Hi all
Well this is going to be my third and final attempt at building this observatory. First one was a 2.3m dome, which I did build and then sold. Obs 2 never really got started, as the hole I dug for it ended up being used for the kids pet Rabbit, so now moving the plan to a different position.
The Obs will be roll off roof design, 2m (w) x 2m (l) x 1.6m (h). The pier will be 1m x 300mm reinforced concrete tube. The Pier base is currently 700mm x 700mm x 600mm but over the next week or so should increase to 800mm^3.
The Obs will only house the scopes and mount and won't be used for me, as I'll be in the big shed, where it's a little warmer...
Anyway here is a pic of the progress, more pics to come as I do them... I lent my post hole digger to someone so have to claim that back before going onto the next step, the 4 main posts.
Oh and another pic of what happens when you lose your footing near a big hole
jesus astroman looks like your drunk and falling all over the place,looks good mate.dont let the misses or kids talk you into using that slab for anything else but a rolloff.well done!!!!!
Now thats an optomistic name for an observatory - hope you have many happy hours in it.
Name was chosen because of location, very bright skies unfortunately. Thanks I hope not too many, the main control room will be in the big shed behind it.
Quote:
Geez lucky you didn't fall onto that stake behind you
I thought about this after I saw it, was pretty close...
I have moved this thing too many times, it's now time to settle down, it also means I have to buy new gear for it as I sold the mount, but will build this up to a fully working obs. Drunk, LOL... wish I was sometimes.
Here is a quick plan done with google sketchup, still a few things to add to it yet, like a way to hold down the roof. I was going with side rails but this will be easier with the materials I have available.
Okay a little update, I now have the Tube for the Pier at home now, so I took the shot below to see how it looks, it's still 300mm too long at the time of this pic, so I will have to dig down another 300mm, which should be easy now it has rained. Still need to make the Base plate for the Mount and finish off the threaded bars which will go into the cement..
So hopefully it doesn't rain too much, as I'll be digging the holes for the 5 vertical uprights, which make the 4 corners and the upright for the door.
Another quick update I have dug the 4 main post holes and am ready to align them and cement them in at their correct positions. Still working out how to do this Each hole is 530mm deep. Should secure it enough I think...
Okay last pic of today's work. lined up the two uprights, closest to the cubby house, these will act as the main uprights where everything comes off, including the door (which has already been manufactured, so they have to be pretty close. These are now ready to accept concrete, which will hold them in place... Will do this later this week... The height of them will be 1500mm all the way around, which gives me about 50mm from the height of the ground, perfect for when I put cement inside it. The Pier is now at a height of 950mm, which is perfect! There is a 950mm hole below it..
Not much done this last week, except I made up the pier base plate bolts and poles. Here are a couple of pics... The threaded rod is 3/4" and the J-Poles are 25mm solid... Should hold...
First pole has been cemented in.... I wanted this one to the the main pole which every other pole worked from, so this one was critical to get perfectly straight... Worked out perfectly with a 30kg bag of speed concrete.... I was a little worried about the water requirements for the 30kg bag, but it worked out perfect... 4 more to go now...
Okay another update, Not much has been done physically to the observatory, but I have been in the planning stages of doing the roof and rollers, also gathering money together for the concreting. So no pics of that
Also working on a dew heater for my Camera/scopes.
As Christmas is only less than a week away I havent spent a great deal of time on the Obs, but I can see it being finished early in 2011...
Concreted all 4 posts in now, so at least that is done, managed to squeeze it in to 3mm off square, I am happy with that. Should see my shed, thats heaps further out, and that was professionally built...
Anyway, hit a small snag on one of the holes, where I misjudged it and it was too far out, so I had to dig a bit out so the concrete had enough to go around the pole. Worked out well...
Also trial fitted the door which fitted perfectly, so now I can dig out the final hole, which will be used to secure the door when closed.
Dew straps for my 80mm scope and 17-40mm f4L Lens are completed along with my Dew Heater controller. So that project is now closed, I can work on the obs more..
Final hole dug out and awaiting concrete, might have to do that after the Christmas rush... Got a couple of mates coming around before new years to do the welding for me.
Okay finished the last pole off and added the door. I did this together so I could get the pole in the right position for the door, which was previously made. After all this had finished drying, I will get started on the structural part of the Observatory, which will require my mates to come around and help me weld it up.
