Making plans to build a DIY observatory

[benklerk]

Hi All

I'm currently looking into building a DIY observatory to house my telescope and computer.

The size I'm looking at is around 2.5 by 2.5 m I could push 3 x 3 m, as I don't have a large backyard. While doing some looking about, I came across this website. http://www.astrobuysell.com/paul/observatory/index.htm

Is their anywhere in Australia where I can get a good vinyl shed or are there better options to choose from? My budget is about $2000 to build it.

It will house a EQ8 and a GSO 12" RC when I get them at the end of the year. Which will be on a pier.

Any tips and ideas would help and fell free to add your pics of your observatory.

Thanks
Ben

[glend (Glen)]

Big subject, i am sure you get many opinions. My 2 cents, from building my observatory about 2 years ago. I am a believer in getting it off the ground. Mine is build on posts set in concrete, so its a timber structure with roll off roof. All the walls, roof, and floor are designed to be able to flat pack to move if ever required. Being up off the ground by six to twelve inches has good benefits in terms of condensation management, and preventing cold feet. Obviously the pier and footing is built first and the obs built around/ over it. In my case the pier rises into the obs through a hole in the floor, where services also enter. Timber ROR obs are very cost effective, and there are many examples around on the forums and the Net. Timber structures will be cooler in summer than any metal type shed. Your budget will easily build a timber/ply type obs and you will money left over. Mine is 2.5 x 2m, has a workstation area and a carpeted floor. It cost about $1500 to build.
Good luck, and check out the many build threads in the DIY Observatory forum here at IIS.

[I.C.D (Ian)]

G’day Ben ,
My observatory is 3x3x2 m with a gable roof that parts in the middle, for runners I have used uni-strut and 40mm wheel bearings to roll the roof out. Sometimes I find it a bit small and is also built off the ground because of slope. There is a hole in the middle of the floor for the pier which is 800mm into the ground and separate from the floor so you walk around without causing vibration when imaging. The walls are standard walls like a house with insulation and colour bond tin on the outside the roof is RHS steel made into a gable split in the middle with insulation and tin.
To keep the roof close I use ratchet straps and g-clamps which have held up to some very strong winds

ian c

[benklerk]

Just a update

What would be better on a EQ8, GSO 12" , a GSO 14" or something which can perform around the same cost. The 14" is the upper cost on what I can afford. While the 12" is what I'm looking at cost wise.

The camera I can afford is a ASI ZWO 1600mm cooled with a filter wheel with LRGB Ha 6nm SII 6nm OIII 6nm.

The shed, I'm thinking will have a color bond roof (Gable and on rails) about 1.8 to 2 m high. Walls will be either cladding to mach the house or something like gyprock (2.5m x 2.5m). The floor may either be wood or concrete.

For power I was think of running a outdoor extension lead to the observatory by conduit underground, good or bad? I will be doing the same for a Ethernet cable .

For the pier I was going to send Pegasus Piers a message, are they good and don't cost a fortune? What would the alternatives be?

I think I have everything covered.

[glend (Glen)]

As an ASI1600MM-Cool owner, i can say its a great camera however probably not the best choice for the focal length of an RC12. Yes you can Bin it but there are perhaps better choices. The 1600 is wonderful on scopes with a focal length around 1000mm or less, imho.
Whether you are going to use a steel or concrete pier you will need a big footing, as the EQ8 is pretty beefy and your going to have to put in a footing that suits its payload. I prefer poured concrete piers done at the time of the footing pour. Its easy to integrate reo into a tube formwork, and you can even leave the tube form in place if you can find a large enough PVC pipe as the form. If your building the obs on footings to get if off the ground, then make the pier long enough . You will need to plan carefully so that the finished pier is the right height, not as important with a steel pier.