Basteroid Observatory

[Cosmic]

Hi all, after suffering in the light polluted suburbs...I made the move and relocated our little family to the scrub, where everyone is so much happier :) If anyone tracks back on the threads I have posted..lets say I fixed my street light problem.

I have currently just commenced building the pier. I managed to grab a this pier from a tip shop for $50, steel suppliers wanted way to much even for off cuts. This is a 6mm steel pipe cut down to 1300mm with a 15mm base plate. I was so lucky to stumble across this in the yard, as the owner didn't think he was going to be able to help me.


Once I have decided where I'm setting up my life long passion, then the concreting begins. I'll be updating as I go so stay tuned :)

If you wondered what Basteroid meant..well Baster is my last name and a few blokes at work have called me this since the day I've taken on this hobby. :P

[h0ughy]

Good start

[Windston]

Nice! You are gonna have heaps of fun :thumbsup:

[bojan]

Nice..
But, why such a long screws for base plate?
All adjustments can be done with settings screws already provided with the mount.

[Cosmic]

Thanks Dan, David and Bojan.

I know what you are saying, but that extra plate helps with leveling it near on perfect. Plus I have big hands so tighting the bolt under the eq6 required that height from the base plate to do so.

[bojan]

No need for perfect leveling.
You can always use hex (M10?) bolt and spanner, so no need for space for big hands...
Or, you could have cut a hole in pipe for that purpose.
Problem is, those long screws do not help with stability and rigidity.

[Cosmic]

I just made this years ago and never gave it a second thought, but I will be tightening this birdcage up now. Thanks for pointing that out :thumbsup:

[bojan]

This is how I did it..
It is also a compromise - pipe is a bit too small diameter to my taste, but it is stable enough.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=84067&highlight=pier+shape

[el_draco]

You'd be better off cutting the thing off completely. They seriously compromise structural rigidity.

[Cosmic]

I see, that looks like a solid setup. The support fins on the side would help a lot with that pendulum effect I would imagine. Cheers :)



I'm currently looking at the best way to redesign it. Doesn't change the fact the NEQ6 is held on by a small central bolt, that really needs to be super tight to stop any nano moments. But when all is said and done I have seen some cracking images with some not so stable looking pier designs. Stability was never a problem with this setup in the first place, but then I never built an obs for it. I'll do what I can to make it as solid as possible, because your both right, they're just too long. :thanx:

[glend]

Daniel there us a UK supplier that makes a nice machined adaptor puck for pier mounted NEQ6s. I have resisted spending the money on it but find that using the top section of the Skywatcher Extension Pier works really well at supporting the mount on the pier cage plate.

[vlazg]

Looks good Daniel, i also use the top plate of the Skywatcher extension pier for the pier i had made, works ok, when i can afford i will get a more solid plate made
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=203169

How far bush have you gone?

[Cosmic]

Thats not a bad option, I have till the lockup stage to work something out. All my money and time is just going into getting this up before it buckets down.

Hey George, Im on Kostka road..the improvement is astronomical;) Absolutely over the moon, I just need to get building now.

[Cosmic]

Update: Pier footing complete. Hole is 800x800x700 deep. Storm finally got me, but the concrete had set enough by then. :windy:

[Cosmic]

Hi all,

We are now making progress :) :thumbsup:

Not too long now.

:work:

[Cosmic]

Roof

[vlazg]

Looking good Daniel, if only the bloody rain would stop. :windy:

[xelasnave]

That is excellent.
With your long bolts how about welding little triangle braces.
Alex

[Lee]

Awesome..... do you have any current pics of the completed obs?

[multiweb]

Very cool - I bet you get dark skies up there.



For one second I thought you were taking on strongmanmike. Wrong kind of assteroid. :lol:

[Cosmic]

Very funny Marc haha I probably would give him some good competition at heavy lifts ;) but not his awesome astro work!!

Look sorry for the late reply, I have been off and on trying to build this obs now for quiet some time. All things said and done I'm getting there, family life holds me back and training. I have darkish skies...wish they where a class 1 :P

SQM 21.87 mag./arc sec2
Brightness 0.194 mcd/m2
Artif. bright. 22.4 μcd/m2
Ratio 0.131
Bortle class 3
Elevation 48 meters

So here is just an update, finished the tiling and now for the internal walls.
Also buying a asi1600mm tomorrow :)

Cant upload images here at work, but the tiles look great.

[Cosmic]

I just pulled the trigger on a asi1600mm as well and here we are heading into the wet...maybe it will hold off as this cool weather is beautiful atm.



Alex thats a great idea! After all I went to the trouble of a separate slab and thick pier, may as well keep it strong :)


I will upload shortly, here at work I cant upload. I do need to finish a few odds and ends, mainly all cosmetic stuff.

Sorry for the late replies, I was sucked into the black hole of life. The gravitational pull was huge :D but I'm back on the astro bandwagon.

[Cosmic]

Some snaps, I'm no tiler but its good enough.