ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Finally my observatory build has started. Every decision has been made after hours of reading CN and looking at photos. To return the favour I shall bore you with pictures of my build.
I live 5 miles south of the heart of London. Light pollution is my middle name. I am hoping for a 10 fold or more increase in use of my scopes once this project is complete.
I will do as much as I can myself.
I have planned the build as a staged process that gives me maximum flexibility if I change my mind about anything.
Current objective is to build an 8 x 8 roll-off roof wooden observatory.
The base is made out of 4x2 timber, and sits on four brick pillars, one at each corner. I needed to gain a bit of height as I have to view over the shed next door, I wanted a wooden floor (warmer), I think a plug surrounded by earth will be better isolated, and finally and 8x8 6 inch deep screed is a hell of a lot more concrete.
The base is 90% complete. I have left the gap to allow for easy access to the hole for the plug.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
Edited by ProfMMC (03/04/08 03:15 AM)
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
A close up of the hole. The shuttering at the top is 3x3 and
the hole extends around 2 foot six down. The ground never freezes in London (we get an inch of snow once a year) so I have concluded that I do not need to go real deep.
Digging the hole was a nigthmare.
I hope I have got this decision right.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
The shuttering is temporally held a few inches below the base.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
I drove two 4 foot long lengths of thick reinforcing 3 feet
deeper, and have attacted the first layer of reinforcing.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 04:37 PM)
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Three layers of reinforcing:
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
And reinforcing for the pillar:
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Pillar in place and held upright:
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
Kaizu
sage
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 235
Loc: Finland
|
|
If you want to be sure that the ground never freeze, you can put styrofoam or some other isolating plates around the pier. The coldness is not bad and the wetness is not bad but together they can distort the pier and one time is enough.
Kaizu
--------------------
There is nothing as wise as German engineer
http://www.kaiforssen.fi
|
csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 25565
Loc: montana
|
|
Congratulations on your building of your Observatory! We are never bored with members sharing their building of their observatories! It looks as though you are progressing quite nicely!
Please keep the photos coming, & best of luck with your continuing progress!
Carol
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Good to hear that I will not be boring anyone. A view down the pier. It does not look neat, but the reinforcing is there to do a job not look good.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 05:27 PM)
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
This is my bottom plate. It is going to be held in the pier by 3 18 inch lengths of 10mm threaded rod.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 05:30 PM)
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
An action shot: marking true north as the sun transits ...
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
Bowmoreman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 2823
Loc: Bolton, MA
|
|
One thought before tyou get too far along... you probably should put additional concrete supports under the sides at midpoint... 8' span is kinda long; though I don't know the dimensions of your sill joists... If they are 10" or bigger you're probably OK...
Looking good and we LOVE long "boring" threads with lotsa pics, etc!
Clear enough skies
--------------------
Dave
Ustream
YLive
XT10i, RTP, CGE, TMB80SS, SN8
31T5, 22T4, 13Ethos, 8Ethos, TV 3-6 Zoom; Paracorr
MallincamColorHyperPlus,SBIG STV&237A;CanonRebel Xti
WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO #90)
|
Pedestal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 2848
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
|
|
Looking good, so far. I would suggest you are going to need more support for your floor than just the four corners, though.
Hubert
--------------------
www.smoggybottom.org
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Yes I am going to check the need for further supports after the pier is cast. The base has only been put together now since I can use it to hold up the shuttering and the pier.
The base is just lying loose on the four pillars and can (with a bit of puff) be lifted up to rest against the fence.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
Chris Schroeder
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 4677
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
|
|
Great job so far, looking good
--------------------
Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M102ED S.V., ZS 80FD 10th Anniv, ZS 66SD, PST
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
|
mikey cee
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 2073
Loc: bellevue ne.
|
|
It's hard to tell but is your lumber treated? If not you'd better brush on something! Termites and their little mud tunnels won't have to go far and you won't even be aware of the extent of their damage untilit's too late!   Mike
--------------------
Mike 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957).
|
cnstarz
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 519
Loc: Kentucky, USA
|
|
I love the look of that pier, I've seen where others have a conduit for electrical inside the tube. Are you planning something similar?
--------------------
Matt
Apogee 50mm BB scope
ETX-60 BB
Meade 70-az
5" DIY Newt (wip)
C6-N on CG-4 GEM
Gallery
|
skybsd
sage
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 222
|
|
Hello,
Living just south of you, I'm following your progress with very keen interest!
Although a couple of months into this most addictive of activities, I'm already having the beginnings of my own grand plans of "something a bit more permanent" in my garden, and have even already gotten the go ahead from my local planning office
Looks great! All the best!
Regards,
skybsd
|
ProfMMC
super member
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 183
Loc: London UK
|
|
Yes I got treated lumber, and have brought a tin of preservative to paint the ends after sawing. I shall make sure that the timber is only resting on brick - not earth so it should last as long as I need it to.
I am thinking about the conduit, but no final conclusion yet.
skybsd: how far south are you? I find that being in south London means that the view south is better light pollution wise than it would be if you were north of the river.
--------------------
Orion Optics UK 350mm Dob
Celestron 8SE
Bressier R-127L + minus violet filter(F=1200mm achromatic)
ETX125
Revelation 80mmED
W0 ZS66
EQ6 Pro
DSI I
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 