· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Observatories Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | >> (show all) Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: RobertED]       #3216778 - 07/14/09 12:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you! The walls used 16 pallets of winsor blocks. Each block weighs 30 lbs. and the cost here is $1.58 per block. The lower wall is 75'long x 4'high, the upper wall is 61'long x 3'4" high. That's a lot of blocks! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: csa/montana]       #3216788 - 07/14/09 01:01 AM Attachment (159 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Carol! It's fun to be able to share the adventure with everyone. Every observatory design is unique as is every site. Maybe these plans and ideas may help others in creating their own designs. Here's the foundation as it progressed later today. More reinforcements around the forms have to be done before the pouring of the slab (perhaps tomorrow it will get done). Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3216790 - 07/14/09 01:03 AM Attachment (145 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another angle view...and our goats had to get in on it too. Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3216798 - 07/14/09 01:14 AM Attachment (146 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A quick diagram of the pier support. The soil here is hardpan/clay/sandstone and very stable. It requires a pick axe to dig through it's so hard. The PVC pipe only goes into the ground about a ft. The 1/2" thick rubber lining is a synthetic, sort of like neoprene but much tougher. The 4" rubber skirt on the inside bottom edge prevents the concrete from making contact with the bottom of the PVC pipe. A temporary cardboard liner was used to protect the rubber liner while the concrete was added. There's a 1/2" rebar cage inside the pier support 4" from the bottom and 4" from the top - nowhere in contact with the dirt or pipe. Approx. 1100 lbs. of concrete was used. Post Extras:       Luigi Postmaster Reged: 07/03/07 Loc: MA Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3217050 - 07/14/09 08:04 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   How about covering the wall with ivy so it doesn't heat up during the day? Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Luigi]       #3217084 - 07/14/09 08:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow Maya what great looking wall and your observatory is nice looking design. Keep the photos coming! Post Extras:       Mike Clemens Frozen to Eyepiece Reged: 11/26/05 Loc: Alaska, USA Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Chris Schroeder]       #3217625 - 07/14/09 01:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Holy cow this is lookng incredible! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Luigi]       #3217726 - 07/14/09 02:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, the ivy is a great help around here -- we have other wall sections and banks already covered with it which we get clippings for more starts to plant other places. We have some new starts already in place above the top section of wall, and also some new fruit trees (2 types of cherry, 2 apples, a pear, and 4 blueberry bushes). Thanks, Chris and Mike, for viewing the progress! Things are coming together faster now and we're really looking forward to sharing all the developments as we go along. One note on the slab reinforcement -- we've used 10-wire stock panel and dobies to keep it at the right depth. The stock panel is an easy and cheaper way to reinforce sections, stronger too. Post Extras:       Scott K Non-standard Title Reged: 09/13/07 Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3217786 - 07/14/09 03:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Maya, this is going to be a great looking observatory, I can tell already! Your location is lovely. What scope do you plan to mount on the pier - the Tak 102, or is something new in the works for you? Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Scott K]       #3217815 - 07/14/09 03:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Scott, and thanks! I plan to install, for now, the CG-5A mount and use the CR-6 refractor and Tak FS102 interchanging as desired. In the future a heavy-duty mt. and other scopes are on the agenda. There will also be additional concrete observing pads outside the observatory for use with other scopes/additional visitors. Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219635 - 07/15/09 03:23 PM Attachment (157 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hurray! The cement truck was able to deliver today so the foundation slab was poured this morning at 10 a.m. After getting the hose in place up on the hill it only took about 15 min. to pour the cement. Thank goodness for the pump truck, this saved days of back-breaking labor packing/mixing 90 lb. bags of concrete mix! The cost of the cement and to deliver/pump it was $780. This was actually cheaper than doing it by the bag. Some pics of the pour.... Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219638 - 07/15/09 03:24 PM Attachment (137 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Getting the hose up the hill and in place... Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219642 - 07/15/09 03:26 PM Attachment (111 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Prep for the pour... Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219648 - 07/15/09 03:27 PM Attachment (137 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Pour and scree work... Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219654 - 07/15/09 03:29 PM Attachment (144 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Slab pour complete. More finish work to follow to clean up around pier support, etc. Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3219787 - 07/15/09 04:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Congratulations! Your Dream just took another major step to completion! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: csa/montana]       #3219918 - 07/15/09 06:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Carol! Now, to help prevent any cracks from forming, the slab is being kept sprayed to help control curing rate and covered with tarps also to shade from too much sun. This is so exciting! Post Extras:       JAT Observatory NOT a Wimp Reged: 02/20/05 Loc: In the Primordial Soup Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3220195 - 07/15/09 08:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I can't wait to see the finished product. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I really like what I've seen so far. Post Extras:       CarolG Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/16/06 Loc: Oklahoma Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: Crow Haven]       #3220417 - 07/15/09 10:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know you must be really excited about your new observatory. You have certainly put a lot of thought into it, and it's so much fun to see those plans become reality. You have a lovely site, and I hope you have many years of enjoyment. In the meantime, keep those pictures coming!! It's exciting to see the progress! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Crow Haven Observatory - a small nested ROR design [Re: JAT Observatory]       #3220594 - 07/16/09 12:00 AM Attachment (155 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you, Marcus and CarolG, for taking a look at the project and your comments! It is fun, and as we go along we'll do our best to convey the methods used as we build, and how any problems are solved. So far so good! Tomorrow we'll be keeping the slab wet and watching out for any cracks. The pour took exactly 4 yards of concrete and only a slight wheelbarrow load was left over, so that was nice. Here's the wetted-down tarped-over slab curing...maybe not as exciting a view to others but an important part of the journey for the observatory. We'll let it cure through the weekend then begin on the blocks and framing. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | >> (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 5 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  csa/montana, Chris Erickson  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 30810 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics