well I am about to start my venture into having a permanent observatory. With two room of the 3 cleaned I will be ready to start the project in a month. To kick off the project, I have revised my plans - drastically.
I was very lucky to pick up two of these variable height piers made by Steve Bain of Southern cross piers fame. one will be for the eq6 and one for the Losmandy g11. when parked the piers will be at a height of 1.1m (700 pier height and 400mm concrete base.) when raised to max extension of 500mm the scopes can poke their heads almost out of the observatory to gain some horizon if needed. that is fantastic. Steve's design is very similar to the pier-tech one, but better
cause an Australian has done it
. its so good that Steve uses it himself, and another member of IIS has i believe invested in one
, but that's his story
.
I thought I could get away with the two piers within the one 3m observatory, but I am still assessing this.
ps the images are from Steve Bain