Brightsky Observatory III - Build update 14/10/2013
Hi guys,
Been a while since I had posted anything on this project. So here are a few images of the prep work in putting down some concrete and testing of the location of the pier etc.. Since I will not be in the observatory while imaging is taking place, I have decided to do a full slab, which will be around 100mm thick, maybe a little more. I thought while I am at it I will concrete the front of the Observatory also, which always seems to get very muddy when it rains. I am also going to remod my pier to make it a little stronger up top, possibly adding 15-20mm bolts to it for strength.
If all has gone to plan the concrete will be poured on Saturday morning, then I have to wait a bit more before putting the pier in... The Concreting will be done myself and a few friends, so hopefully it will turn out okay. If not, you wont see it in the dark
Looking good Andrewtser, What happened to the big huge thick peir & tha huge hole for it etc in the other phots', sorry, i havent been watching for a while mate ?
Yeah slight change of plans there Bob, it was a little too overkill, so since I will not be inside the Observatory during imaging, I am just going to use the large slab as the pier base...
Removed the forms and checked out where the pier would go, only to find out that with the mount attached it's about 100mm to high for the roof to close, now thats some bad planning on my part.
Good news is I have a welder mate coming tomorrow and we will modify the pier so it will all fit If not he may take it and do it at his house. We are also going to modify the door so I can at least lock it all up at night.
All this because I hadn't taken into account the height of the concrete... Live n Learn....
Looks good Andrew, shame about the height of the pier but a shorter pier is better any way in the end. You can only usefully image from 34 degrees up off the horizon on any given night.
Looks good Andrew, shame about the height of the pier but a shorter pier is better any way in the end. You can only usefully image from 34 degrees up off the horizon on any given night.
Yeah, if I go another 200mm shorter I will need to learn to drift align properly LOL.. at least once it's all setup I only need to do this a few nights and it should be sweet..
Yeah, if I go another 200mm shorter I will need to learn to drift align properly LOL.. at least once it's all setup I only need to do this a few nights and it should be sweet..
Contact Peter.M he knows about a program that will get you polar aligned in 5 minutes or so. No more drift aligning.
yeah I got a program called EQAlign, a open source program (apparently) that does a quick align using two stars. Never used it properly, but looks pretty good.
I use alignmaster, cost me about 20 bucks and its the best money I ever spent in this hobby. Having said that if I had my stuff set up permanently I guess the hassle of drift aligning would be less painful.
Hey Paul, I thought you meant me, now I know I haven't got the old timers disease as yet, but sure as hell could not remember that one. Thank God it was the other Peter M...
Pier has now been installed into the Observatory, now the fun begins of setting the mount and scopes up.... So My Observatory is almost complete, it's been a long road, many changes in design. I have to thank everyone who gave a little input as without it, I don't think it would have got as far as it did... Many times I wondered if I should continue, and many hours doubting myself. Now it's almost done, I am happy I did it. Only need to wire it into the sheds power supply and insulate the roof and bug proof it a little more.
Observatory is now pretty much complete. Still yet to run the cables into the Shed as a warm room, but for now I just leave the computer running and operate via Tablet. I have just purchased an 8" f/4 to go on the mount also and I must say it looks pretty good now. I am really happy with the performance of the mount and the refractor I had on it is now tucked away for widefield/portable work later on.. Pics show, 8" f/4 next to my 8" f/6, The refractor in the Observatory, and the Newt in the Observatory... C'mon sun go down....
I know two or 4 or 5.
