and sewage can be distributed through a septic drain field or septic tank. Internet can be accessed through a satellite service.
Weather Patterns & Climate - Understanding the weather and climatic patterns of a potential observatory location is also of obvious importance. What is the prevailing wind direction and speed? What types of precipitation does the site receive? Is the site more humid or dry? Is it dusty?
Taxes & Insurance - With most insurance companies now accepting that climate change exists, they have become more likely to deny coverage in areas prone to natural disaster such as forest fires. For example in my home state of California many insurance companies have stopped coverage on residential properties in areas with a high risk of wildfire. this is an area you definitely want to do your homework on before acquiring property to build an observatory if you are intending to obtain insurance. Property taxes may also be a consideration especially if you need to obtain a building permit - building permit application typically require you to value the building which in turn become part of the public record.
Topography - The slope of the site can greatly affect the cost of building an observatory which may have an impact on site selection overall. It should be no surprise that hilly sites will be more expensive to build on. Hills can affect the foundation design, access to the site, site drainage, localized wind patterns, as well as lines of sight.
Soil & Geotechnical Conditions - What is the composition of the dirt? Are there seismic concerns you should be aware of? What types of soil should you avoid? These questions are particularly important when it comes to the design of the foundation for your observatory building. While it may be obvious, the type of soil that is present at your observatory site will determine the bearing capacity of the ground along with drainage requirements to minimize settlement. These factors affect the overall design and sizing of the concrete footings that will be required for both your pier(s) and you building as a whole - there is no one size fits all design.
Astronomical Requirements - Seeing, light pollution, sight lines, & atmospheric conditions are just a few considerations to obtain a firm understanding of when selecting a site for your ultimate observatory.
We have a service in which we can help you answer these and other pre-design types of questions with our STELLARSPACES™ S.T.A.R. STUDY™ research process. Consider downloading our STELLARSPACES™ Planning Pack to learn more.