How much "Sky" is worth putting in a peir?

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Hey Paul, Re your stray light problem. Why not put your pier in the best possible site for sky views then make up some simple light shields, black plastic over a pair of frames or something for the time being. One day you will probably put an ob over it all and cut out the low level stuff. I would say it was more important to get your best sky coverage first then find solutions to the light. With 44 acres to choose from I'd be thinking a bit long term although you can move or make another pier one day if it comes to that.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Really, to get the best skies, I need to set up a long way from the house. I can probably do that if I really get keen enough but I would have to pinch a bit of paddock and build an observatory of sorts so that the scope could remain out there most of the time. Lugging it a couple of hundred meters across muddy paddocks in winter is not an attractive thought. If nothing else I would stand a fair chance of upending myself in the mud and doing damage to the scope.

In one spot if I built a proper observatory with walls tall enough I could block out most light from the road, but them I loose the horizon. I reckon I could get myself views down to about ten or twenty degrees off the horizon in nearly all directions out in the paddock.

I think if I go ahead I may be best though to just set up a pier near the house to begin with, then look at building a shed with a roll off roof after that. Biggest problem is vehicle traffic around the house though, if I put it too far from the garage someone is likely to reverse into the pier!

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

Really, to get the best skies, I need to set up a long way from the house. ....... Lugging it a couple of hundred meters across muddy paddocks in winter is not an attractive thought. If nothing else I would stand a fair chance of upending myself in the mud and doing damage to the scope......

I used a garden cart for over a year as my Obs is out in the Alpaca paddock
You can get em from the big "B" or "M" warehouse or knock up a quick one from scrap wood

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Hmmm. Making the decision harder! If I used the paddock with the best views it is still a bit far (COuple of hundred meters from the house and through several paddocks. But I could possibly justify an obs in the next one closer, still gets views down to the horizon in most directions and with an observatory like yours, I could lift the wall height up high enough to block car headlights to a large degree.

But the option to have it next to the house is still nice, access to amenities and so on. Decisions, decisions.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

You don't really go down the horizon. The air is far too thick there and turbulent. Most of my viewing is above 30 degrees and preferably higher. I find a good view to the SCP is far more important as everything revolves around that and evntually it will be a better position.
I have no view to the east, blocked by trees but the CBD glow is there so I don't care. My views are Sth and west with some northern and NW sky for zenith. A decent portable mount is a good start, even in an ob. If I can get my imaging technique down to half way decent I will probably look for an EQ5 or HEQ5 Pro second hand. My cruddy GEM is driving me nuts and I have a useful location in the back yard but I suspect I'd need to move it for some situations.