I reckon if you twisted Ed and George's arm, they might be able to help you build one Dave.
They seem kinda handy with their handies.
No need to twist my arm I'll be glad to help and if George can smell a BBQ he'll be there!
Dave did you see that observatory the Dennis built? I had a look at it yesterday very nice, have a talk to him and let me know when you want to start poring concrete
No need to twist my arm I'll be glad to help and if George can smell a BBQ he'll be there!
Dave did you see that observatory the Dennis built? I had a look at it yesterday very nice, have a talk to him and let me know when you want to start poring concrete
The observatory is a 3mx3m garden shed, the walls are 1.8m above the concrete and 75mm below the concrete on the outside, to stop dust and water getting in. the corners are
Fixed to four 75mmx75mm posts for rigidity.
The rails that the roof rolls off are 6m long 30x30 angle iron, and the wheels where made by a friend on a lathe
The roof was originally flat but changed that earlier this year as well as the direction it rolled off, the new roof frame is made out of 75mm x 50mm pine with top hat purling to fix the tin roof to.
The concrete pillar is sunk 1m into the ground with a 75mm thick concrete floor
The whole of the interior walls and roof are insulated with sheets of polystyrene then covered with plywood .
As can be seen most of the material is pre loved, but a coat of paint can do wonders .
It may not be pretty but it works
I don't have a digital camera, this is the best I can do.astroron
I am reading your thread with interest Houghy as I am going to build an obs too. I am still thinking of using a round water tank but maybe I might find a better idea in here. I too have seen all the sites on backyard obs, but I am open to ideas from here.
Ken,
I've just finished drafting option 2 for my observatory. I'd be using a water tank that has been cut straight down the middle as the roof and I'm umming and ahing about using straw bales as the walls. The finished structure will look a bit like an adobe quonset hut. The biggest cost will be the concrete slab, rollers and tracking.
Option 1 was to build a wood platform, and have not a roll off roof, but a roll off building. We have a porta loo sized smoke house sitting around the farm doing nothing that would house the dob, and it has built in shelf as well. Lay tracking into the platform, put rollers on the base of the smoke house. To use, unlatch the building, push aside, and you're up and observing.
Which option would be the best? Any advise would be helpful.
I like the sound of "The Smoke House Observatory". It would be quicker to put up as well.
Originally, (months ago) I thought about a roll-away building but the elements up here can be very nasty in winter and I want to get as much weather protection as possible. Even a slide off roof isn't a consideration. I want to try make mine have a small opening like a dome has. Just a slot to peer through. That should make winter viewing a lot more pleasant. I just need to work out a way to build it without going the 'expensive dome' way.
Your port-a-loo sounds like a good option. I can't use anything small any more as it will be mounted on the EQ mount and that requires a large diameter room.
H0ughy, you could go the way I did and put the scope a pier and cover it heavily with tarps. Worked really well and never (I repeat never) got wet.
In regard to your back, Have you considered going to a corrective chiropractor. It will cost you around $2800 for the first year of treatment and finding a good one is hard. However, early this year I put my back out so far I looked like the shape of the letter C. That was looking front on. Other Chiro's said I had scoliosis and could not fix it. I said that was crap as I have had numerous X rays during the Army and it was not picked up once. I went to see the guy I go to now and he said he could fix the problem and that it was result of all the damage I had done to my back in my youth. I now have a back which is very strong again and very straight. No surgery needed. Don't get surgery it will cause more problems later. Next year I will go onto a maintenence program and only need to go twice a month. It took six months for my back to come good, going 3 times a week. I felt no pain at all after 4 weeks. Try doing that after surgery. Forget the observatory and get a corrective chiro and you will be lifting your scope at 80. Your health is far more important that your hobby. Without your health there can be no hobby.
BTW, up until I hurt my back (well actually I hurt is several times over the years but did not know it) I had never been to a chiro or physio. This guy has changed my mind to all that. Don't go to a pain manager, go to someone who will correct the problem with Machines and traction. Ask them if they are corrective or not.
H0ughy, you could go the way I did and put the scope a pier and cover it heavily with tarps. Worked really well and never (I repeat never) got wet.
In regard to your back, Have you considered going to a corrective chiropractor. It will cost you around $2800 for the first year of treatment and finding a good one is hard. However, early this year I put my back out so far I looked like the shape of the letter C. That was looking front on. Other Chiro's said I had scoliosis and could not fix it. I said that was crap as I have had numerous X rays during the Army and it was not picked up once. I went to see the guy I go to now and he said he could fix the problem and that it was result of all the damage I had done to my back in my youth. I now have a back which is very strong again and very straight. No surgery needed. Don't get surgery it will cause more problems later. Next year I will go onto a maintenence program and only need to go twice a month. It took six months for my back to come good, going 3 times a week. I felt no pain at all after 4 weeks. Try doing that after surgery. Forget the observatory and get a corrective chiro and you will be lifting your scope at 80. Your health is far more important that your hobby. Without your health there can be no hobby.
BTW, up until I hurt my back (well actually I hurt is several times over the years but did not know it) I had never been to a chiro or physio. This guy has changed my mind to all that. Don't go to a pain manager, go to someone who will correct the problem with Machines and traction. Ask them if they are corrective or not.
Best of luck.
thanks for the advice Paul. I have been wondering which way to go. At the moment because of workcover I have had to follow what my workplace has sent me to. But in the new year I think a change is in the wind. Thanks for the advice.
Ken one of our club members has built what you seem to want. I will try to see if he has some photos to send out to me or if I can take some for you. Don't hold you breath though until the new year.
You have to build the Observatory Huffy....you wont regret it.
The sheer convenience of being set up up permanantly is fantastic....no polar aligning, balancing or levelling ever again....well you can check all of these on a monthly basis if you want to.
My procedures are as follows.
1)Unlock Observatory door, time taken 5 seconds
2)Unlock 2 bolt locks securing roof, time taken 10 seconds
3)Slide roof off, Time taken 5 seconds
4)Turn power and computer on, time taken 30 seconds and this is for boot up time.
5)Take scope cover off and turn Gemini on, time taken 20 seconds
6)If a threatning cloud comes over or I am finished for the night I can slide the roof back over in 5 seconds.
You have to build the Observatory Huffy....you wont regret it.
It's gotta be the way to go....keep at it Houghy.
As for your back, bad ones are a pain.
I can't agree with Paul though, chiros aren't the be all and end all to their cracked up to be. It's a masking technique, not a cure.
Try and address the problem from the cause first and make an informed decision as best you can.
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Heaps I reacon h0ughy 
