Garden Observatory

[alan meehan]

Well after 12mths i have i have started my new roll off roof observatory ,i did have a garden shed for viewing which i had used for several years but i had to take it down to build a granny flat in the yard and it has taken me this long to relocate to high end of our block up in the garden for which i do have a better view to the west than i had before .the ground up the top was sitting on a hill at the rear and was sitting on a bedrock of clay so for the pier i have dug down into the clay base .The misses wanted something that looked rustic and blended with the garden area so i have gone for the rough sawn timber look ,as i did not have too much room the shed is 2.4 mts x2.4 mts.so far this is where iam at it is solid as.the first shot is where the observatory was then what is there now

[h0ughy]

i have been a tad bit preoccupied the last few weeks but in-between helping me out of trouble Alan has been constructing this wonderful structure - here was a shot i took a few weeks ago minus the great cladding job Al did

[byronpaul]

Alan,

looking good :thumbsup:

Keep the updates coming.

Can't wait to see the CGEM in her new home :P

Paul

[alan meehan]

Thanks Paul iam really looking forward to setting up the cgem myself should get some good shots cant wait
AL

[strongmanmike]

Coming along nicely Al, that pier hole looks deep?

Mike

[alan meehan]

A bit more progress now have most of the cladding done,the pier is roughly
polar aligned computer bay done and waterproofed,now working on the ror roof so far a week of rain has slowed things down a bit

[Dealy]

Looking good Alan :thumbsup:

I'm still trying to get around to your place for a look.

Kev

[alan meehan]

More progress in between the rain,all the outside cladding is finished and the roof is operational but all needs some final weatherproofing,electrical
painting and good weather and its going
AL

[h0ughy]

glad you put on the marine ply for the extra roof protection Al, the colourbond roof ill be heaps cooler under that and stronger. done heaps mate since monday:thumbsup:

[alan meehan]

Well its finally finished ,roof is on new mount and new scope are in all the power is in and working sky is looking good so tonight my test run

[h0ughy]

looks a treat Al

[Dealy]

Great job Al.

Mine is nearly finished too. I'll show you mine if you show me yours ;)

Kev

[h0ughy]

oh this is hard to take:P:help:

[h0ughy]

Al's had a tad of light pollution from neighbours lately so we tried to remedy that issue today

[alan meehan]

This was good but my stupid neighbours up the back of me thought they would put in more lights after I spoke to them about it.they told me it was there right and to F off now I will have to run more of the same all the way across and that will only cut off a portion off the light as we are on a hill and they are behind us ,and leave the light on all night,at the moment my observatory is totally useless
AL

[Windston]

Sometimes I wonder what the hell is wrong with people! It really sucks that most of them just seems to be so self obsorbed that they dont give a **** about anyone else!

But thats just my rant ;)
Dan

[DougR]

Google search 'light spill' or 'light trespass'. There's probably means through the local council to get it sorted (maybe council mediation first).
https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/metro/res.asp?id=4071

Do they have a real reason for wanting the original lighting - like security worries? (illegal activity?) They'd have to be more than a bit warped to spend money on more lighting just to mess you around.

Doug

[glend]

Alan, sorry to here about your crazy neighbor light problem. There is an old IIS thread on the same subject here:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=32222

That guy took out an AVO i believe.

A close row of advanced Leighton Green conifier trees will block off a boundary in a couple of years. If you rig up a wire strung between two poles either end of the boundary you can hang a sliding tarp on it. The poles need to be high enough to get the tarp up where it can effectively block. I say sliding tarp because if the wind comes up you want to be able to tie it off on one pole. Another option might be a full blocking shade sail under tension, but that it going to cost some money for steel posts in concrete and the tensioning fittings.
If your willing to do a Houghy and move house, there are still dark areas around Lake Macquarie.


Good luck.

[alan meehan]

Thanks guys for suggestions this has totally taken my nice dark skies away
I have now started to build as glend has suggested a 3metre from the ground max height for a sail cloth a metre above the fence height which is 1.8 mtre highx20metres long with braced timber post
covered in black plastic and sail cloth to make it totally light proof this will take the light only from the back yard it will still have light reaching above this from which I will have to view through. I thought about the trees but I cant wait for years for them to grow iam to old
AL

[Nikolas]

sling shot and a glass marble should take care of the light issue, marble will shatter and the lights will go out, no evidence. Repeat often

[glend]

Alan, any update on the situation?

[DougR]

I've been wondering too. How's it going Alan?

[alan meehan]

glen and Doug well I did start to build a shade cloth wall at the back of the obs got the first panel up and stupid me had a fall off the ladder I was on
fell 2 mtrs to the ground and cut open my leg and scarred the hell out of me ,since then I have been a bit worried about getting up to finish off the rest of the wall,in saying that what did put up has given me back some privacy also the chap that was up the back has since been arrested for bashing his mrs
AL

[glend]

Geez Mate be careful. I can't get up on ladders anymore (have positional vertigo). They are dangerous. If that guy is subject to an AVO for his crimes he won't be bothering you anymore, maybe less light pollution.

[DougR]

Wow - hope you're recovering well from that. It would put the wind up anyone. I'm fine on ladders and am up your way often (mum lives in Morissett). If you want to have a working bee to finish it then pm me. I think I'm up next in mid-Jan.
I'm glad to hear they got that guy. Obviously has serious issues and shame to hear he took it out on her. Good riddance!

[jenchris]

I'm really quite distressed that this sort of thing happens.
I really hope you have heard the last of the neighbour from hell.
I'm sure your leg will heal. But do be careful.
I wish you clear skies and a quiet evening

[alan meehan]

Well after 4 yrs my crazy neighbour has finally gone when she left I went up the back and removed the lights that where up[twin outdoor flood lights ] then replaced it with a low watt bulb and put a cover over it ,house is empty at this stage now have my 10inch sm newt back home in the observatory just waiting for some good weather,oh the good old days of no light pollution

[glend]

Haha, good work Alan , the Light Ninja strikes! :thumbsup:

Sorry you had to wait so long.

[alan meehan]

thanks Glen I also got the tree loppers in and cut down a 30ft jacaranda tree that was covering my view to the west all clear now