Best orientation for roll off roof shed

[Gab]

Looking at building a roll off roof observatory in Cambrai South Australia. Large farm property with no real physical obstructions on any horizons.

Question: What is the best axis to orientate the long axis of the rectangular shed?

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

It depends on what you don't want to see!

If you have a bright spot in your sky, then put the obstruction (roof) in that direction. Otherwise you may like to consider the prevailing wind direction to give you some cover. E-W gives you everything at some point, bit if you are in to time dependent stuff on the ecliptic (like asteroidal occultations) then maybe not...

You can never get it right, but you can try and get it least wrong

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

If it's a single run off roof, get it to run of towards the south.
If it's a split roof they should run off to the south and the north.
This confirguration allows the roof to be partially open and still allow the telescope to get good east-west movement to follow the sky.

[Ian Robinson]

I'm in the planning stages for my ROR shed.

I have found it useful to do a drawing of the plan of the yard and to take into account the plans of my next door neighbours for a new dooble garage , the location of my garage , proximity to the house , and to trees , and where currently visible street lights are and how it will take up space in the yard.

I think in my case I need it to roll off to the west or the east , if it's going off to the east , the roof will not block much , if it's going to west ditto (my house roof will block more).

My long axis will be east - west as will the ends of my gables.

[Ian Robinson]

If you've a lot freedom on orientation , and unobstructed views , I'd think prevaling breeze direction at night will be important.

[Gab]

Cheers for the input guys. I appreciate everyting you have said and will discuss with the construction team.