Backyard Obs Query

[Visionoz]

Hi All

Am intending to build a obs in my backyard soon and would like get some ideas as to what the "ïdeal" height of the pier should be - my proposed 2.4m x 2.4m obs would be having 2.1m high walls and would be using either a split roof system ie the roof would split apart from the middle or a flip top (like a carton box flap covers; maybe a crazy idea?)

And what depth should it be buried into the ground if I use a 6" or 8" round galv pipe?

Thanks in advance

Cheers
Bill

[Terry B]

Depends on the height of the mount etc and how low to the horizon you want to see.
Is there a reason to have 2.1 m high walls?
This will mean a higher pier.
The roof isn't there most of the time so you dont have to duck.:)
Even in the day I can stand with no problem becaise the bottom plate of the trusses is higher than the side walls. The only ones that are lower are the end ones and these are the ones I grab to roll the roof off.
My walls are 1.9m high and I have a roll off pitched roof. I can see down to about 20deg alt in 3 directions (not the direction the roof rolls.)
The pier is about 1 m high with an EQ6 plus a standard pier extension to give me the attachment points.
The pic shows it. Sorry about my daughter in the image but she was playing the clown.:D

[renormalised]

She's just saying "Look at Dad's cool bit of gear...that I'll inherit one day!!!":P:D

[Bassnut]

Yes, depends on the mount. Dont get too worried about the horison, seeing is awefull there, although its handy to start imaging/guiding there so you can go to bed earlier (assuming you are game enough to let it go by yourself).

Id be wary of a flip top, I tried that, and quickly found it was a wind sail that made it tricky to close if it gets windy suddenly, a roll off is easier.

Half a meter to a meter into the ground should be fine, depends on whats in there and how stable it is, dirt, clay, shale, rock.

Heres what I did (http://fredsastro.googlepages.com/observatory).

[Visionoz]

Thanks Terry & Fred

Need the 2.1M walls because it will also house a cluster of servers in dataracks running 24x7 which rsyncs backup data for all my clients' servers that I look after, and have hi-speed ADSL (hopefully I can get fiber in there, still awaiting the upstream provider to come back to me with the info) and that section in the rear of the obs will be aircond 24x7. The whole floor area would be 2.4m x 2.4m and left over space after the dataracks storage area will be my obs for astro work

I see the point about the "sails in the wind" for the roof and where I live now in the foothills the easterlies blow around this time of the year at great strength, thanks for the tip - yes will do a ROR style, much neater and safer too.

Cheers
Bill

[g__day]

2.1 metre walls equates to a peir of about 1.3 - 1.6 metres if you want to see near the horizon for drift alignment purposes.

My obs is about 1.9 metres tall - dome roof, so I can't get lower than 25 degrees to the horizon using a 1.3 metre pier. So on drift alignment or initial targeting is the only concer here. As stated you won't do any real imaging at this elevation.

Personally I like the peir to be as short as possible - to minimise flex / vibrations. I agree 1.5 - 1 metre would be a reasonable well depth to sink the foundations into the ground - more if the ground can shift easily.