The observatory was built in 2002 around an exent (the telescope is not mechanically coupled with the building) 2.5 m high concrete pier.
The basement is 3.20 m on each side hosting the control room. On the first floor goes the .30 m (now .41 m) telescope with all the periferials as the control computer and switch, digital focuser, filter wheel, scope cover, CCD and CMOS cameras, all enclosed in a 3m diameter fiberglass dome.
A view of the original .30m telescope + CCD
The telescope + CCD set was upgraded, now there's a 0.41m F10 Ritchey-Chrétien F10 telescope on a robust polar fork mount with a digital focuser, BVRI filter wheel and CCD camera.
There's also an auxiliar .20m F10 portable telescope for public observations and ready to move just in case, for instance asteroid ocultations.
In this picture, the opened observatory cools to ambient temperature on a sunset, just before observations. At the same time, the CCD camera is cooling down to -30 C below ambient.
In April 2024 A high speed network connection has been added enabling remote operation, The dome was automated, the control computer mounted on top of the telescope including a switch to control periferial devices. In the video you can see the telescope and dome slewing to a target before starting observation.
La Cañada, Ávila, Spain, the J87 observatory
