"I guess when we get the garage makeover we can put a dome on top".
How will you get the SDM up the stairs?
We were looking at a small property near Tamworth. Altitude 500m at the house and 580m at the back fence. To put in a proper obs we'd only have to grade a track up the hill and run water and power about 300m. Shame there's no work for either of us nearby, and the current job has a "4 days a week in the office" policy.
We were looking at a small property near Tamworth. Altitude 500m at the house and 580m at the back fence. To put in a proper obs we'd only have to grade a track up the hill and run water and power about 300m. Shame there's no work for either of us nearby, and the current job has a "4 days a week in the office" policy.
Mithrandir,
I won't have the scope upstairs in the garage....too many thermal current issues.....I am not quite sure precisely what my wife had in mind, but it is getting closer to the Sirius Observatory I have in mind!
My issue is lights from neighbours. The other night while observing I had lights on in all directions. Some evenings I laugh at the absurdity of it, other nights I have been close to tears, especially if the seeing has been rock steady. Occasionally everyone's lights are off and I have some dark bliss. Having an observatory will mean I do not have to worry about blinding lights, and total loss of dark adaption at random. Nothing will make my skies intrinsically dark. Getting a really big scope has done the best I can to increase the depth of objects I can see from my place. An observatory will at least give me some consistency from night to night.
well i am absolutely buggered. I had mega help today from my brother in law and Alan Meehan. A lot got done!!!! ran the Data cables, and the power cables, dug a few trenches and broke out a concrete path. A great way of using 2m3 of concrete LOL - the extra becomes instant roundup....
So - i have used 32MPa 10mm mix - the pier was done in a complete pour - thats why there are the retaining wall bricks on top to keep it from rising - forgot to tie it off to the reo - note must remember that if ever i get to do it again
it was pretty hot work, but rewarding.
all that is left now is to run the floor supports and then start drilling and screwing the decking on.
i had probably 3-5mm slump on the pier, with some heat crazing near the centre - will top up with a mortar mix later. certainly looks like it wont move much
Well done mate, gee youre not mucking around, taking shape nice and fast.
Will have to have a Grand Opening Night to celebrate First Light Will have to give the new observatory a name too "Doghouse Observatory" sounds great
Scott
Great progress ! - even better when you have extra pairs of hands.
Do you have a reactive soils in your area (I guess Alan knows all about this?) or have you spudded the pier into bedrock?
Are you going to automate the observatory? Garage door motor systems work a treat. 'Bert' just installed an ASCOM compatible observatory board in my observatory yesterday - which I will link to CCDautopliot in my case.
Great progress ! - even better when you have extra pairs of hands.
Do you have a reactive soils in your area (I guess Alan knows all about this?) or have you spudded the pier into bedrock?
Are you going to automate the observatory? Garage door motor systems work a treat. 'Bert' just installed an ASCOM compatible observatory board in my observatory yesterday - which I will link to CCDautopliot in my case.
guy
i have reactive soils, its a bummer no rock. probably later down the track i might look at full automation, but for now it will have to be turned by hand
Oh my Goodness !!!!!
I can't believe my eyes.
Is this really happening?
Ever since I joined the forum I've been waiting to see this moment come true !
Congrats mate, I can't wait to see it complete.
LOL I'll be coming up for the opening ceremony.
Are you sure it's big enough to fit all your equipment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl
the tent up over the holes reminded me a little of "Palmdale" Dave
(sorry folks - this could be regarded as a local joke)
geoff
Palmdale........
LOL Geoff that's the funniest thing I've read on here this week.
Oh my Goodness !!!!!
I can't believe my eyes.
Is this really happening?
Ever since I joined the forum I've been waiting to see this moment come true !
Congrats mate, I can't wait to see it complete.
LOL I'll be coming up for the opening ceremony.
Are you sure it's big enough to fit all your equipment.
Palmdale........
LOL Geoff that's the funniest thing I've read on here this week.
yes mate you are seeing the real deal!!! as for palmdale - must be a central coast thing
your most welcome mate i can say its a hell of a lot of work - i am hoping my choice of pier method will work and be stable. 32mpa set real hard
So mate when do we see the hard boiled observatory
