This tread will be devoted to the construction of Viewbank Observatory here in Melbourne. The Observatory on its completion will house two telescopes, an ED120 and ED80 side by side for deep space imaging and a 14" LX200R for visual and planetary imaging. Like all great project it is built on the successes of others. The remove of 16 cubic metres of rubbish, the construction of pargola, decking, plumbing etc. Some major browny points for which the wife has given me permission to build my observatory.
How that I have got the intro out of the way here are some shot of the constrution work. First of the rubbish remove, mostly floor tile from the kitchen renovations, plumbing and tree removel, etc
Last edited by anthony2302749; 13-11-2007 at 07:36 PM.
Next series of shots are of the instillation of the fountaions, I have only three in place, the others will go in next week. The two large piles of besser blocks will be used for the peir foundation later on. In one of the photo you should see the garden shed that will make up the walls of the observatory.
I should add the garden shed that I am using is a 3.9 x 3.1 x 1.9 m shed purchased from Stratco for $749. This will give me about 11 squire metres of floor area. The roof will be a roll off type, the roof will be in two halfs rolling down from the ridge line to wall level, something like a clam shell. When I get up to that stage and you see the photos you will understand.
Well today I finished the foundations to support the walls and floor of the observatory and with the help of the wife (isn't she wonderful ) the wall are now in place. Tomorrow the bearer and joist will go in plus I will start digging the holes for the piers
The trees on the fence line are at the southern end of the observatory they will be a bit of a nuisance especially polar aligning the two mounts but they will not restricted me that much. I have excellent views from the SSE through the Zenith to the West. What I am pretty rapped about is the generous view to the north, lunar and planetary imaging is going to be so much fun with the 14".
Quote:
Originally Posted by ballaratdragons
Off to a great start, Anthony!
I hope those trees on the right of the pic (over the fence) don't block much sky.
Over the last two days I have been digging out the fundations for the piers. I am aiming for each pier to be arounded one cubic metre in volume. To form the structure of each pier I have decided on using compost bins of all things, they are conical in shape, so the will produce a pier with a nice wide footing at the base with a small surface area at the top, should prove to be very stable.
Funny you mention that, an officer who planned the gun postion came up to me, said that I was digging in the wrong spot and that I need to move the hole to the right 1.576m
P.S. I have been doing more digging in the last 10 month then in the nine years that I spent in the Army.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Davis
Ahhh, holes in the ground, must be the Army training!
"Move that hole over here!"
) the wall are now in place. Tomorrow the bearer and joist will go in plus I will start digging the holes for the piers 
it just may work, even better a chainsaw there not native so they are fair game.
