Last month we picked up on an article in the NY Times on how observatories are a new trend in many luxury homes. An outdoor alternative is the beautiful Porter Garden Telescope from Telescopes of Vermont. The cast bronze reflecting telescope is a bit of astronomical history, it was designed in the 1920s by astronomer and scientist Russell W. Porter. The telescope has a working sundial and the mirror and eyepieces of the telescope can be removed and stored in a custom mahogany box so the telescope can stay outside all year long. Each one is individually cast, hand-finished bronze and stand 70" overall including the marble pedestal. It sells for $59,000.