Telescope Reviews: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ?

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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lamplight
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/18/12

Loc: west central MA, U.S.

Re: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ? new

[Re: Pat at home]
#5603810 - 01/03/13 10:27 PM

Quote:

I plan on actually building one this year, upgrades might come later.

+1
And small, but that will be great

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microstar
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 01/05/08

Loc: Canada

Re: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ? new

[Re: ShawnPreston]
#5606542 - 01/05/13 12:47 PM

Quote:

Ugh, so pleased with my observatory, yet so many upgrades I want to do!

- cover roll-off tracks so ice doesn't build up in them

I always have great intentions of doing these things before winter, but never remember how much I NEED to until the snow flies!

Shawn

Shawn, snow covers for the rails was suggested to me a couple of years ago. Still one of the simplest and most useful upgrades I've made. Keeps the snow from melting then freezing in the rails. I can remember my first few winters spraying de-icer in the rails to try to get rid of the ice. No more (as long as I remember to flip them back over after my sessions).

Re upgrades. I need to build a larger cover over top of the door to shed the snow from the door area. Do you get the impression we get snow here? It's not unusual to have 5 or 6' over a 5-month period here. I spend a lot of time pulling the snow off the roof.
...Keith

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ? new

[Re: microstar]
#5607329 - 01/05/13 09:30 PM

Quote:

I need to build a larger cover over top of the door to shed the snow from the door area.

What type of cover do you have over your door? Show a close-up photo? I'd like to add one, as well.

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microstar
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 01/05/08

Loc: Canada

Re: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ? new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5608082 - 01/06/13 11:05 AM

You can see the small gable-type cover in my signature picture. That worked well except that I modified a small shelf and it wasn't outdoor material; I had to remove it last summer so I can't show you a pic of what it looked like in detail. This fall, as a stopgap, I just put a piece of 2x8 over the door but it isn't wide enough to be very effective. So this coming summer I need to build something that extends out farther, probably similar to the gable design I originally had and extending out about a foot.
...Keith

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Observatory upgrades, additions, etc. ? new

[Re: microstar]
#5608147 - 01/06/13 11:34 AM

Difficult to see detail in the avatar picture. Since my door isn't the full height of a regular door; I don't want something that will stick out too far, for a "head banger". Just something to divert the melting snow, from the door itself. I'm thinking something like the aluminum corner trim for houses. It's "L" shaped, and I can just screw it on, over the door, and caulk across where it attaches to the observatory. I would round the two outer edges beforehand.

I don't want to put up raingutter, as it would simply freeze during the winter; and I don't want to use anything to heat them.

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