My backyard roll off roof observatory

[cometcatcher]

I've been wanting one of these since forever. The fairies don't seem to want to build me one so I'm gonna have to build it me-self. :P Progress is as funds and health permit. There won't be a central pier, I'll be imaging primarily on the floor boards. Been doing it for 30 years in the house, not going to change now. :P

Used 4x4 H4 posts for the corners and central area, 200x50mm for the outside skirting and 150x50mm for the floor joists. The floor is 18mm marine ply. Already had a night out on the floor and results were good with no vibration from traffic. Three walls are now in place along with a door. I used 17mm ply for the walls since the ply was 30% off.

Now I guess I need a roof.

[doppler]

That's looking pretty flash Kevin. The roof will be the big challenge I guess, looking forward to see how you design that. I think a lot of people go overboard with their obs pier engineering.

Cheers Rick

[cometcatcher]

Me too! :lol:

[doppler]

You will have to make it reasonably cyclone resistant I suppose. I've just finished putting in a permanent pier and will have to put some sort of cover over that, but a roll of roof is a long way off yet for me.

[cometcatcher]

Yeah I would like it to be able to withstand cat 3, yet still be light enough to roll with ease.

[Atmos]

Very nice Kevin, will be nice for you to have a semi permenantly setup :)

[Steve Pattie]

Oh to be able to just close the roof and not have to face the 30min pack up time. Perhaps one day.

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Colin. It will!



I know! That just puts me off when I'm tired and have to pack up. I hope my roof doesn't take 30min to close lol.

An observatory = a cubby house for telescopes. ;)

[silv]

awesome!
in one of the pics it looks just like a playpen for giant toddlers :D

[ZeroID]

Yep , guys .... :P

( My wife reckons we never grow up .... :lol: )

[cometcatcher]

That's exactly what it is lol. :rofl:

[cometcatcher]

A bit more progress. I bought some castors and attached them to a couple of 90x45's. The castors are rated at 50kg each. The rails are 50x25mm x 2m aluminium curtain or door rails which are screwed to the wall top plate. Now I have completed the frame which the rafters will be attached to.

The frame rolls very easily along the rails with no effort at all so I am very pleased how it has come along so far. Have to remember to relocate that solar panel one year. ;)

[glend]

Nice, similiar to mine. Don't forget track stop blocks on either end. I woud also brace the corners, i used 45 degree cut 4x2s screwed into the frame members, they are also handy tie down locations.

[h0ughy]

fantastic results by the looks so far - awesome what you have achieved

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Glen. Lots more bracing will be added, and yes I won't forget the end stops!



Thanks Dave!

[ZeroID]

Nup, leave it there. Roof is closed during the day, it sees the sun. When roof is open it's night time so no problem.
If you do the occasional solar imaging it should be sweet anyway. :thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

Just not sure I will be able to roll off the roof 100% with it there Brent.

Added some bracing today. Will do another two cross braces yet. I find it strangely fun to roll the roof frame on and off. Probably be even more fun when it's complete. :)

[ZeroID]

So drop it down a fraction for clearance.
Or use one of the roof rolloff studs to remount it.
Keeps it all nice and tidy and out of the way.

[cometcatcher]

Well I do intend to power the observatory with solar so I'll figure something out.

[cometcatcher]

Have the framework for the roof up. Next is the polycarbonate roofing. I'll also be using foamboard insulation so it doesn't "rain" on the inside.

[doppler]

Looking good Kevin. Have you worked out how you are going to cyclone proof the roof yet. Perhaps some side mounted guide rollers in a length of c channel ? There doesn't seem to be any wind rating specs for a roll of roof on the net so I guess you have to make your own up.

[cometcatcher]

I'm not sure yet Rick. Turnbuckles at each corner are in my head at the moment but I'm still thinking about it.

The polycarbonate roof is on today! And I didn't even fall off the ladder. :P

The roof moves with ease with one hand.

[h0ughy]

thats great job there, love the roof

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Dave. The roof needs some trimmings but otherwise the bulk of it is done now. Thinking of adding windows....

[cometcatcher]

I've done a few more things. Added 4 turnbuckles to secure the roof and added some side overhang where the rails are to protect from rain. I'll get some more photos at a later stage.

I've moved the scope in and started using it which means..... first light!!! Wooooohoooo!

It feels soooo good to have a home for the scope and not have to pack up.

[cometcatcher]

Hi Glen. I don't know why I got your post via email but not on the forum? Strange.

First light last night. Got about an hour's worth of NGC1365 with the 8" F4 before the fog rolled in. Here's an unprocessed screen grab straight out of DSS.

[Retrograde]

Congratulation Kevin!

Looks great - does this mean no more pictures out the window? :)

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Pete. Haven't been able to use the window for a while now due to the cats so observatory from now on it is.

[tel.lekatsas]

G'day Kev,

Congratulations, your new observatory is looking good. Hope to see some comet images - maybe 45P will put on a show for us next month.

Cheers,
Tel

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Tel. Yeah I've been quiet for a while. There's a few reasons for that. The window has become impractical and wedding preparations have taken a lot of energy leaving me too tired for astro. Not that I'm complaining. :)

[cometcatcher]

Latest pics with a few more trimmings. I wanted a couple of small windows, just so I could watch the rain while I was wishing for clear skies.... The back flap will probably be replaced with a hinged wood one as the matting is not quite right.

In the third photo the inside looks like a TARDIS, bigger on the inside lol. That's the 8" F4 on the HEQ5 Pro.

There are turnbuckles on each corner to hold the roof on in strong winds.

17mm plywood walls separate the neighbours lights and the scope.

A few more things to do, like insulation under the roof etc but it's largely done. Hope you have enjoyed my observatory build. Took about 4 months.

[cometcatcher]

I bought a carpet remnant for the observatory. Also put in some foamboard for insulation and a ceiling. The foamboard has dropped the internal temperature by at least 7 degrees. The observatory now has the feel of a small office that houses a telescope or two. It's very homely. I sometimes just lay on the floor and watch the clouds go by.

[strongmanmike]

Very homely indeed Kevin :thumbsup:

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Mike! We saw 2 Orionids the other night just looking out. Didn't get pics of them though cos I was testing out the 10" F4 on Diphda with a 30 sec quick pic.

[cometcatcher]

The little obs has solar power. Bought a little 40 watt solar panel to run lights, scope, laptop and whatever else I fancy.

[Cosmic]

Excellent Kevin, I've enjoyed looking through the images. Its come along nicely and the little things make the difference. Must be nice to just stroll in and get straight into it. :thumbsup:
I had plans to make my structure out of treated pine..but between the cyclonic conditions and termites I'm ordering my steel tomorrow. :)

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Daniel. Having had to setup manually for the last 40 years, it sure does feel good to just walk in and start imaging. No pack up when tired either.

I have yet to put in cyclone bolts, but they will be added before the season starts. After that I expect the last thing to remain standing after a strong blow to be the observatory lol.

All the best with your build!

[Cosmic]

Thanks Kevin, I could only image the joy now...40 years wow! Its great to hear that you have stuck with the hobby for so long. I bet ill be much the same, the night sky has a way of always drawing me back time and time again :thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

I've had my off times. I got so mad at all the street lights they built around me I gave up for a while. I've also had some time off this last year to get married etc lol. Usually a bright comet or event will get me back into it. The problem with having breaks is that the technology changes so fast I have to relearn everything all over again. I've gone from film, to video and now to digital.

The obs blocks the street lights, neighbour's lights and even the wind so I have no excuse now. Well almost none. It still doesn't work on removing clouds lol. :rolleyes:

[glend]

We need a narrowband filter that works through cloud.:question:

[cometcatcher]

I think they call that radio astronomy. ;) Tempting, but no pretty pictures.

[cometcatcher]

Rigel observatory has had a "small" power upgrade. :) There was a lot of wasted space between the rails where the roof rolls off, so I put a couple more solar panels there, and two more off the end for a total of 780 watts.

Not all of it is used for the observatory. 140 watts is probably enough. The other 640 watts goes to the house via cable to run two Engel fridges.

The observatory was the logical place to put them since I am afraid of heights and can't put them on the house roof. The observatory roof rolls off with just enough clearance. Of course doing so blocks light to the solar panels. But then the roof mainly comes off only at night.