Little Tor Observatory

Location

Bear Trap Ranch

Florissant, Colorado 80816

8,500 ft altitude

Completed: 2011

Design: John Sellers, owner

Architect: Gary Starr @ StarrPro, Inc.

Builder: Gregg Thurman, independent licensed framer

Design

Octagonal 3-story building

32 ft high x 14 1/2 ft. diameter {exterior, vertex to vertex} 

Third story:  5 ft wall supporting Ash-Dome (8 ft 8.5 in tall by 14 1/2 ft dia.)

Internal walled stairways between floors, 30 in wide, each wrapping along the same three walls

Foundation: 15 cu. yds. of concrete fastened with rebar to multiple boulders

Telescope support: 21 ft concrete column with rebar, extending from foundation to 1 ft above 3-level floor.  30"x 40" cross section offset 19 " from dome center. 40" side oriented to true North.

Telescope

Currently a 12" Meade LX200, but facility designed for 20" - 24" scope.