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Here is a link to photos and a write-up on my observatory construction:

http://www.astroskies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435

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Has anyone thought about using a 1000 gallon plastic fertilizer storage tank as an observatory? Any ideas let me know.

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My neighbour and I had one. Our intent was to have a warm room, our scopes would still be outside. It had been cracked, so all we had to do was pick it up and take it away - for the cost of a flat of beer. We lined it with reflective material, used red rope lights and had shelves built almost all the way around. We kept a desktop computer inside, a small heater and two rolling chairs. Where the crack was, we made and framed a door. Outside, a few feet from the door, a permanent pier was installed. After it was done or before we started (I don't remember which) we gave some thought to having the scope inside, but couldn't come up with a viable plan to cut the top/bottom and still keep it weatherproof. It served our purpose that winter, allowing us to keep a lot warmer (no more ice in the moustache), have all our accessories close at hand and not have to cart everything back into the house. We eventually replaced it with a store bought observatory, and pushed/trucked the warm room across the street, to where it became a playhouse for some kids.



This was before the door was finished, and when we picked it up where you can see the crack.
The pipe coming through above the stars, was where the wires for the scope and camera came out.
It ended up with lattice around it so that it couldn't be seen from the deck.