[Ian Robinson]

Really two questions .

I eventually plan on putting a 14" RF newtonian astrograph on my GEM which will be permanently housed in a ROR shed and the GEM on steel (200mm NB thickwalled) pier 1.2m tall . Will initially be supporting the same GEM and my 10" newtonian astrograph.
I think I'll do a concrete footing first about 0.5m x 0.5m x about that dept into the ground.
I'll then surround it later with a concrete slab (probably 3m x 4m) unless I go to a timber off ground platform in which case I'll initially surround it with smaller slab 1m x 1m and maybe about 6" thick.

1) Apart from metalwork (some offcuts of galvanised steel 100mmx10mm steel flat maybe) to space out and secure the threadbars the pier will be anchore by (4x) that will be imbedded in the concrete , do I need to reinforce the concrete footing with reobar ?

2) Will this be sufficient size for my concrete footing ? (to be stable).