Three Hills Observatory

[Lester]

Hi everyone,

Three Hills is the name of our farm, and the observatory is on the highest hill. Was originally built by myself at age 16 in 1973. The observatory was a dome shape, and modified in 1980 to house 16" f4.5 Newtonian. The opening is 4 feet wide. Half inch galvinized water pipe is the frame. Cladded with 26 gauge galv. steel sheet. The wall is concrete, and observatory rotates on it with 6 solid sack truck sized wheels.

Soon after it was built, I was regularly greeted inside by inch ants. So a moat was built of aluminium sheet, filled with water and a layer of sump oil poured on top, to stop any amphibious creepy crawlies from entering. As well as stopping the bugs, it also stops any breeze from comming in over the wall and dust.

Everything is powered via Cigarette socket of vehicle. Unfortunately the track on top of the cement wall is not perfectly round and causes a bit of friction when turning. Otherwise I am very happy with the set up.

[Dennis]

Wow Lester - that is a riveting and interesting story! I was still playing cowboys and indians when I was 16, or was that doctors and nurses? Anyhow, what a great job you have managed to do, and continue on doing with the set up.

Cheers

Dennis

[joe_smith]

looks good mate. Is the frame around the shutters to stop the kids using it as a slide :rofl:All it needs is a nice coat white paint :thumbsup:

[Shawn]

Hey Lester.

I quite like the design, Ok its been adjusted over the years to suit what you use it for. but its given me an idea or two,,,Im not saying Ill build one just like it,,,,:screwy: ....:D . But its functional "or at least appears to be" hey whats in the eskies,,,,???....I know cold packs to cool down your OTA;) ..A Coat of paint and hell Its cool. Put it this way..Its far far far better than mine...:P. Really appreciate you posting the pics, the avatar is resolution challenged.

Shawn

[astroron]

Thanks Lester for posting your pictures of your set up Brilliant! I remeber requesting for you to do this. Well done.:eyepop: :thumbsup:

[Lester]

Thanks everyone for your replies.:thumbsup:

Yes Astroron you have waited quite a while for me to get motivated and put this up.:doh:

Joe, the frame around the doors is to stop them from twisting when they are opened. :)

Shawn, the doors seal very well from letting in rain and can be closed from inside if an unsuspected shower comes. Also when open they stop the wind from buffeting into the open observatory. Try and design observatory so that the telescope is back atleast 2 feet (even more) from the opening to minimise wind buffeting.:D

[Shawn]

Lester.

I really do want a rotatable dome but I dont want to wait that long, as finances and time preclude that from being a swift developement, so Im going to take a lot of net stuff into account and have a two stage developement. Start off with a simple rolloff roof shed desighn 3.5 by 7 meters, half of withc the rolloff end has substantial steel roof support, this this will give me an immediate observatory plus the other half to build the dome that will eventullay go on the nore substantial half second story, get a little higher because I dont want to defoliate the whole property. Ill Pier the scope on an isolated concrete pier that would end up being approx 4 meters high, comp room and all that downstairs, and original workshop, sleepout. once the project is under way Ill see if IIS want to feature it DYI, Ive been playning with materials and ply frames and masonite seem to be the way to go for the dome itself as Im allergic to epoxies, and steel "too hard basket" dont have the tools, :D