Upgrade my observatory
- Altocumulus
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Upgrade my observatory
A much more open flat site is available - views almost 360 - but no you'll need permission to use that and as we have bats in the neighbourhood!
Ideas have been bouncing around for some months, and then my gorgeous wife said I could have a new observatory for my 70th! Cue quick discussions with observatory makers and equally quick change of mind - two long stories.
So my plans, as such, mean I'm on me own. Initial plans suggest 4m*3.8m to include a wee warm room, room I hope for two tripod mounts - but how to level the site, or prop up a base suitable (only one side would be needed, thought lay down concrete blocks (I have a number) and use strong legs? First thoughts are to use 6x2 treated timbers as the base and build up, tantalised shiplap cladding.
First question, ror or hinge roof - I mainly image Solar (@57North) - do I need full view given the North Pole would be used once a year for alignment. I can see E/S/N with a few obstacles. West is a no-go as I'm up against a warm stone barn. ror is doable, but is it necessary - it would be a long edge to move?
Well that's me started - I think!
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- Graeme1858 Online
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
As a ROR fan I would say go for a ROR! But Henk did a great job with his Hinge Roof. The choice between these two is partly financial. A 4mx3.8m ROR would be a substantial build.
You don't need to have direct line sight of Polaris to Polar Align.
Looking forward to watching this evolve.
Graeme
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- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
And at that size it looks massive up against the existing one. ( I've spent part of the morning placing a mock outline with old timber ).
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- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
I did think of an "E" shape, remove the inner leg. That would allow the outer legs to act
as the ror support, out to the, for me, useless west - one leg becomes the warm room, the other for storage.
Now I'm thinking more of a "T" shape, and on two levels to account for the mound - 4.2mx2.4m for the scopes.
The warm room then on normal level ground with an inner step or two -
size determined by the lengths of the off-cuts of shiplap which come in 5.4m lengths.
Mind I haven't explained to any supplier quite how they'd get to us along a rather awkward access
ror seems my main thought at the moment, pent roof.
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
The bigger the observatory the more work. If you operate the scope remotely you don't need a dark room, do you? The 6x8' that I have is plenty big for a good size scope, with room to spare. I have a
Size wise, bigger is not always better because it is easier for the wind to affect your tracking. From that viewpoint the best option is a dome. However, then you have to automate it, which makes it harder.
What I find important is to have a concrete floor that I can sweep easily. Leaves, spiders and dust will inevitably have to be cleaned out. That concrete floor is also a solid base to avoid having to build a pier. My concrete floor is too big for the observatory, and it has a dip, so I need to seal the surroundings to keep rainwater from flowing in, keep that in mind.
If a concrete floor is out of reach, I once built a patio that has a foundation of plain dirt. I laid sand on top of it, the concrete pavers went over it, and never had a problem. If you can flatten the rubble, that's an easy way to get a suitable floor.
I concur with Graeme that you don't need Polaris to polar align. My shed has a wall on the North side, and Ekos lets my polar align just fine with a three-point alignment algorithm using a view of the South-Eastern sky.
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
I'm planning on laying treated timbers on concrete blocks all round and underneath, waterproof sheeting - then building up from that. So the base becomes the start of the framework. Once the tripods are in, and on their own blocks, I can work in the floor.
It feels good in my head.....
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- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Looking north
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Trying to work with the existing shed in place is difficult, but the mound Is over emphasised at the moment by the frame, probably 2feet higher than it would be.
I need to decide over the weekend if I'm seeing enough of the low sun to capture anything decent - and then dismantle and strip everything back to bare earth.
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Thanks for the picture! It looks worthwhile getting a container from your trash company to dump everything in, getting a pickaxe and shovel out to level everything. It will make everything easier!
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Do I need a warm room
Technically no, I already remote observe, either in the house or in a small bunker off image. But it'd be good to stay ready for the various changes one sometimes needs. Mind a larger scope room makes some of the necessity less so.
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
In my experience, 6x8' is large enough to have a scope and sit there with a laptop when necessary. I have 2 folding chairs that I fold up when I need to walk around. When I need to use a laptop, I sit on one and put my laptop up on a box on the other, to get a proper height. It works well because I can move to wherever I need, for instance to focus the guide scope or do polar alignment. A fixed desk would be less convenient and take up space while being useless most of the time.Altocumulus wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:59 pm Chuckle. It's taken years to get to that stage!
Do I need a warm room
Technically no, I already remote observe, either in the house or in a small bunker off image. But it'd be good to stay ready for the various changes one sometimes needs. Mind a larger scope room makes some of the necessity less so.
- JayTee
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Also, because you are already doing remote observing and the fact that your house is so close, I question the need for a warm room. Unless you are going to use it as a fortress of solitude which is what I use my warm room for!
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
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- Graeme1858 Online
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Same as that!
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.
https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
A fortress of solitude I like the idea of. There are other reasons on why I like the idea of being close - it stops me having to keep running in and out of the house, especially as I disturb the occupant working in the closest room every time I do...JayTee wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 10:03 pm What you have laid out appears massive even accounting for the ROR frame. My observing room is just 10' (3m) X 10' (3m) and it holds two scopes. One is on a permanent pier mount, the other on a tripod. So Henk's dimensions for a single scope seem about right.
Also, because you are already doing remote observing and the fact that your house is so close, I question the need for a warm room. Unless you are going to use it as a fortress of solitude which is what I use my warm room for!
I'm glad you've said 3mx3m works, that's a comfort to know - though obviously scope lengths will determine things a lot clearer! I worked out the long scope I have on the mount needed 1.5m to sensibly skew horizontally on the mount, but I do need to plumbline and check everything more carefully. For that I need a bit more space in which to work among the clutter.
All good conversations to have at this design stage, so there's fewer when it's too late. I like the idea of a smaller footprint (keeps the cost down!) I won't be getting any larger scope envy 2-3 years down the line - I've reached my limit. ( Honest ).
Many thanks all - much appreciated.
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Measured by horizontal positions of the telescopes which should represent the maximum circle each would describe. In reality it'll be less unless I need
a horizontal to align on distant structures.
Two circles, then of 1.7 m and 1.2 m ( say ) - though both, in most instances will be looking at the same sky segment at the same time - but moving around space needed for me, maintenance when roof closed ( small ). So am I looking at 3.5x2.5? Scopes lined up either N/S or E/W.
For roof height - 176cm ( from ground ) gives me "Home" park on the NEQ6-R Pro - that's higher than I am tall, but something approaching 2.2m apex should give enough headspace ( roof bracing to consider ).
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Triangle area, if it fits, 'warm' room - to be considered as and when most other parts are completed...
No allowance for any doors! Maximum will be stretchable, a bit.....
Red, longest scope; blue the next longest. Others sweep within these two.
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Power and ethernet cables to secure then the box to dismantle. Apart from nailed shiplap everything else's screw.
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
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Re: Upgrade my observatory
Have you ever heard of SketchUp? It has a free version and that is what I used to do the mock-ups of my Obsy. Here's what I was able to produce. Here's the website: https://
The actual build. You can just see the skinny black tube of the C6R on the left of the C11, about halfway toward the west wall.
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6R, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100 ∞ AP Gear: ZWO EAF and mini EFW and the Optolong L-eXteme filter
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
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