pfitzgerald
22-01-2014, 10:48 PM
Hi Folks
Yes it's time to start down the slippery slope of building a back yard observatory. I'm tired of losing viewing time to the constant setting up, aligning, packing up scenario.
As per the heading I've more-or-less committed myself to building, in stages, a ROR Observatory in my back yard. I already have a shed so the premise is that this structure will be a timber 'gazebo'.
I've got a copy of John Hick's 'Building A Roll-Off Roof Observatory' and have spent considerable time reading it and numerous threads on this and other forums. Tentatively at this stage it will be 3.66 m x 2.74 m (12' x 9') which is pretty much spot on for 10 m^2 and within council regulations. I plan on having a small isolated work room at one end. Our rectangular back yard runs roughly north-south, to within about 20o - I'll check this out tomorrow. It will have a timber floor on concrete pillars.
The first couple of questions I have for you all is to do with determining the wall height from the scope's parked position.
1. When the scope (as per my signature below) is parked in the home position its weights down scope up. If I were to designate that the scope's home position is with the scope and weights horizontal, would this place any undue stress on the mount if stored this way for long periods of time and affect its performance in the future?
2. Alternatively, is it possible to set the horizontal position as a go-to at the end of an observing run, close the roof and then return the scope to the 'home' position with weights down scope up. This procedure could then be reversed on setting up. If this is possible how would I program it into my Synscan?
To add to the information I've already given I've pretty much got clear skies from an altitude of 20o all around apart from a neighbours house to the west where the minimum altitude increase to just under 30o.
Stage 1 in construction would be laying out the plan on the ground and putting a pier in. For this I'm looking to put in a 1 m^3 concrete anchor with bolts for a steel pipe pier, either 8" or 10".
T.Y.A.I.A. for reading this post and for your thoughts and suggestions. It will be a slow process as it depends on the available funds. But once its up and running I'll include pictures etc of my progress.
Paul
Yes it's time to start down the slippery slope of building a back yard observatory. I'm tired of losing viewing time to the constant setting up, aligning, packing up scenario.
As per the heading I've more-or-less committed myself to building, in stages, a ROR Observatory in my back yard. I already have a shed so the premise is that this structure will be a timber 'gazebo'.
I've got a copy of John Hick's 'Building A Roll-Off Roof Observatory' and have spent considerable time reading it and numerous threads on this and other forums. Tentatively at this stage it will be 3.66 m x 2.74 m (12' x 9') which is pretty much spot on for 10 m^2 and within council regulations. I plan on having a small isolated work room at one end. Our rectangular back yard runs roughly north-south, to within about 20o - I'll check this out tomorrow. It will have a timber floor on concrete pillars.
The first couple of questions I have for you all is to do with determining the wall height from the scope's parked position.
1. When the scope (as per my signature below) is parked in the home position its weights down scope up. If I were to designate that the scope's home position is with the scope and weights horizontal, would this place any undue stress on the mount if stored this way for long periods of time and affect its performance in the future?
2. Alternatively, is it possible to set the horizontal position as a go-to at the end of an observing run, close the roof and then return the scope to the 'home' position with weights down scope up. This procedure could then be reversed on setting up. If this is possible how would I program it into my Synscan?
To add to the information I've already given I've pretty much got clear skies from an altitude of 20o all around apart from a neighbours house to the west where the minimum altitude increase to just under 30o.
Stage 1 in construction would be laying out the plan on the ground and putting a pier in. For this I'm looking to put in a 1 m^3 concrete anchor with bolts for a steel pipe pier, either 8" or 10".
T.Y.A.I.A. for reading this post and for your thoughts and suggestions. It will be a slow process as it depends on the available funds. But once its up and running I'll include pictures etc of my progress.
Paul