Over the last two days, with the help of my son Riley and good astro buddy, Attila, we erected the housing for the 18" F4.1 Dob on the pre prepared concrete slab, observatory plot. The kit instructions were ok but there was inevitable Ikea like confusion at times and was a good two day job but we got there in the end. For extra stiffness, we reinforced the walls with an inner rib, using framing pine, screwed from the outside, to the walls of the shed and heavy duty steel corner brackets and the shed is anchored using heavy duty steel angles fastened down with 8 X 400kg rated ramset concrete anchor bolts and we also used plenty of screws to ensure all panels are very secure to everything and finally siliconed around the base. Now just need to add some sarking/insulation to the ceiling and a weather seal to the doors and maybe some thin flooring and it will be ready for the big Dob!
The 18 inch will live in the shed and be rolled out on castors, to the isolated end of the concrete path for viewing and then wheeled back in at the end of the session...can't wait! I plan to spread a layer of road base around the end of the concrete path, centered on the isolated pad, for easy level access in all positions.
Great to finally see the observatory with all its functional infrastructure components in place...very cool
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 30-12-2022 at 07:39 PM.
I finally got around to oiling the Merbau deck (two coats), looks much better now, before and after below. Plus my new favourite observatory shots, now that it is essentially complete - waiting for darkness to fall, then dawn above the clouds and finally Sunrise, after a successful night...
That looks fantastic...mmm I can see some trick photography opportunity with someone swinging a golf club and things scaled so the ob seems like the ball...but I guess you would have already thought about that...
And tell me Mike how are you going with the batteries etc...I often wonder.
That looks fantastic...mmm I can see some trick photography opportunity with someone swinging a golf club and things scaled so the ob seems like the ball...but I guess you would have already thought about that...
And tell me Mike how are you going with the batteries etc...I often wonder.
Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelySpoon
Not sure why, but I keep hearing HALs voice saying, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
Make sure you take your helmet with you...
Neville
LSO
Quote:
Originally Posted by oska
No obs shot has moved me like those of your dome sitting above the mist/clouds, thank you!
Thanks guys and Oska, I agree, when I am above the clouds, it is awe inspiring
After sealed the concrete slab with two coats of concrete sealer, sealing around the base of the shed with silicone, inside and out and spraying insect surface spray in all the corners and joins inside, I have now finally completed the Dobsonian housing and with that, the whole observatory Now the 18 inch and 12 inch scopes live in their new shed and I can't wait to to finally have an observing session with the 18 inch under a pristine dark sky, while the imaging gear chugs and purrs away inside the 3M Scopedome
I don't think I could ever get tired of that view! There's something about looking out over the tops of mountains.......
Totally agree, the view to the north from our big open paddock, towards the peaks of the Tinderry Mountains to our north, is breath taking on a Moonless night, they are beautifully silhouetted triangles, against the dull glow of Canberra behind, with stars visible right down to their outline!..like a gigantic black cardboard cut out for the backdrop for a huge cosmic shadow puppet show I have attached a couple of photos taken from the spot referred to, at sunset and when the clouds are below, which gives an idea of what I am talking about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave882
Yeah that’s magnificent!! And through the 18” it must be jaw dropping
I can't wait! We acquired the 18" Dob a year ago now and we haven't even tested it yet, so fingers crossed it is a keeper I had incredible views through the 12" in 2021 under some of the best skies I have ever observed under, so the views through an 18" should go up a few notches
Was great to have some very special people up at Eagleview over the weekend, Diego and Adolf, from Sidereal Trading in Melbourne (lovely and incredibly talented, guys!) and Joe Cauchi (also a lovely guy!), vice president and essentially the David Malin, of the ASNSW! We had a fabulous time! The skies were generally good for the two weeks leading up to their arrival but yep, on cue, they mostly clouded up for the two nights they were on site...TYPICAL at least it didn't rain and we did see some stars ...between drinks ...I think Diego and Adolf enjoyed the new visiting astronomers, accommodation wing
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 18-01-2023 at 08:44 PM.
Had some more lucky visitors up to Eagleview on the weekend, this time some fellow craft brew drinkers , including Australia's No.1 craft brewer, Richard Watkins. Some of them camped up at the marvelous Eagleview camp spot, just above my observatory, with panoramic views out across the southern ranges, Monaro and Cooma. They cooked a long slow lamb curry and an exquisite dhal, on the open fire pit and the final amalgamated spread (ably added to by my culinary gifted wife, Angela) was positively delicious, all yummo including the best dhal I have ever had! The evening was cloudy, soooooo, although they all enjoyed an afternoon tour of the observatory, there was sadly no sky viewing ...so, it was eat, drink, sing, listen to music and sip whisky in front of the fire, laughing and singing high on top of a mountain, is bloody hard to beat, a truly great evening!
), La donna e mobile, Torna a Surriento or O'Sole Mio 
I plan to spread a layer of road base around the end of the concrete path, centered on the isolated pad, for easy level access in all positions.
Shed kits are for amateurs big man 
I had incredible views through the 12" in 2021 under some of the best skies I have ever observed under, so the views through an 18" should go up a few notches 
at least it didn't rain and we did see some stars 
, including Australia's No.1 craft brewer, Richard Watkins. Some of them camped up at the marvelous Eagleview camp spot, just above my observatory, with panoramic views out across the southern ranges, Monaro and Cooma. They cooked a long slow lamb curry and an exquisite dhal, on the open fire pit and the final amalgamated spread (ably added to by my culinary gifted wife, Angela) was positively delicious, all yummo including the best dhal I have ever had! The evening was cloudy, soooooo, although they all enjoyed an afternoon tour of the observatory, there was sadly no sky viewing 
...so, it was eat, drink, sing, listen to music and sip whisky in front of the fire, laughing and singing high on top of a mountain, is bloody hard to beat, a truly great evening! 
