The shipping containers cost a lot less than they should have (my father-in-law owns the shipping container business). Normally the 2nd hand 10' containers go for $1,000 - $2,000 and the 20' containers go for $2,000 - $3,000. Modding is where the big cost comes in. Lots of labour.
Woohoo!!! After a loooooong time in the planning & a few delays with construction, the observatory has finally been delivered and I simply couldn't be happier with the (almost) finished product. The I-Beams were delivered and dynabolted into the cement foundations a few days ahead of the observatory itsself which arrived last Friday. I spent the weekend fitting the colourbond roof and attaching the dome.
I still have quote a few things to do before it's ready to rock (Guttering, cement pier, carpeting, furnishings, power & data from house to obs, internal painting) but I can take my time over the coming weeks. Hopefully all will be up & running by the end of April.
I will post more pics as things progress.
Thanks Guys. Yes, this one has been a very long time in the planning (about 2 years). Well worth the wait though .
I have just spent the weekend working on the dome.
Bolted the dome onto the obs.
Fitted the dome motor.
Installed the stairs.
Still got plenty to do though. Will post more pics shortly.
I've been busy over the past few weekends making progress on the observatory (and largely neglecting my other household chores). Since the last update i've:
Poured the cement portion of the pier (the top metal section is currently being fabricated)
Installed the roof guttering (still need to fit the downpipes)
constructed the fly screens for the windows
Improved the seal of the dome to the observatory after a few small leakes were found after heavy rain
The metal pier will be ready by the end of this week (touch wood).
I finally managed to find some time to post the latest pics of the container obs. The pier is now pretty well finished (could do with another coat of paint). I also need to fabricate a new aluminium top plat to sit square with the top of the metal pier. The old one is out by 45 deg.
I have carpeted & furnished the office area but still need to carpet under the telescope room. Still not sure what I will use to cover the floor in the raised telescope room though. Possibly rubber matting??
I've run temporary power to the obs until I can afford the time & $$$ to dig a 90M trench and lay power & data cable. Looks like I may need to invest in a WiFi repeater though as I can only just pick up a faint signal from my house which drops out regularly. The other option may be IP over power line. I will post a message in the computer / IT forum to see if anyone else has experience / advise in these areas.
Cheers
Matt
What a cool setup. Kitchen sink, bed (fold out lounge?), flat screen tv and storage. Just a small suggestion. I would put up a set of heavy curtains in front of the entrance to the scope area. Make sure the drapes go all the way to the ground and even drag. That will prevent the heat and light from leaking into that area.
All up though it is a dream observatory and a nice celestial cubby house.
Thanks all for the kind words gents. I feel extreemely fortunate to be able to own such a great "boy cave". I owe a lot of people a great deal of gratidude.
Yes. It even comes with a kitchen sink . I still need to do the plumbing. I'm looking at a 2.5kl water tank which I will place under the obs and I'll run a small water pump.
Mike, I've done some preliminary testing on the pier dampening and it looks to be fine. The bottom half of the pier is 300mm diameter concrete which has a ~1.5 tonne base sunk down to bed rock. The top portion of the pier is metal. It's based on 175mm square tubing with 2 stabilisation plates welded onto each of the 4 sides (ie, 8 in total). The metal pier weighs about 150kg (was fun lifting it into position).
Paul, I will certainly take your advise re the curtains. Actually, I have already bought the curtain material but I will also get some heave backing material to make sure minimal light escapes outside the warm room.
.
...now? phist! No chance 
