MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 24822
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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Hi folks. I was wondering if you all have any links that may be of interest to others wanting to build an observatory. If you would be so kind as to post them here, I'll organize them in a thread and make it sticky at the top of the forum. Thank you in advance! 
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tcraig
sage
Reged: 02/19/05
Posts: 423
Loc: Northern Indiana
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I don't have detailed info as of yet but here is a
pictorial of my observatory.
birch rd observatory
Tcraig
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LXD75-SN10
Etx-60
LPI
300D
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 3049
Loc: Ireland
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Mark --
Certainly the 7-ton pier thread on this very forum was one of my favorites.
Doc G has a nice page on design considerations (including a very good dome vs. roll-off-roof discussion):
The MAPUG archive has good info on both observatories and piers:
Of course, there's also Bill Arnett's list (which must be the most complete list of amateur observatories in existence):
Bill Arnett's "Japanese tea house" was quite an inspiration to me. This one might be subtitled "Just how good an observatory can look":
For those in colder climates, this one is a must read:
These last two might not be as generally applicable, but they were the closest to what I wanted to build and so very helpful for me:
-- Jeff
Edited by Jeff Young (09/25/05 12:07 PM)
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MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 24822
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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7 Ton Pier, Chapter 1
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Mark
"The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever."
Herb Caen
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MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 24822
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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7 Ton Pier, Chapter 2, Building the Observatory
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Mark
"The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever."
Herb Caen
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5539
Loc: Eastern PA
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I have a page that shows the start of construction and on going changes and upgrades to my purchased domed observatory. Maybe someone might find it useful.
http://www.jatobservatory.org/construction.html
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Winni
member
Reged: 09/14/05
Posts: 34
Loc: Bavaria, Germany
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Hi!
I have a bunch of pictures from building my "starlight trap", have a look:
http://hometown.aol.de/winfriedseeliger/page2.html
http://hometown.aol.de/winfriedseeliger/page3.html
The text is unfortunately in german, I will try someday to translate it in english...maybe 
greetings and cs from Bavaria
Winni 
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take it easy, but take it...because one day you`l going back to dust - and all you really possess `til this last day are your memories and experiences...
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scopes_r_us
super member
Reged: 01/14/05
Posts: 113
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How about some links to some mobile observatories?
Many of us have to travel to find dark skies.
Thanks
SRU
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5539
Loc: Eastern PA
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Don’t have anymore info on this but the picture in this link looks interesting:
http://azstellarvision.com/mobile.html
Here is some info on Dan Waid’s contruction of his mobile observatory:
http://www.waid-observatory.com/observatory.html
This one is just a mobile control room. It is nicely done. Very professional setup:
http://members.aol.com/dbaker1047/SCO/mobile.htm
Info but the pictures don’t display:
http://www.ontariorocks.ca/nseaa/mobile.html
Mobile Observatory service:
http://www.wytec.org/mobile.htm
Not a lot of info but this puppy is the one I want!! I bet it is a bit pricey though:
http://www.goto.co.jp/products/astrocar-e.html#top
Not a new idea, these guys did it back in 1963!:
http://ao.osa.org/ViewMedia.cfm?id=72714&seq=0
Another mobile observatory service (education):
http://www.geocities.com/intijalsu/turismo/tours0.html
This one only has a picture of an ambulance converted into a mobile observatory
http://www.fortworthastro.com/primefocus/0206/page2.html
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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photonovore
Moonatic
Reged: 12/24/04
Posts: 2471
Loc: tacoma wa
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The 'Roll-Around Roof' design: Images & construction details.
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Mardi
AR-5 ldx75 refractor, 80mm f/11 refractor, 6" eq3 RFT, ETX-70.
Whitepeak Lunar Observatory Website
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Mike Lewis
sage
Reged: 01/20/05
Posts: 306
Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA
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From right here on Cloudy Nights;
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1119
Mike
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Mike
.......................
Meade 7" Mak
Home built 8" Dob
120mm Sywatcher refractor
76mm Borg
Home built 12.5" Truss, F/5.6 Zambuto
PST
Dunham Hill Observatory
"Most people never look up, what a shame...."
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Here is a link to our Webshots albums containing my observatory/greenhouse album. We put the space under the roll-off rails to good use;
http://community.webshots.com/user/chargriff
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have recently completed an Observatory at home in the UK which may be of interest. I documented the whole build on my Astro Web-site:-
http://home.btconnect.com/astro-site/observatory_dome_project.htm
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Rick Needham
Vendor (ExploraDome)
Reged: 09/20/05
Posts: 1960
Loc: Fort Ann, NY
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Excellent job Steve and a fine looking observatory! I noticed the Pulsar Dome and base wall unit come as one piece units. Reminds me of how the StarDome units will look. Great job once again Steve and welcome to CN!
Rick
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Rick
Lat. 44.18 N
Long. 74.31 W
6" STAR HOC f/5 Newtonian 'Amanda'- Orion Astroview w/ dual axis drives
Celestron NexImage CCD Imager
10x50 binocs
(NSO)Northern Skies Observatory...I'm finally domed with the 8' diameter Explora-Dome!!!
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi Rick,
The 'one piece' units appealed to me from the start as there is no chance of a leak in bad weather and we do understand bad weather here in the UK! Once the base was completed, assembly of the dome was very straightforward.
Thanks for the welcome.
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angelos
journeyman
Reged: 07/08/05
Posts: 5
Loc: Athens, Greece
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Below you will find a site with plenty of links on amateur observatories:
http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html
Regards,
Angelos
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wbsjets
newbie
Reged: 07/26/05
Posts: 1
Loc: TX & OK
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Took us 36 months of nights and weekends.
www.lonestarobservtory.org
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 11783
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Misspelled...
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2819
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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http://www.lonestarobservatory.org/
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group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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Mr.Wendell
newbie
Reged: 07/17/05
Posts: 1
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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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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Strgzr
sage
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 355
Loc: Apache Junction, Arizona
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I found this site offered by Joe Garlitz Very helpful!
http://www.oregonvos.net/~jgarlitz/observ.htm
Scroll down for the link to the construction details page.
Very informative if you plan to build a geodesic dome!
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Strgzr
My observatory construction pics
CHECK OUT THIS SITE!
Patina Gardens Observatory Clear Sky Clock
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15708
Loc: Hoover, AL
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Observatories of the S&T staff
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/article_506_1.asp
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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erik
telescope surgeon
Reged: 01/30/04
Posts: 23991
Loc: Hawaii
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great idea for a thread, mark- lots of useful links and information! 
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-Erik Wilcox
Homebuilt 16" Truss Dob
SV 80mm ED Nighthawk NG on M1 ALT/AZ
Nikon Prostaff 65mm spotter on Trekpod
Konusvue 20x80 binos/Peterson pipemount
Orion 10x50 binos
Homebuilt 80mm f/5 refractor
Mirador 60mm f/12 1960's refractor
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi everyone - I'm new to the hobby and to the forum as well! I'm doing some initial research on building my observatory at home and have a quick question. Since the *BEST* place for me to put the scope at my house is on the upstairs deck (mindful of all the inherent problems with this) I'd like to put in a pier from the ground below to support the scope properly. Problem with that is the house is basically on a cliff with only solid boulders below the deck. Has anyone ever heard of someone just putting the pad on top of a boulder and can this be done safely?
Ok, I'm ready for all the "this guy is an idiot" cracks - bring 'em on!!
nk
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
You may find the free plans and photos of observatories from these links useful:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astronomical_Observatories/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatory_RoofandDome_Automation/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_Telescopic_Piers/
And there is my own website but some of the pages still need to be uploaded. I am working on this new website constantly: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sg.waters/
There is plenty there to keep you going for quite a while!
Regards
Stewart
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Meade LX200 GPS14" UHTC polar mounted in roll in roof observatory.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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These are great examples. I'm really wondering, basically, if anyone has an opinion on using a boulder as an appropriate base for the concrete pad that will ultimately support the pier??
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
I'm not sure about using a boulder at the base of a pier. Could be a lot of hard work and nothing but problems. I would be worried about the two seperate components moving in the ground.
I opted for a concrete pier in my observatory. I dug a hole a lot larger and deeper than i required for the pier and filled it with concrete. Before the concrete set i pushed the pier cage into the concrete.
Once the concrete set i placed the pier shutter over the rebar cage and concreted the pier. The result was an 12" diameter pier that is attached to an extremely large chunk of concrete. In two years there has been no movement of the pier yet. The pier is isolated from the observatory and it causes me hardly any vibration problems either.
There are some plans of my pier design here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/files/Olympus%20Mons%20Observatory/Pier%20Dimensions/
Regards
Stewart Waters
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Meade LX200 GPS14" UHTC polar mounted in roll in roof observatory.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I see what you're saying. I was planning on building a large pad as a base for the pier (which will be made out of 12" dia sonotube packed with rebar etc) on top of the boulder. Just not sure that the concrete will adhere sufficiently to the boulder to support what will eventually be a roughly 12' high pier on top of it.
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
I think your design might work well enough without the boulder. I also have concerns about the concrete adhering to the boulder and if they seperate the weight of all that concrete above might start some movement.
Regards
Stewart
P.S. See what the guys at: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_Telescopic_Piers/ have to say about your design. They are very knowledgeable when it comes to pier design.
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Bob Hayes
newbie
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 4
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Here's a link to my dome construction pics that I completed in July of 2006.
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/550511533ICdPnP
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BigK
journeyman
Reged: 11/02/06
Posts: 5
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Bob,
Very nice! What is the diameter?
Ken
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dbeckstrom
super member
Reged: 10/29/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Andover, MN
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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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My Observatory build with photos http://www.observatorycentral.com/index.php?showtopic=435
Domed 12/17/2006
12.5 RCOS
Paramount ME Mount
Pilot's Cross Observatory
45° 15'48.85"N, 93° 21'30.91"W
"Time is the fire in which we burn" - Star Trek
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