ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 11%
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02-05-2010, 10:20 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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New Observatory…I mean new Property!
Recently secured a bid for a 17 acre property in the hills. About 3km away from Perth Observatory, on the top of a nice big hill (well above the valley moisture) and lots of large trees to block any other light.
Subject to sale, but that won't be too difficult.
I'm now thinking of building something up the hill in a nice clearing...a wee Observatory for my nocturnal activities.
I want to secure my scopes up there so any suggestions on what's available (prefab domes etc) would be appreciated.
*
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02-05-2010, 11:25 PM
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Cloud hater
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Conondale QLD
Posts: 493
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Nice spot Mark, well done.
Used to live in Mahogany Creek not far from there, gets some fairly dark skies for so close to Perth.
Hope it all runs smooth for you.
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03-05-2010, 12:30 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Laura
Posts: 599
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Sirus domes are great if you have the cash. I have one and I think it is the best thing a have got.
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03-05-2010, 07:05 AM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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A Skyshed POD is another alternative worth checking out. I think Matthew at Telescopes and Astronomy sid he was delivering to WA this year? 
www.skyshedpod.com
Al.
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03-05-2010, 10:01 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 8,278
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Security and strength go prefab-concrete with roll off roof and warm room, then add a nice flat bitumen area you can let for a small fee for other's to come to dark sky viewing nights not far from Perth central
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03-05-2010, 02:48 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JD2439975
Nice spot Mark, well done.
Used to live in Mahogany Creek not far from there, gets some fairly dark skies for so close to Perth.
Hope it all runs smooth for you.
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That's a nice place...rode through there quite a bit.
The place is in Piesse Brook...it's also my favorite place in WA.
Might have to have a BBQ me thinks! 
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03-05-2010, 02:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Thanks guys, I'll look into those domes.
@Trevor: Prefab??? LOL, you'll never get a cement truck up the driveway; must be 20-22 percent grade in places.
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03-05-2010, 02:52 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrevorW
then add a nice flat bitumen area you can let for a small fee for other's to come to dark sky viewing nights not far from Perth central
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Now you've got me thinking!
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03-05-2010, 03:34 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 8,278
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Maybe from the proceeds of his book when it reaches No. 1
PS: rammed Earth
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03-05-2010, 04:38 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
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That wasn't PlaneWave's phone number BTW, it was the price! 
The second was just plain stupid...I mean who would want it in yellow?!
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03-05-2010, 05:30 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 4,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesti
Recently secured a bid for a 17 acre property in the hills....
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Nice, I had been waiting to see if you mentioned the place again after it last came up  I lived the first 27 years of my life 1km east of your spot. Still drive by every week as I have several relations living there still. Nice place you've got yourself, congrats.
Re obs, Depends on your budget of course, but for your horizons there, toss up between a roll-off to maximise the view vs wind protection of a dome. Shed is always more secure from the outset because it can look so inconspicuous. If you look for a roll-off or pier I can recommend the engineer who built my 6x3m observatory and piers, he's just over the hill from you. Line of sight in fact, hill top to hill-top.
Edit: When I had my observatory there (1km from u) my biggest problems were dust, wind, and lightning. Easterlies kicking through much of the summer. Lightning is attracted to the local vicinity due to high density of high voltage power lines (we think). Just some things to keep in mind for building your obs.
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03-05-2010, 05:32 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesti
That wasn't PlaneWave's phone number BTW, it was the price!
The second was just plain stupid...I mean who would want it in yellow?! |
I know...$185K isn't all that dear
Change the colour
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03-05-2010, 07:14 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogerg
Nice, I had been waiting to see if you mentioned the place again after it last came up I lived the first 27 years of my life 1km east of your spot. Still drive by every week as I have several relations living there still. Nice place you've got yourself, congrats.
Re obs, Depends on your budget of course, but for your horizons there, toss up between a roll-off to maximise the view vs wind protection of a dome. Shed is always more secure from the outset because it can look so inconspicuous. If you look for a roll-off or pier I can recommend the engineer who built my 6x3m observatory and piers, he's just over the hill from you. Line of sight in fact, hill top to hill-top.
Edit: When I had my observatory there (1km from u) my biggest problems were dust, wind, and lightning. Easterlies kicking through much of the summer. Lightning is attracted to the local vicinity due to high density of high voltage power lines (we think). Just some things to keep in mind for building your obs. |
Thanks Roger. I'll have to do some work and extensions on the place to bring it up-to-speed; but it's nice enough.
1km's not far, geez! East...that would be just past the Aldersyde Rd turn-off.
Obs budget will depend upon the sale of this house so I'll have to wait and see...might end up being a cardboard box with a pair of Binos. The Chinese have bought every house for sale in the area (buying before the new legislation I suspect). But they're also paying very high prices, $1.9M for a 3x2 bungalow (traditional Perth red brick thingy) with no views and in a normal street. Perth's gone insane!
"I can recommend the engineer who built my 6x3m observatory and piers, he's just over the hill from you. Line of sight in fact, hill top to hill-top" Sure, that would be great. Can you PM me contact details please.
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03-05-2010, 07:16 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
I know...$185K isn't all that dear
Change the colour |
Is there anyone who actually owns a $185k scope??? At home!!
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03-05-2010, 08:23 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesti
Is there anyone who actually owns a $185k scope??? At home!!
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If I'm lucky enough, one day I will
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03-05-2010, 08:25 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesti
The Chinese have bought every house for sale in the area (buying before the new legislation I suspect). But they're also paying very high prices, $1.9M for a 3x2 bungalow (traditional Perth red brick thingy) with no views and in a normal street. Perth's gone insane!
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The Chinese will end up owning everything if they keep buying stuff up...all thanks to KRudd.
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03-05-2010, 08:38 PM
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Supernova Searcher
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambroon Queensland Australia
Posts: 9,326
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Hi Mark, Next time I am in WA I will come and so some observing from your New Observatory site 
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03-05-2010, 08:59 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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03-05-2010, 09:01 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen
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Dreams are where realities start
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