Thought I might share the construction photos of my shed-cum-observatory now that it has been up and running for a month or so.
The original plan was quite limited because I live in a townhouse with a tiny little courtyard. The shed was purchased as a shed (ie pre-telescope), and was full of the usual junk. A year and a half of my constant moaning about the weather and how long it was taking to setup/tear-down was enough to finally get permission from the wife to allow me to do it.
The fundamental problem was how to roll the roof off without going over the fence. I had considered a "flip-top" hinge design, but this was going to cause more problems than it solved. So, in the end, there was only one feasible plan.
I recruited AndrewJ from here (after whining incessantly for months about having no mechanical skills), and his engineering skills were to be critical to the process.
I purchased rails and wheels from a garage door place in Campbellfield.
Then, Andrew came over to see the "lay of the land", and come up with the shopping list.
Total outlay was:
Shed itself - can't remember - it was years ago - somewhere between $400-$800
$250 for the rails and wheels - could have probably found cheaper.
$200 or so in brackets, wood, screws and assorted bits from Bunnings.
Food, drink and cajoling of the helpers costs nothing but a big favour in return at some point in the future. If you're handy, you only need a friend for some of the awkward lifting.
$200 or so to get power in there (optional of you are willing to run off 12V for your gear, but it is very, very convenient).
$50 for the red rope lights (cool, but not really well implemented yet!)
I had the scope mounted on the tripod for a while, but frankly, the 2x3m size, plus all the stuff that was living in the shed made it very, very cramped. I ordered a pier from Bert at Macedon Ranges Observatory (he'd made up 9 of them for his remote observing facility, and was able to get one made up for me to the same spec, and had the top-plate made to fit my wedge exactly too - damned solid which is GREAT!)
I did the hole for the pier (about 50 cubic centimeters) and concrete pour for the pier one weekend, and then put the pier in the next weekend. Then
I completely pulled everything out of the shed (on a 30 degree day just to make it hard!), and put in underlay and carpet rescued from when we re-did the carpet in the house 6 months earlier (I had plans for the shed for a long time!!)
To my amazement, I had to only throw away a bit of stuff that was in the shed - managed to get most of it back in quite a bit neater than before, and found new places for some stuff that wasn't going to be touched for ages.
In the 3 weeks or so that it has been "functional", I've only missed one clear night (was sleep deprived from all-night sessions for 2 days in a row prior). This actually isn't all that much really, as Melbourne weather has been crud for quite some time now.
The biggest single advantage is that I can go out, be setup in 10 minutes, and do something simple like do a PEC train or refine my drift alignment, and it it clouds over 1 hour later, packup takes 10 minutes, and you're ready to go next time. I have taken more images in the last few weeks than I have in the past 2.5 years since I got started in this hobby.
The point of this entire post though, is that even in a tiny courtyard, you CAN have an observatory (sky views are limited by my house, but you can't have it all!). It is well worth the effort if you can convince the significant other to comply. I recommend it highly!
For those interested in the pier dig, here are some pics of that.
1. hole was 50 x 50 x 60cm deep - should have done more, but was over it.
2. one solid pier - the gussets run all the way along for rigidity, 200mm diam
3. threaded rod assembly to be buried in the concrete
4. custom made top plate for my wedge
5. wedge mounted
6. underlay in - gives you an idea of limited inside room
7. carpet in - also more perspective on how little room is in there, and that's with no bookshelves, desk, chair and the stuff that used to live in the shed too!
Fantastic images, Robert. I can imagine how delighted you are to finally have a permanent setup, and can so easily start imaging without the hour long setup of dragging the gear out, drift aligning etc.
I'm so jealous! The best spot in my yard to observe from gives me a good view to the east and north/east, but I have no view to the south or west. Plus, it's in the middle of the yard. I have ZERO chance of setting up a shed in the middle of the yard.. that's kinda where the kids want to play
I'm so jealous! The best spot in my yard to observe from gives me a good view to the east and north/east, but I have no view to the south or west.
Mike, I used to have decent east & north, but have never had south & west. This is no great loss as in both those directions, there is MASSIVE skyglow. As much as it is limiting, the house stops the temptation to image that direction.
The only down-side with a roll-off design (flat roof), is that the walls are quite high, and because it is cramped anyway you have to wait a long time before stuff comes over the walls in the east. Great wind protection and stray light protection though!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Davis
Hi Robert, that has come up really well. And you actually got Andrew to help out! Wonderfull! Love the way you have done the roll off rails.
Andrew is always willing to help if he can laugh at your stupidity and show you how to do it properly. Plus, offering free booze and food is always an effective tool. Perhaps he's not an engineer really, maybe he's a teacher in disguise???
Rails work really well - the only things I would probably add in hindsight (which may come soon), is another beam across the middle (E/W direction) to help lift the roof off the walls initially. The roof stayed put even in those really ridiculous winds from a few weeks back. No water ingress so far even when it's been coming sideways.
Oh fantastic and there are some great ideas in that one!! Well done. My biggest concern for you would be the vented window area - easy to remove the panels and gain access as well as show what is in there? LOL almost looks like a pergola area with the roof open!!
Oh fantastic and there are some great ideas in that one!! Well done. My biggest concern for you would be the vented window area - easy to remove the panels and gain access as well as show what is in there? LOL almost looks like a pergola area with the roof open!!
My townhouse is way at the back of a whole bunch of units, and there is no direct access to the back yard other than through the house, and there's a 4 foot drop on the other side of the fence in addition to the height of the fence. Anyone wanting to carry out a 10" LX200GPS will be very keen. Plus, there are open shelves in front of it reasonably full of "stuff" which would make it pretty hard to negotiate. It's a very tiny space!
I'm also planning in the near future to put a webcam in there so I can control it remotely from the warmth of the house, and secondarily, it can act as a motion sensing alerter when no one is home (which is basically never, but sometimes it happens!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ
Gday Turbo
Thats cute
IIRC you were advised to fit that the first time we tried the roof
PS, but it is good to see how well its all come together.
Not bad considering the space we had to work with.
Yes - addition of the central support beam was an initial suggestion, and my current restriction is getting hold if the wife's car to transport it back from bunnings! Problem is that every time I go to bunnings, I come back with 6 times more stuff than I went there to buy (and often, not getting what I went there for in the first place!)
The "Turbotorium" opening ceremony/booze-up will be organised soon, primarily so you can bring some tools (my hammer, cordless drill and 2 shifters don't get the job done) and tweak some things for me!
. A year and a half of my constant moaning about the weather and how long it was taking to setup/tear-down was enough to finally get permission from the wife to allow me to do it.
Soooo what was the Procedure Call for that? It's been a while.
Tin Shed to Roll-off roof Obs in a tiny back yard
