G'day astro heads!
i've always been of the mind set that we can do ANYTHING!
Let's Start...1st This is not a new idea.....
http://www.group70.org/about70.html
http://group70.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_70
........ here is a very ambitious group putting there money and talent together to build a 70 incher!
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As some of you know allready i am looking to build an observatory and move
the ARSENAL down under!
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=65
See post #354
To do it alone will be tough and not as fun as working with like minds.
So here are some more thoughts....
L O C A T I O N ~ L O C A T I O N ~ L O C A T I O N (PART#1)
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Back in the states i was a member of the Orange County Astronomers, out of Southern California.....
http://www.ocastronomers.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County_Astronomers
...to my knowledge they are the worlds most affluent amateur club. This
is because all of the Aerospace and high-tech jobs in the area. The members built a large compound of at least a dozen observatories. The largest contains the Bill Kuhn's 22".........
http://www.ocastronomers.org/astroim...Kuhn+Telescope
This was featured in the now defunct Telescope Maker Magazine from the
70s and 80s. Bill, a member of the OCA hand built this scope! Other's in the
club built the CCD......
Other accomplishments include a radio telescope, robo-scopes, live T.V.
feed to the Chapman Collage 100 miles away.
By the way i lived near by the OCA's Anza dark site near Palomar for 17 years.
http://www.anzaobservatory.com
Which i wrote about in my astro-bio....
see post #2 & #3 regarding OCA etc...
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=27760
You get the picture. My point is this, best bet is starting with Australia's biggest club. One that comes to mind is.......
http://www.asnsw.com/
..........they have a dark site too.......
http://www.asnsw.com/wiruna/index.asp
Plus Sydney is a safe bet for amateurs with $$$.
Now i am in no way suggesting this club. i just use it as an example as i did
with my own Astonomy Club the OCA.
L O C A T I O N ~ L O C A T I O N ~ L O C A T I O N (PART#2)
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Where is the Best Astro Site in OZ? a list is being built here.
This got 90 hits.......
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=27713&page=5
It's a start, but deals with the ideal spot i.e. "where can i get the most clear nights per year in OZ? i love Dry, Dark Skies with no night domes."
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Now regarding the use of shipping containers for building the observatory.
(Again see post #35 on this thread.)
They are cheap and well built and could even be used as "cottages" set around the large group observatory.
This is the first site i found that introduced me to the idea:
http://www.escapeartist.com/OREQ4/No...ing2000_4.html
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam14/Nomadic_Housing.html
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam17/At_The_Edge.html
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Here's a great site showing the step be step process of converting a shipping container to an afforable home.
http://earthsci.org/education/fields...container.html
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WOW! talk about building a CONTAINER CITY, ya gotta see this!
http://www.containercity.com/
Lakeside home with grass roof:
http://www.containercity.com/cove-park.html
Multi story apartments:
http://www.containercity.com/pinchin...t-studios.html
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Here are 2 links to the L.A. Beach House!
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/0...do_beach_c.php
http://blog.lamidesign.com/2006/07/i...house-for.html
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Three 40 footers stacked on two 20 footers:
http://www.quik-build.com/quikHouse/QH_main.htm
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Three 40s:
http://www.architectureandhygiene.co...LadyHouse.html
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Some great container architecture:
http://www.containerarchitecture.co.nz/portfolio/2.html
http://blog.lamidesign.com/2006/07/i...house-for.html
http://www.energistx.com/spaces/8x40multiuse.html
http://www.mac-containers.co.uk/pdf-downloads.htm
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Intermodal Shipping Container Small Steel Buildings Book:
http://www.lulu.com/content/114565
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Lets talk:
humphreys@greencafe.com
http://www.anzaobservatory.com
May you & yours always be in fine health and
great calm, with gratitude and warm aloha,
Lance aka "abellhunter"
p.s. here are some shots of containers for use as an observatory, cottage...also the RCOS scopes and my old Anza Observatory.