Observatory - A Life Long Dream

Ishtim · 28th Sep 2007, 10:34 AM

Most of us have hobbies and things that keep us busy when we have "free" time. Some of us have had these hobbies for a very long time. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted an observatory to look and photograph the night sky and now I have one.... After over a year of planning, many hours at the "drawing board" and a seemingly endless summer without looking through a telescope, I am here... Well, almost.

My son and I started construction this past February setting and pouring foundation piers. After several months in limbo, I was able to commence construction and actually get something done... Pics attached!

Progress has been slow, but things are taking shape and I am more than anxious to share milestones of progress with TechARP. Soon, I hope to begin astrophoto work again and scratch the itch that I have had for sooooo many years!

Pic1: Pier to hold scope mount.
Pic2: Additional piers to support building.
Pic3: Framing of "shed"
Pic4: Shed with walls NOTE, Roof carriage in place.
Pic5: Roof in place

FYI: The 'black thing' is where the telescope sits.... It is filled with nearly 800kg of concrete for stability....

Ishtim · 28th Sep 2007, 10:42 AM

More...

Let me explain, this is a 12'X12' (3m X 3m) shed that is designed so that the roof "rolls" off of it to expose the telexcope/imaging equipment inside. There are many arguments as to why one would use a "shed" instead of a dome, but it is simple for me...... cost. There are many other reasons involved, but mainly I needed something I could design and build by myself. That said, I am very near putting the old laptop, 300D, and tele back to work!

Pic1: Roof "Open"
Pic2: Roof "Closed"

Pics to follow...............

djspinnet · 28th Sep 2007, 10:56 AM

Heh, congrats man

My old house used to have an observatory too.... well not really an observatory, but huge wide open space and a huge wide open balcony on the first floor on top of the porch

my father and i used to put a beach chair there, set up our equipment, then sit and wait, very much a backyard stargazer style

Adrian Wong · 28th Sep 2007, 05:34 PM

Wow.. You are really a hands-on man!

The_YongGrand · 28th Sep 2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishtim

Most of us have hobbies and things that keep us busy when we have "free" time. Some of us have had these hobbies for a very long time. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted an observatory to look and photograph the night sky and now I have one.... After over a year of planning, many hours at the "drawing board" and a seemingly endless summer without looking through a telescope, I am here... Well, almost.

My son and I started construction this past February setting and pouring foundation piers. After several months in limbo, I was able to commence construction and actually get something done... Pics attached!

Progress has been slow, but things are taking shape and I am more than anxious to share milestones of progress with TechARP. Soon, I hope to begin astrophoto work again and scratch the itch that I have had for sooooo many years!

Pic1: Pier to hold scope mount.
Pic2: Additional piers to support building.
Pic3: Framing of "shed"
Pic4: Shed with walls NOTE, Roof carriage in place.
Pic5: Roof in place

FYI: The 'black thing' is where the telescope sits.... It is filled with nearly 800kg of concrete for stability....

Pretty great place to gaze at stars! I wish I can build one for myself, but no place since I'm living in a cramped terrace house!

So, what telescope you are using?

Trinity · 29th Sep 2007, 07:44 PM

Wow, That's just awesome! (respect)

Can't wait to see the future pictures.

Orion so bright in the morning sky now.

peaz · 30th Sep 2007, 12:37 PM

awesomeness!

Can't wait for more astrophotography as usual!

Dashken · 1st Oct 2007, 10:16 AM

Wow... simply awesome!!

Adrian Wong · 1st Oct 2007, 10:55 AM

BTW, one question... Is it best for the telescope base to be solidly locked into something like the concrete base you have there... or is it better for it to be cushioned from vibrations using large springs?

Falcone · 1st Oct 2007, 03:06 PM

Awesome!!!

28th Sep 2007, 10:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
djspinnet Active Join Date: 3 Jun 2005 Posts: 591 Reputation: 583 Rep Power: 9	Heh, congrats man My old house used to have an observatory too.... well not really an observatory, but huge wide open space and a huge wide open balcony on the first floor on top of the porch my father and i used to put a beach chair there, set up our equipment, then sit and wait, very much a backyard stargazer style __________________ Jinny Wong djspinnet.org

28th Sep 2007, 05:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my BenQ Joybook 7000 notebook! Posts: 29,177 Reputation: 2830 Rep Power: 63	Wow.. You are really a hands-on man! __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

29th Sep 2007, 07:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Trinity Little Kiki Join Date: 5 Jan 2003 Location: Ohio,usa Posts: 6,609 Reputation: 4831 Rep Power: 60	Wow, That's just awesome! (respect) Can't wait to see the future pictures. Orion so bright in the morning sky now. __________________ E6600, P5B-D, 1Gbx2 Crucial PC2-8500, 7600GT, WD 500GbHDD Conroe Bay-Bee! (\__/) (-. - ) (> < ) Vsya Moya Lyubov' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo5n0HwaRmQ

30th Sep 2007, 12:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.placidthoughts.com/ Posts: 8,435 Reputation: 1633 Rep Power: 30	awesomeness! Can't wait for more astrophotography as usual! __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Visit my web gallery - Ken's Digital Canvas Shoot and Earn Money from Stock Photography Sterling@PJ Community Forums

1st Oct 2007, 10:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dashken Administrator! Join Date: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Penang Posts: 29,391 Reputation: 2015 Rep Power: 55	Wow... simply awesome!! __________________ \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 @ 3.2Ghz \| ASUS P5B-E Plus \| G.SKILL 2x1GB DDR2 800 \| 6 HDDs (2TB+ only ) \| NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT \| Dell E248WFP 24" Widescreen \| Blog : Dashken's I-Blog Gallery : Dashken's I-Paintings

1st Oct 2007, 10:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my BenQ Joybook 7000 notebook! Posts: 29,177 Reputation: 2830 Rep Power: 63	BTW, one question... Is it best for the telescope base to be solidly locked into something like the concrete base you have there... or is it better for it to be cushioned from vibrations using large springs? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

1st Oct 2007, 03:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Falcone Official Mascot Creator Join Date: 18 Dec 2002 Location: Kay El, Em Wai Posts: 3,145 Reputation: 1518 Rep Power: 24	Awesome!!! __________________ I'm a noob, my photos sucks, but if you can live with that... http://www.pumpkinproject.com/ Flickr

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