1 Portable Observing Drawers.
I made these so I don't have to make a lot of trips out when I want to observe. The keys are that it is portable, mobile, and the drawers "lock" closed for moving.
Notice the rod in back. It runs through eyeholes on the back of each drawer to lock them for transport. The two wooden "skis" are bolted the bottom of the truckto support the drawers. Attachment to the top of the truck are by nylon ties.
04/13/07 Since the pics have been taken I have added some red leds to the top of the truck to illuminate the top so it serves as a small desk once out in position.
2. Want a cheap quantitative clear sky meter? (04/13/07)
IR thermometers make a great clear sky meter. I just purchased a Cen-Tech non-contact pocket thermometer for $9.99 (normally $19.99) at Harbor Freight. Its range is -27 to 230 F and it also has a clock and stopwatch for the money. If you point it at external objects you get the temperature of the object. Point it at clouds and you get the temp of the cloud bottoms. (last few days here have had the clouds at around 32 deg while the temp of objects is around 45-55. This morning I pointed it a clear sky and got a reading of -26 deg. there were a few very thin clouds and I pointed at them and got +1 degrees. So here is a temperature sensor that allows you to quantitatively determine sky clearness. All for $10. For whatever that is worth,