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Welcome to the observatories forum, nice set-up. As the Doctor said, we would like to see some photos of yuor whole observatory

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---------well, since Eric has not responded yet, here are some pictures of my NEW FS 152 mounted in my observatory that used to house my 12 inch LX200 with piggybacked TV85. I raised the existing mount with 6inch pipe welded to 1/2 inch plate steel, topped off by a 3/4 inch stainless steel adjustable base for the CGE electronics pier base. I had a 1" by 5.5 inch aluminum adapter machined locally and that is bolted to the center of the 3/4 inch plate. The steel portion of the pier above the concrete base weighs 175 pounds. The roof rolls off and provides an 8 foot square observing room with a 4x8 warm computer room in the back under the rolled off roof. The observatory has a concrete perimeter foundation and is physically separated from the pier. will send more pics later--------

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DrBuck

Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1

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and the roof has a 2 foot wide panel on the north side of the roof that sides down for me to see Polaris if i need to move my mount for some reason,

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That's a cunning plan Eric I like it

Steve

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Don't wait until tomorrow, start procrastinating today!

Sky-Watcher 8" F5 Newt
Mmmm Moonlite CR2

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Nice design and ingenuity Eric, nice set-up there Doc

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Thanks for the accolades guys, Thats really quite ingenious Eric. This is a picture from inside the obs------

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DrBuck

Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1

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Very cool DrBuck, I like the toys in your play room

Are you getting any vibration issues with the pier segmented like that?

Steve

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Steve-------no, the pier is as stable as a rock, The metal parts of the pier weighs 175 lbs and is full of sand.However, with the added weight on the end of the Dec shaft, there was some vibration but I got rid of it and put another 25 pounder on the shaft closer to the mount.

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DrBuck

Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1

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thats a nice obs you've got there, looks like its comfortable inside

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Thanks Eric. The comfortable part is the 4x8 foot section under the roof when its rolled off. Thats where the PC is and I call it the warm room. that way the heat doesn't affect the scope at all.

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DrBuck

Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1

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The comfortable part is the 4x8 foot section under the roof when its rolled off. Thats where the PC is and I call it the warm room. that way the heat doesn't affect the scope at all.

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Great idea to utilize the foot print that a Roll Off has.

Steve

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Don't wait until tomorrow, start procrastinating today!

Sky-Watcher 8" F5 Newt
Mmmm Moonlite CR2

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Eric, will you be leaving the gap between the floor and the pier empty, will you plan on covering it, or filling it to keep varmints out???...any thoughts on that???

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the gap between the pavers and the floor is less then an 8th of and inch, and between the two pavers that meet at the floor i placed an piece of screen that tucks under the indoor/outdoor carpet to keep critters out from there, but the are also a few gaps in other places that needs filling, all in all i built it back in July of last year and i havnt had any issues as of yet

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Eric
Florida

Meade 8" 2080
Orion ShortTube 80 400mm
LXD75 w/autostar goto
Nikon D70 DSLR
Meade DSI Pro
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000
Meade f/ 6.3 focal reducer
JMI motor focus<---best investment so far
HP ZD8000 laptop
many filters

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Eric, really an innovative setup! Thanks for sharing it; as many have inquired about using a shed for an Observatory.

Really nice!

We are glad you joined us in this forum!

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Thanks Carol

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Eric
Florida

Meade 8" 2080
Orion ShortTube 80 400mm
LXD75 w/autostar goto
Nikon D70 DSLR
Meade DSI Pro
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000
Meade f/ 6.3 focal reducer
JMI motor focus<---best investment so far
HP ZD8000 laptop
many filters

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Great idea to utilize the foot print that a Roll Off has.Steve

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Well, we live at 4245 feet in North east california. Observing in temperatures well below freezing is real common. My next purchase is going to be dew heaters. So far all I have used is a hair dryer.

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DrBuck

Roll off Roof Observatory,
CGE on concrete and steel pier
Takahashi FS 152 Fluorite apo refractor
Televue 85MM Apochromatic refractor
12 inch LX 200 gps smt uhtc
Nikon D-90 with 18-200mm AF VR lens
Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/697650grr/?saved=1

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