Moving the SPOC Dome to Temporary Storage

01 JUL 2002 to 08 SEP 2002
(click on images for enlarged view)


001

Bruce Grim backs out of the dome after having sprayed the interior with a disinfectant.  Several items previously stored in the dome lay scattered on the ground.  01 JUL 2002

002

Ken Harris, Andy Bogdan and Bruce Grim work to remove the dome rotation system.  02 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

003              004
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Ken Harris and Ron Ford drill holes into which lift connectors will be installed.  02 JUL 2002

005               006
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Bruce Grim, Ken Harris, Andy Bogdan and Ron Ford pose after a morning's hard work.  02 JUL 2002

007

A masked Patrick Wiggins sprays for viruses.  03 JUL 2002  Bruce Grim image

008               009
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Bruce Grim cuts the floor and removes one of the dome rotation bearings.  03 JUL 2002

010

Grease and grime encrusted dome rotation bearings are in surprisingly good shape after over a quarter century of use.  03 JUL 2002

011

Bruce Grim & Ron Ford work to remove the tube from it's cradle.  05 JUL 2002

012

Patrick Wiggins pulls the tube through the door.  05 JUL 2002  Bruce Grim image

013

The tube seems to stand at attention as it's being retired.  05 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

014

Bruce Grim loosens the connections at the top of the yoke.  05 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

015

Ron Ford & Bruce Grim work to remove the cradle from the yoke.  05 JUL 2002

016

Patrick Wiggins removes the contents of the circuit breaker box.  05 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

017

Yoke, cradle and various electrical parts forlornly await the next day's removal of the dome.  05 JUL 2002

018

Bruce Grim moves away from the dome after helping attach the lifting straps.  06 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

019

Dome is airborne.  The interior sees direct sunshine for the first time in over a quarter of a century.  06 JUL 2002

020

The view from "down under".  06 JUL 2002

021

The dome is lowered onto the truck that will move it to the new location.  06 JUL 2002

022

The dome is on the truck and ready to roll.  06 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

023

The crane leads the way to the new location.  06 JUL 2002  Boyd McNeil image

024

The dome heading for it's new home.  Andy Bogdan, if foreground, shoos the photographer out of the way.  06 JUL 2002  Boyd McNeil image

025

Siegfried Jachmann makes sure the dome is headed the right way.  06 JUL 2002

026

The crane prepares to hoist the dome into its new location.  06 JUL 2002

027

Andy Bogdan, Ken Harris and Ron Ford help position the dome.  06 JUL 2002

028

The dome has landed with Andy Bogdan, Ken Harris and Ron Ford looking on.  06 JUL 2002

029

Harmon's Observatory and the newly mothballed Montgomery Observatory sit side by side.  06 JUL 2002

030

The interior awaits dismantling.  06 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

031

Bruce Grim moves in to start disconnecting the yoke.  06 JUL 2002

032

Siegfried Jachmann attaches a lifting strap to the yoke as Bruce Grim looks on.  06 JUL 2002  Boyd McNeil image

033

Bruce Grim and Siegfried Jachmann work to free the setting circle and drive gear from the bottom of the yoke as Andy Bogdan (r) looks on.  06 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

034

The yoke is airborne.  06 JUL 2002  Ron Ford image

035

The builders' quarter century old "dirty little secret" is revealed.  Can you tell what it is?  06 JUL 2002

036

Ron Ford, Siegfried Jachmann, Bruce Grim and Ken Harris load the observing stand and tube cradle into Bruce's truck.  Parts of the cradle may one day be reused.  The observing stand may be used with the Big Scope.  06 JUL 2002

037

Abandoned floor and piers.  06 JUL 2002

038

SLAS workers Ron Ford, Bruce Grim, Siegfried Jachmann, Ken Harris, Patrick Wiggins and Andy Bogdan enjoy breakfast after moving the dome.  06 JUL 2002  Boyd McNeil image

039

The SPOC telescope north and south piers and the SPOC Walk had been removed a few days before this picture was taken.  Nothing left but memories.  08 SEP 2002