It's too far out for SkippySky yet. The other 28-day forecasts say 75% chance of rain though. Fingers crossed.
There may be a wet-weather project for us though.
On Sunday next I'm going to inspect the observatory that Jeanette's ex is giving away. We have jeanette's blessing to take it if we can use it. So there is a possibility of having a 4 metre dome to set up.
I attach a photo I have concocted from the image Jeanette posted recently in these forums - showing the dome and walls separate. Thanks to Pint, I have "rejoined" them to get a sense of the size of the beast.
Another photo of the shed - we've gone solar since any of you were here!.
I take it we will be erecting the dome up at the prime position we've been talking about? My thoughts would be that the dome should be somewhere that can't be seen from the road... A shed with a roll off roof is pretty inconspicuous, but a dome screams at the top of its lungs "Im full of expensive stuff!!"
I take it we will be erecting the dome up at the prime position we've been talking about?
Yep. 2.7 Kw worth - should produce, on average, about 12-13 KwH a day 365 a year - of which I expect to use about 4-5 during daylight hours; so the rest goes into the grid at 50c/KwH or about A$1500/annum which will more than pay the rest of my power bill and leave a few hundred left over. So I hope to be essentially power-independent from now on.
As for the Obs, I plan to walk the area tomorrow and take some lines of sight. I attach a Google Maps shot of the property showing where the prime site is. Have a look on Google maps in the topographic view and you'll see that this is the crown of a hill looking in all directions.
The plantation is a bit of an obstacle to running power to this site though. It may be necessary to compromise and put it on the flat near the existing obs.
You know I love your property - but geez it's something from the air isn't it! Stunner!
We'll have a look this weekend if the weather allows us to be outside the car.
As for the power, I might have access to a Dingo... could probably dig a trench and run the power underground... The plantation still poses an obstacle, but might not be as insurmountable as setting up power poles etc...
I have a bucket full of bits and pieces for the obs, somewhere in the shed at the other house.
I'll look for it this Sunday.
It has deteriorated a lot over the last couple of years. So be prepared for a bit of work to get it into operational order.
There's work needed to be done to repair the fibreglass and there is wood to be replaced in some of the framework.
I'm so happy that it's gone to a good home.
Jeanette - We'll be having a look at it on Saturday hopefully. We'll have to asses the best way to move it from Kilcoy to Ten Chain Hill. I've done some fiberglass work in the past, I hate doing it because its real itchy scratchy work, but I've done it before and its not too labor intensive... Any woodworking to be done can be sorted out...
Ron - A fantastic Idea! Which brings another question to mind. When are we setting up your dome?
Jeanette - We'll be having a look at it on Saturday hopefully. We'll have to asses the best way to move it from Kilcoy to Ten Chain Hill. I've done some fiberglass work in the past, I hate doing it because its real itchy scratchy work, but I've done it before and its not too labor intensive... Any woodworking to be done can be sorted out...
Ron - A fantastic Idea! Which brings another question to mind. When are we setting up your dome?
Greg will be going away some time on Saturday. You have my phone number, give us a call before you go over, I'll go over with you so the dog doesn't rip yer leg off. LOL
Alex wrote,Ron - A fantastic Idea! Which brings another question to mind. When are we setting up your dome?
I have finished tripping around, and subject to what happens re my Knee in the near future I hope to set it up in the next couple of months
I have just teed up the maker of the dome re getting started on the concrete pad
I take it we will be erecting the dome up at the prime position we've been talking about? My thoughts would be that the dome should be somewhere that can't be seen from the road... A shed with a roll off roof is pretty inconspicuous, but a dome screams at the top of its lungs "Im full of expensive stuff!!"
Surely that hill you've highlighted Peter is too visible from the road? I'd 2nd Alex's concerns. I'd feel a lot safer knowing all my goodies were closer to the house.
Looking forward to hearing more about the dome too. Cool!
Yours too Ron - be good to see that circle of dirt come to life.
I think put it near the current observatory Peter. It would be too tempting for the curious, and perhaps light-fingered, to wander off the road and check it out. Not to mention the issue of getting power there.
Alex - that is a long way to dig a trench with a dingo!
Are you guys going to be doing work there this coming weekend 6th/7th?
We'll assess the road visibility of the site on Saturday, There may be ways to camouflage or conceal the dome without obstructing the view from it... All options will be considered, however if need be, as Peter said, the dome could be located on the flat area beside the current shed... From what I understand this "prime site" has completely unobstructed 360 degree views right down to the horizon... That is favorable over almost anything else... Security trumps visibility I think... Theres no point being able to see right down to the horizon if you don't have a telescope with which to observe/image...
Adam - This weekend there will be some brainstorming being done.. We're going to check this dome out and figure out how we're going to move it from where it currently resides to the Ten Chain Hill site... Positioning of the obs is something to consider....
Stunner! 
