[mtodman (Matt)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Hi Matt

I am suitably envious of your impending journey

I am suitably nervous about my impending journey

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I put a lot of thought into using a container on the property I have used over the last two years and because I wasn't the owner thought a modified shipping container that could be easily removed as a uint was worth cosideration.

Portability is one of the big benefits of using a container. You can get it built to your spec's in the workshop and then transported to your ideal location. The other big benefit is that you don't need council approval to have a container sitting on your property as they are classed as temporary structures by many councils.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I considered quite a few options in the design but had I gone ahead I was planning to have the half of the roof over the elevated observing area simply slide back over the warm room half. This would have just required two angle channels running the full length of the two sides of the container roof, some castors on the moving half and a skirt to protect the sides. I was planning on simply putting handles on the edge of the sliding section so I could just pull it open and closed by sliding it out of the road and back again - simple..? This would have kept the container foot print from growing too and negate the need for outriggers.

I was originally considering the same thing but my concern was that this would restrict access to the horizon over the warm room of the conatiner. I'm not really sure how valid a concern this is though.
The other thing I need to consider is the complexity (ie cost) of the end design. According to the container modders, the current fold out roof design is far simpler to construct than a rolling roof design.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

The other option I was considering was cutting a circlular hole over the observing area and wacking a 2.3m Sirius dome over it - that would work too and prevent dew during the session so nothing ever gets wet - dew is something I hate.

Mmmmmm 2.3M Sirius dome . Now that would be nice.
Who knows. Maybe Container Observatory version 2 will come with that nice feature.