Post a pic of your Observatory!

[Atmos (Colin)]

Originally Posted by Somnium

below is my observatory, it has a ROR and is operated remotely to take advantage of the dark (and apparently cloudy) skies

From what I can tell your next project is some tree removal

[Jen]

I'm soooo jealous some of these observatories look amazing

[Somnium (Aidan)]

Originally Posted by Atmos

From what I can tell your next project is some tree removal

i know it looks bad but it is actually ok.the observatory was designed that the FOV would be unobstructed by trees, i.e. the roof and front mark the line of sight to the trees. i did however take down 2 trees in prep for the build but any more would be difficult as they are not on my property . i still get most of the sky, it is the house that i need to demolish first

[Dealy (Kev)]

I thought I'd better post a couple pics here as well as in the construction thread (here)

All ready and waiting for those elusive clear nights.

[salimant (Anthony)]

Originally Posted by Dealy

I thought I'd better post a couple pics here as well as in the construction thread (here)

All ready and waiting for those elusive clear nights.

Looks good, does it get really warm inside in summer ?

[Dealy (Kev)]

G'day Anthony,

No not really. The walls have sarking and are lined on the inside. The roof is insulated, so not much heat gets through there. There is ventilation from around the wheel/track area which also helps.

With the roof rolled back it cools down very quickly.

[Cosmic (Daniel)]

That's excellent Kev, your setup is something I aspire to.

[croweater (Richard)]

Shade for the pool area an added bonus Very nice mate

[Dealy (Kev)]

Thanks for the comments Daniel & Richard.

I don't roll the roof back for shelter on the deck. It probably wouldn't hurt but I don't like the idea of my scopes sitting in the sun.

Since taking the photos I've made up some shade cloth frames to fill in between the rails. Now the little lady can sip a cool drink on the deck without getting scorched.

[StephenRH (Stephen)]

Here are some photos of my observatory. The actual building is 7.2m long x 4.8m wide. The walls are 2.4m high to keep out the SW winds. But as you can see, part of the wall folds down on three sides – south, east and north – if I want to get closer to the horizon. Normally I have them up, and if any come down, it's usually the southern one so I can observe variables low in the south. The roof slides off to the west and that limits my westerly viewing. But that's OK as there is a mill and town to the west and the roof blocks out the slight glow. The roof slides off 2/3 of the way so that my chart room is always covered. as can be seen in the first photo.

The roof is very heavy but my builder said it needed to be to support the 4.8 m wide roof. I control it with two boat winches – one to slide it off and the other to slide it back.

The Observatory is about 80 metres up the hill from my house. It is great having it so handy, and the telescope is always set up ready to go. I have red lights on a rheostat in the chart room.

I have a decent electric fence around it now to keep the stock (cows and bulls) away.

It is idyllic up there under the stars, observing variables, listening to the radio and drinking coffee.

I will soon be putting my 28" f/3.3 SDM in there. It won't be long now.

[mynameiscd (Andy)]

Hi all
This is my first post and I decided to share my work in progress observatory.
As im in the building game I get plenty of left over building products.
I used a 75mm foam core filled panel over steel stud frame.
I like the thermal properties and the light weight construction of the panel.
The roof slides apart so when its cold I can close up to just a small opening .
Ive rendered the walls to blend into the sandy scrub and my artist wife couldnt bare to look at a box so she got busy and decorated the outside. She keeps on trying to get to the walls inside as well.
The pier is a safety bollard with the bottom cut off set in concrete and core filled as well.
I still have a sand floor which can be a bit scary around astro gear but im doing the floor after I get the roof fully water tight.
We get driving rain here a alittle gets in.
Our closest neighbor is about 600 meters away and because of the dunes there is very little light pollution.
I'll keep udating as I go
Cheers
Andy

[bigjoe (JOSEPH)]

Originally Posted by TraKtorman

What now seems like long ago I did this.
Peter

What great pieces of kit you have Peter!
Fits on the trailer and away you go.
bigjoe.

[bigjoe (JOSEPH)]

Originally Posted by Somnium

below is my observatory, it has a ROR and is operated remotely to take advantage of the dark (and apparently cloudy) skies

Looks great Aiden .I have to do something like this up at my 5 Acre property at Castelreagh soon.
bigjoe.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Somewhat of a box but it is simple to use and quick to set up.

[Boozlefoot]

Originally Posted by jenchris

Somewhat of a box but it is simple to use and quick to set up.

Hi Jennifer,
Just levelling my ob site and your clamshell looks great. Thinking myself of either geodisic dome, but yours looks pretty darn good. Any hints as to pitfalls when constructing, and any plans available? I'm going 3m dia and the ring will be sitting on a rock base. Cheers, Rod

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Hello.
My dome is made up using 2.4 x1.2 metre sheetsof 4mm marine ply. Simple reason to end up with a 1500 diameter dome.
If you go for a 3m dome. You're going to have to join the sheets longitudinally. Which is darn difficult when you want to put such a bend in. Unless you go for an apex oriented vertical segment design.
Mine was designed to be easily constructed by a wrinkly old chick on her own.
I made up the base rings with a rather inferior ply . I should have used 18mm good stuff.
And the flat roof section should also have been 18mm. False economy to go less.
The design was drafted by me in AutoCAD. Not hard to do but you need to be a little agile mentally unless you use it all the time.
I dont think a vertical segment system is a bad idea. I just felt it was more difficult to manoeuvre in construction.
If you look for Southern astronomical society magazine "Event Horizon"Jan edition on www.sas.org.au I did a blog and some pics. There's also some on the diy obsy forum on this site I think.
Cutting out the segments accurately is critical if you want it to conform to the plamned shape.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

On second thoughts, 3m diameter dome is pretty huge.
I wish you luck.
I can draft you the dome segment dimensions if you tell me what you want.
3m diameter is huge......
My 1500 design used 2 sheets of ply. Your 3m would be 8 sheets....

[jwoody (Jeremy)]

Hello Jennifer
Your dome upgrade looks great, top job!
What solar panels do you have on there? Do they power fans for extraction? I am wanting to put a panel (or two) on my Obs for powering some fans for extraction. What arrangement do you have if you don't mind.
Thank you
Jeremy
(ps apparently I am 2km away from your location, if you stand on the roof of your obs and I stand on mine we could wave!)

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Hi Jezza.
The solar panel is 80 watts . Got it from Aldi last year. It serves multi purpose camping running the electric outboard on my canoe and the obsy where it just keeps the battery topped off.
I haven't thought about the introduction of fans, but it may be a good idea.
I normally park the dome so any breeze venturis the air from the shed. Relies on knowing the weather ahead of time!!!!!
Pop round and have a look.
If you're working, early evening before dark is fine

[Astrofriend (Lars)]

Here is my under work observatory.

Located in northern Europe in Sweden. Latitude 60 degrees.

More photos here:
http://astrofriend.eu/astronomy/proj...servatory.html

Or here for discussing:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=160517

I'm eager now to start using it even if it's not finished yet.

/Lars