Garden Shed Observatory

[glenc]

Has anyone modified a 3x3m Absco Garden Shed to make a roll off roof observatory? Please let me know if you have any hints.
Thanks
Glen

[Dennis]

Hi Glen

Have a look here for amateur observatories classified by type.
http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html

And here for Eddie Trimarchi's tin shed observatory.
http://astroshed.com/observatory/observ.htm

Cheers

Dennis

[glenc]

Thanks Dennis.
I looked at nineplanets.org last night but couldn't find what I wanted.
Eddie's shed looks good.

[RAJAH235]

Not sure of brand, but one of our members has constucted one. Put roll-off roof on it as per the 'normal way'. Ahh, very similar to Eddie's.. Works well..:D L.

[robinsm]

Bought a damaged demonstration 10x10 garden shed, converted it to an 8x10 with 3x2 pine frame. Strengthened roof with metal 1.1 frame and mounted the whole thing on concrete blocks. Floored with scrap 1" waterproof particle board (packing sheets from work). Mounted roof rollers on garage runners and voila -

[glenc]

Did the 3x3m slab last week and the walls yesterday.
Also put up 100mm C purlins for wheel tracks.
Will work on the rest today. Still experimenting to see how strong it has to be.

[h0ughy]

any pictures??? would like to see:thumbsup:

[glenc]

Just waiting for the fog to clear so I can see it!
Double doors on north side, roof will roll off to south.

[h0ughy]

Its on a grassy knoll:scared: You going to be shooting stars there;)

now would you please provide some more photos of the bracing, how you fixed the c purlins and the model number of the shed? for me to get past the wife!!!!:D I have gone the other way, I have ordered the pier, the rest should follow I hope;)

[glenc]

The shed on is on the hill we made when we dug the pool out last year.
I am not planning to shot stars but did make the concrete deeper in the middle just in case. The C purlin only has rivets holding it so far, will update you when it all works. I put a piece of 4x1 across the back wall because it was weak after cutting the holes for the Cs. The shed is from RanBuild is 10'x10' and cost $840. Each wall came as one piece so it was easy to put up.
The boxing stays in place and is designed to keep vermin out, the walls sit in a L shape. See the slab here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=17278&d=1158872164

[h0ughy]

Any photos of this observatory?

[olympusmons]

Hi Glen,
Several of the members in the roll off roof group have created similar observatories:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/

They have their photos added to the albums section and i am sure they will help you with details.

Regards
Stewart

[glenc]

Thanks Stewart.
Still using trial and error to build mine.
Not finished yet hOughy.

[olympusmons]

Hi Glen,
Good Luck!

Regards
Stewart

[rmcpb]

Glen,

From your signature you have a dob. Are you going to set it up on a raised platform or do you have any way to lower the wall height so you can see objects that are not right above you?

Cheers

P.S. What I would give for those horizons at home :)

[glenc]

I will put it on a platform. I can see the northern horizon with the double doors open. If I need to see something near the E or W or S horizon I will take it outside. Will post images of the roll off roof and 6 wheels soon.

[glenc]

Three pictures showing:
1 the SW corner of the shed with 100mm C purlins and 4"x4" posts
2 the NW corner of the shed with double doors and
3 the 4"x1" timber, L bracket and wheel that support the roll off roof.

The bolt through the L bracket stops it rolling when closed.
There are 3 wheels on each side. A square made up of 4 bits of 4"x1" supports the roof, gang nails hold the 4 bits together. The south wall also has a piece of 4"x1" timber across it to make it stronger.

The tyres on the wheels compress slightly when the roof is attached, so I had to allow for that before drilling the holes in the L brackets for the wheel axles.

The advantage of a shed is it reduces the wind and problems with the neighbours lights, and there is a faster set up too. The disadvantage is loss of horizon, but objects are brighter when they are up high.

[CoombellKid]

Looks excellent Glen, would love to do something out here. But as we're
renting I wouldn't put the effort into something permanent. But have
thought about something mobile, like on a trailer or something.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[alan meehan]

good job glen
like the colour.i built one the same six mths ago the same as yours withthe wheels on the outside and slidding doors which can be a bit noisy.
one thing you have to watch is when you slide the roof off that your scope is out off the way,i have clipped mine forgetting to lower it.love your view.my wife likes the outside rails she thinks there great for hanging sheets on
well done alan:thumbsup:

[glenc]

Bought a GSO 12" last Friday in Sydney.
Saw a few galaxies the first night back, and they were much brighter, but it's been cloudy since. Now I need some more clear moonless nights.

Why do they make these scopes white, :rolleyes: will paint it and put some more bricks under it to give a better horizon.

[CoombellKid]

Looks excellent!! look forward to seeing how the roll off/on
roof works. Didn't know GSO's also comes in white.

I'm getting a shed too :) but it will be for garden stuff,
ex Casino hail storm for a case of beer lol. There were
2 but unfortunately my neighbour has taken the other.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

PS: Yup! the weather hasn't been the best for observing.