Low walled roll off roof observatories

[astroron (Ron)]

I am thinking of building a low walled observatory to house my 16" Dobsonian telescope
Has anyone seen any plans for a 4x4meter roll off roof observatory that doesn't cost the earth
I have done various Google searches and all I get is high walled designs
Cheers

[snowyskiesau]

I can't recall seeing many here. The only ones that spring to mind are the Ballarat Observatory and the Winer.
Neither are what you would call low cost and a bit bigger than 4x4.

I imagine that you would have to have brick/blocks for the lower half of the structure if only to keep the local council busybodies happy.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Ron, here's a site with links to heaps of observatories, you should find at least one low walled obs there including this one specifically designed for Dobs.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Ron, here's a site with links to heaps of observatories, you should find at least one low walled obs there including this one specifically designed for Dobs.

Thanks Phil, I don't like the Dobservatory as it looses one horizon with the high Roof
It will take me a month of Sundays to go through all those obs but a random search of at least ten observatories brought forth not one low wall all are designed for High wall observatories, but will keep on looking I might just flook one with low walls for a dob
I have just looked at twenty pages of cloudy nights and all the observatories shown had one or more Horizon obstruction
Geoff those two observatories are way out of my league
Thanks gents anyway, something may come up
Cheers

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I'm planning to go ultra low profile with the 20" Ron. I'm going to build a box which just covers the scope when laid horizontal, and has door at on end so that the whole structure can be rolled away leaving the scope on its base ready for use. Of course, it offers no protection from the wind.

I had the idea of putting a piece of granite or caesarstone on top and use it as a table/outdoor kitchen too, but it would kind of look more like a sacrificial alter

[Strawb (Dave)]

I went to local garden shed builder and he was very accomodating and would build the shed however I liked .( I wanted a 1.5 wall height with a 300 mm gable. He would have the whole thing made and certified but I had to modify it it myself which I had planned to be the way Paul (Peebs) has done. These guys are pretty helpful with custom designs Ron. Good luck

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Its probably more than you want to do Ron but have a look at Lesters drop wall observatory in SA. It might give you some ideas
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ht=Observatory

[floyd_2 (Dean)]

Just thinking outside the square a little, Darby Falls Observatory has a shed with a fenced courtyard attached to it where they wheel their scopes out into for observing. It's a good set up.

I think observing / photographing at low altitudes is a little problematic so am wondering if it's worth the trouble to ensure that you have low viewing capability. Certainly when you're viewing at 20 degrees or less above the horizon viewing can be comparatively quite poor. At 30 degrees above the horizon, you're still looking through about 2 atmospheres of air.

With my set up I don't observe objects that are less than about 40 degrees above the horizon (a limitation of where I live and light pollution). I know that limits my viewing such that I may never see certain objects that never rise very far in the southern sky. However, for everything else, I just plan my nights so that I view the objects in my list when they have risen nice and high in the sky where the viewing is the best.

Best of luck with your project Ron, it's very exciting giving your telescope a home!

Dean

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

I'm planning to go ultra low profile with the 20" Ron. I'm going to build a box which just covers the scope when laid horizontal, and has door at on end so that the whole structure can be rolled away leaving the scope on its base ready for use. Of course, it offers no protection from the wind.

I had the idea of putting a piece of granite or caesarstone on top and use it as a table/outdoor kitchen too, but it would kind of look more like a sacrificial alter

Hi Jonathon,I have thought of that too ,after seeing the late mike Kerr 's 25"scope at Ilford the home of the SPSP
It could be one option
Cheers

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by floyd_2

Just thinking outside the square a little, Darby Falls Observatory has a shed with a fenced courtyard attached to it where they wheel their scopes out into for observing. It's a good set up.

I think observing / photographing at low altitudes is a little problematic so am wondering if it's worth the trouble to ensure that you have low viewing capability. Certainly when you're viewing at 20 degrees or less above the horizon viewing can be comparatively quite poor. At 30 degrees above the horizon, you're still looking through about 2 atmospheres of air.

With my set up I don't observe objects that are less than about 40 degrees above the horizon (a limitation of where I live and light pollution). I know that limits my viewing such that I may never see certain objects that never rise very far in the southern sky. However, for everything else, I just plan my nights so that I view the objects in my list when they have risen nice and high in the sky where the viewing is the best.

Best of luck with your project Ron, it's very exciting giving your telescope a home!

Dean

Dean and Thanks, I already have an8" SCT in a Roll off Roof Observatory I now want to house my 16" Dob in a low wall observatory as I already roll it out on wheel barrow wheels, but want to have it in a perminent position
Cheers

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Its probably more than you want to do Ron but have a look at Lesters drop wall observatory in SA. It might give you some ideas
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ht=Observatory

Thanks Paul, I had looked at Lester's observatory very nice but a bit to elaborate for what I want
Cheers

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Ron, I think I gave you a pdf book called "Setting Up a Small Observatory".
There might be some ideas in there for you.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Ron, where you are, you have natural obstructions in all directions varying in type and height but extending probably 15-20 degrees at the least. Factor that in when deciding how low you really need those walls to go. It may be, for example, that you could design a structure with walls that had a bifold horizontally so you could fold down one or two of them depending which direction you're looking to.
Peter

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Strawb

I went to local garden shed builder and he was very accomodating and would build the shed however I liked .( I wanted a 1.5 wall height with a 300 mm gable. He would have the whole thing made and certified but I had to modify it it myself which I had planned to be the way Paul (Peebs) has done. These guys are pretty helpful with custom designs Ron. Good luck

Dave Paul(1 ponders) has given me the same advice and with looking at his Observatory and the costs involved seems a good way to go
Cheers

[peeb61 (Paul)]

Hi Ron,
I would be more than happy to supply you with information and images of my homemade 3m x 3m roll off observatory made from a colourbond garden shed when I get home in a week or so, I am travelling around the UK at the moment visiting relatives.

I could have done it from here but all images are at home.

Paul

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by peeb61

Hi Ron,
I would be more than happy to supply you with information and images of my homemade 3m x 3m roll off observatory made from a colourbond garden shed when I get home in a week or so, I am travelling around the UK at the moment visiting relatives.

I could have done it from here but all images are at home.

Paul

Thanks Paul, Look forward to them
Have a good Holiday
Cheers

[Lester]

Hi Ron, my observatory has 2 walls that fold down so that the horizon can be observed to the east and the north.

http://scp3.org/main/index.php?optio...-diy&Itemid=59

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Lester

Hi Ron, my observatory has 2 walls that fold down so that the horizon can be observed to the east and the north.

http://scp3.org/main/index.php?optio...-diy&Itemid=59

Thanks Lester your observatory design is Ideal for imaging but is not what I require for a dobsonion
Cheers