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furgle
11-08-2017, 07:56 AM
I finally got the motivation (via a new scope) to demolish my absco pool filter enclosure obs to a full roll off roof.

My old observatory was too small for me to move around without bumping the scope, had no real floor (just dirt) with no insulation so it was always quite damp.

Knowing nothing about building, pretty much all of this was built via YouTube for guidance. It's not perfect, but I quite like the way it turned out.

The new observatory has lots of room for both a desk and my scope, is properly insulated plus a dehumidifier, so no condensation inside, has automated emergency roof closing ability via a Boltwood cloud sensor, and a proper floor. It's a pleasure to use.

I haven't properly added up the full wad of bunnings & jaycar receipts, but a quick flip through them and I'd say the total cost was around $5-6k, excluding tools (AEG nailgun, Ryobi mitre saw, Bosche Blue impact driver, Bosch Blue hammer drill, hand saw, concreting floats & towels) which I can use on future projects.

I thought I'd share some photos of the construction.

My old observatory:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/old%20obs.jpg

The trigger for demolishing, a new GSO 10" f/4 newt:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/reason.jpg

Demolished. You can see the type of grade I had to deal with. It was mostly shale too. I have a broken neck, so digging this up was a major pain (literally):
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/demolished.jpg

Slab complete. It was my first time working with concrete. It bowed out a bit in the middle, but not noticeably upon completion of construction.
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/slab.jpg

Frame and gantry completed:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/gantry.jpg

Wrapped with some detail of the roof setup
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/wrap.jpg

Roof and cladding done:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/roof%20action.jpg

Interior walls. Thanks again to YouTube for telling me how it's done:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/mud.jpg

Installation and testing of winch
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/winch.jpg

Weather station close-up. Bloomsky camera, conventional weather station, and Diffraction Limited Boltwood CloudSensor:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/weather.jpg

Top-down view:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/top.jpg

Installation and testing of scope, ready for 1st drift alignment. The walls look too high, but those parts of the sky are already blocked by my neighbours houses, or too close to the horizon to seriously image.
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/testing.jpg

Two nights ago, imaging Sh2-237 with an ED80 (the red lights are turned off when the actual imaging starts):
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/testing2.jpg

Now the sad part. I tried to use my new GSO 10", and there is so much coma! I've ordered a Paracorr II, so hopefully that will address it. Single 25 second unguided exposure of the lagoon nebula:
http://adam.lundie.com.au/gallery/newobs/lagoon.jpg

glend
11-08-2017, 08:23 AM
Nice to see you have the young fellow to help you out.
I should dig out the ATV winch i have, but its so easy to roll by hand that i have not considered motor dtive.

spiezzy
11-08-2017, 08:49 AM
hi there Adam that looks sooo good congratulations you have done extremely well got love You Tube .
I have the same 10" GSO newt yes you will need that coma corrector it will make all the difference also do a check with your laser collimator in and on and centre the dot on the donut on the primary mirror and check the laser dot is not moving when you move the scope around in different areas of the sky if it does move PM me
enjoy your new Obs an give your self a big pat on the back
cheers Pete

furgle
11-08-2017, 09:38 AM
Mine's quite easy to roll (now that I've finally squared it up & braced correctly), the winch is for the cloud sensor. It's customisable to directly trigger the winch to pull the roof closed based on cloud cover, rain, or high winds.

furgle
11-08-2017, 09:41 AM
Appreciate it. It's collimnated with a howie glatter 2" laser, and it looks perfect. I haven't checked it on different angles, so I'll be sure to do that the next time it's on the mount.

Which coma corrector are you using?

Edit: Just realised I bought a Baader MPCC Mark III from OPT last time I was in the USA. I guess that's what I bought it for (it's been sitting on my desk for months unopened). The paracorr is supposed to be better so I guess I'll give both a try.

spiezzy
11-08-2017, 09:56 AM
Hi Adam
I have been using the Baader on with good results was going to get a Paracorr but they are on the expensive side but the MPCC Mark III work great
cheers Pete

pfitzgerald
11-08-2017, 11:21 AM
Nice job Adam - and thank you for sharing it all.

Paul

jwoody
11-08-2017, 01:30 PM
A great job Adam, well done.

Jeremy

furgle
19-08-2017, 07:28 AM
I now have a write-up on the Paracorr vs MPCC. Looks like you get what you pay for: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=1330064

It's ridiculously long & heavy, but looks like I'll be using the Paracorr.