Be It Ever So Humble ... Observatory reassembled

[bluescope]

There's no place like ............

Well I finally got around to putting my observatory back together in my new location. Just a few new features like roof runner supports, shade cloth and insulated roof ( because it gets bloody hot here ) and the big one ........ DARK SKIES !
Haven't quite finished yet ... I have to seal around bottom of walls, lay carpet tiles, connect power and then ofcourse set up my computer and mount etc ready for imaging .... oh and collect a few more rocks from the paddock. I haven't gone for a permanent pier as I want to check things out before doing anything like that. I kind of like the fact that I can adjust the height of my mount according to which scope I may be using anyway and that is difficult to do with a permanently setup pier. If I decide to later it wouldn't be too hard to sort out.
It feels good to be almost back to where I was a few months ago only hopefully a little better this time.
Anyway just thought I would share the news.

[darrellx (Darrell)]

Bluescope

Looks good. The location looks specially inviting. I notice that you have split the roof. Interesting.

I am considering building my own observatory, and have been pondering the roof. How do you "rejoin" the roof and ensure that it is waterproof? I suspect you must have a fair amount of overlap.

At your location, do you get much by way of wind with your storms?

Darrell

[h0ughy (David)]

looks good - you must be in the middle of nowhere

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Now that is a great astro location!!

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by darrellx

Bluescope

Looks good. The location looks specially inviting. I notice that you have split the roof. Interesting.

I am considering building my own observatory, and have been pondering the roof. How do you "rejoin" the roof and ensure that it is waterproof? I suspect you must have a fair amount of overlap.

At your location, do you get much by way of wind with your storms?

Darrell

Hi Darrell

One side of the roof simply lifts over the other by one corrigation peak ( for want of a better description ) and I padlock the two halves into position with four corner brackets per half and one hasp and staple at each end ( 10 padlocks in all ). It was completely waterproof in my old location so I suspect it will be here also.

I get very strong/gusty easterly winds presently with the hot weather. I have only been here for 10 weeks so I can't say how winter will be.

Originally Posted by h0ughy

looks good - you must be in the middle of nowhere

Not quite Dave ... I'm only 85kms or so from Perth as the crow flies ... 100kms by road.

What happened to the Home Dome you bought on IceTrade ... have you installed it yet ? That was a good buy !

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Now that is a great astro location!!

Cheers Rob

The skies here are mind blowing on a clear, moonless night . There is also very little moisture in the air so far.

Very promising ... I should have it all finished by the time the moon buggers off !

[Garyh]

What a wonderful location you have there! Bluescope. Nice open outlook and dark skies. Now that`s what I want more off!
Nice little Obs too..
cheers Gary

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by Garyh

What a wonderful location you have there! Bluescope. Nice open outlook and dark skies. Now that`s what I want more off!
Nice little Obs too..
cheers Gary

Yep it's a nice spot alright Gary ... and the observatory is almost ready to go ... I siliconed around the base, re-laid the carpet tiles inside and moved my computer stand in yesterday ... I also buried a long extension cord between the house and the obs the day before. I have an outdoor power socket about 30 metres away at the house ... that way when I am not using the observatory there is no power that can be left on etc. Sorry I'm raving a bit ... looking forward to using it again ... particularly in this location.

Thanks for looking !

[leon]

Hey Steve you may call it humble, but i reckon that is a beauty, bugger the building mate, what a sky line.

Leon

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by leon

Hey Steve you may call it humble, but i reckon that is a beauty, bugger the building mate, what a sky line.

Leon

Yeah Leon ... I'm pretty fortunate to live here ... it blew me away when we first looked at the place last year ... and it still does. I first intended to put my observatory further away from the house ... about 30 metres past the fence line into the paddock with the sheep ... but it's very rocky land and would have been a nightmare to make it work. Also I've found the wind coming up the hill to the east and south can be a bit rugged to say the least. I still have a great sky where it is located.

Cheers mate !

[renormalised (Carl)]

If you'd have put it in the other paddock, the obs would be having "visitors" all the time

Would've put a completely different spin on the term "baaaaad wether"

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by renormalised

If you'd have put it in the other paddock, the obs would be having "visitors" all the time

Would've put a completely different spin on the term "baaaaad wether"

You're right there .......................

[Shaun]

Hi, i plan to build an obs where i am, i am not on property but have the room, one question i have is the heat what would be the best way to keep it out of the equipment?

I was thinking shade cloth over top that can be rolled back when needed, some of those sunny 44c days can realy heat things up.

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Hi, i plan to build an obs where i am, i am not on property but have the room, one question i have is the heat what would be the best way to keep it out of the equipment?

I was thinking shade cloth over top that can be rolled back when needed, some of those sunny 44c days can realy heat things up.

The roll off shade cloth sounds like a good idea Shaun ... I have a couple of small pieces attached to my guide tracks ( I just had them lying around so they cost nothing ) and I have insulation attached to the inside of the roof ( like a batt with silver backing ... you buy it in rolls .. again I had some lying around and luckily it fit ) ... plus the roof is white colourbond to reflect the heat a bit. Best not to leave your scope in the obs though when it gets to those sort of temps. My WO FLT110 is pretty easy to carry in and out but my 254mm Newt weighs in at 15kgs so it doesn't get used much anymore .

Good luck !

[spearo (Frank)]

looks excellent and the location seems perfect!
congrats
frank

[bluescope]

Originally Posted by spearo

looks excellent and the location seems perfect!
congrats
frank

It's pretty good for astro stuff that's for sure Frank ... thanks !