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On the hill that can be found between the border of Enna and Messina provinces, I've found a lovely agriturismo (farmhouse accomodation) created from an old country house 'Le Querce di Cota' or The Oak of Cota. Here the sky is spectacular because the nearest town is Troina, about 5 km away. The other towns are around 20 km away.

The place is friendly and hospitable and is also characterised by excellent traditional cooking! It's possible to book two rooms on the ground floor in front of the lawn where the equipment can be set up. If you go with the telescope on a night where there's no banquets organised the proprieters will even turn out the outside lighting.

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Here, I decided to set up an observatory. Construction started in June 2010 and ended in January 2011.

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June 2010 - Marco and I are ready to place the bolt.

 

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First step...

 

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Here, The Cota Observatory will take place.

 

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July 2010 - Formworks.

 

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July 2010 - The cement arrived.

 

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Work...

 

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..and work...

 

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Cement is perfectly level and takes a couple of weeks off. It is time to get images with the usual mobile setup.

 

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July 2010 - Control office-box building.

 

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Next step...

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...et voila, the control box is done. In the meantime, the dome kit arrived.

 

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August 2010 - The groud is leveled and the base ring assembled.

 

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After several tribulations with assembly, the dome takes place.

 

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September 2010 - Everything is ready to start a long job with wires and device controls.

 

January 2011 - Latest step. Te Cota Observatory is ready to start remote imaging.

 
 
 
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