Big Bear Solar Observatory - Dome Blog Section 1

Preparing to Remove the Old Dome

Daily events and images of the BBSO dome replacement project.

25 October Began preparations for arrival of MFG/Ratech crew next Monday. Removed some of the cameras. Installed new webcam to image dome interior.

Installing protective cover on 26 inch New dome webcam

26 October Tarps arrived for protection of observing floor. More covering of telescopes and removal of cameras.
Observatory with old dome Covering coude feed Removing full-disk H-alpha filter

27 October Removed remaining filters and cameras. Removed some of the Reflectix insulation from inside dome, revealing old paint.
Inside of dome with old paint Filters and cameras stored for safekeeping

28 October More preparations. Removed dome shutter photoelectric guider sensor and remainder of windscreen platform. Covered telescope optical benches. Also covered optical tables in coude lab and other second floor equipment. Sealed a number of openings in the dome floor. This afternoon we heard that MFG/Ratech will be delayed a week because a project they have in Florida is taking longer than expected because of hurricane damage.
Coude lab optical table covered Vacuum pump covered

02 November Still on track for MFG/Ratech to arrive Monday. Testing has determined that the paint inside the old dome has lead in it. Therefore, after the dome is cut up and brought to shore, a special crew will have to remove or encapsulate the old paint. This will not delay the dome replacement, fortunately.

07 November The crew from Janus is setting up scaffolding to begin the removal of the old lead-based paint from parts of the inside of the dome. The paint must be removed from the places on the dome where cuts will be made. The lead-based paint on the outside of the dome was removed in 1992 after the Landers - Big Bear earthquake, but the paint remains on the inside.

Scaffolding going up

08 November The crew from Janus continues to remove the old paint from the areas where cuts will be made.

Workers removing old lead-based paint

10 November Additional lead-based paint removal today.

11 November MFG/Ratech has revised their schedule, and it now appears that the dome replacement work will stretch into December. We will hold off on beginning dome removal until we can obtain a variance on the winter outdoor construction ban from the county.

Starting to assemble the earthshine dome Forms for the earthshine dome foundation

15 November We now expect the removal of the old dome to begin Thursday the 17th. Meanwhile work continues on the new earthshine telescope dome.

16 November The foundation for the earthshine dome is being poured today.

Earthshine dome looks like a dome now Pouring the earthshine dome foundation

25 October	Began preparations for arrival of MFG/Ratech crew next Monday. Removed some of the cameras. Installed new webcam to image dome interior.

26 October	Tarps arrived for protection of observing floor. More covering of telescopes and removal of cameras.

27 October	Removed remaining filters and cameras. Removed some of the Reflectix insulation from inside dome, revealing old paint.

28 October	More preparations. Removed dome shutter photoelectric guider sensor and remainder of windscreen platform. Covered telescope optical benches. Also covered optical tables in coude lab and other second floor equipment. Sealed a number of openings in the dome floor. This afternoon we heard that MFG/Ratech will be delayed a week because a project they have in Florida is taking longer than expected because of hurricane damage.

02 November	Still on track for MFG/Ratech to arrive Monday. Testing has determined that the paint inside the old dome has lead in it. Therefore, after the dome is cut up and brought to shore, a special crew will have to remove or encapsulate the old paint. This will not delay the dome replacement, fortunately.

07 November	The crew from Janus is setting up scaffolding to begin the removal of the old lead-based paint from parts of the inside of the dome. The paint must be removed from the places on the dome where cuts will be made. The lead-based paint on the outside of the dome was removed in 1992 after the Landers - Big Bear earthquake, but the paint remains on the inside.

08 November	The crew from Janus continues to remove the old paint from the areas where cuts will be made.

10 November	Additional lead-based paint removal today.

11 November	MFG/Ratech has revised their schedule, and it now appears that the dome replacement work will stretch into December. We will hold off on beginning dome removal until we can obtain a variance on the winter outdoor construction ban from the county.

15 November	We now expect the removal of the old dome to begin Thursday the 17th. Meanwhile work continues on the new earthshine telescope dome.


16 November	The foundation for the earthshine dome is being poured today.