John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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At age 65 and having been an amateur astronomer since age 12, I have finally decided to build a permanent housing for my equipment. I seriously considered a POD but rejected it as I plan on having several people using the observatory and each have their own equipment. Therefore I'm going with a roll-off roof design, 8' x 12' in size, with the long dimension running east and west, the roof sliding off to the east.
Honeyoye Falls is a small community perhaps 25 miles south of Rochester, New York. My site is well wooded and has a fairly typical gradient (slope) of about 1:4 north to south. Fortunately my interest is lunar and planetary as the only part of my site showing open skies to to the south and the zenith. East and west is trees to perhaps 30 degrees from the horizon and the south perhaps 15 degrees off the horizon. Trees to the north are effective in masking the skyglow from Rochester.
The soil is ther worst digging clay with cobbles you have ever seen. It will be a lot of work digging for the PVC column/footings and pier I have planned, but better than any design of continuous footing or something requiring a machine to execute. (access is very limited) Clay soil typically has a bearing capacity of around 1,500 PSF and is subject to winter heaving.
My budget is around $1,000. Obviously my own labor is free so that's a materials cost only. I have several design sketches I'll post in this and a couple other posts. My thinking is to keep things light but rigid and I will not rely on mass to obtain rigidity.
The first attachment is an overall section showing a typical side wall and the heights I'm working to. I may steepen the roof a bit more only to further make sure the roof loads are directly down at the roller points. I want no side thrust so will be using homemade lightweight trusses.
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2329
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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Good luck on your project John! Sounds like you have lots of "tree pollution" like I do. We look forward to seeing your progress.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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This attachment is a more detailed sketch of the roller area. Still thinking about a finish roof...probably corrugated metal.
The finish floor is going to be 1 x 4 with 1/2" gaps set over the floor joists with insect screen first put over the joists. This should provide excellent air moving from below to the roof vents and do a lot to keep the interior close to ambient temperatures. I use an MK-91 and thermal considerations are important.
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
|
John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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Finally, a sketch of what will be the west end. The roof will overhang each end by a foot or so therefore a truss will be exposed to view and will be a design element. The hinged section will be part of the wall structure, not the roof. It allows the roof to clear the telescope when opened.
I anticipate taking a long time to finish the observatory but hopefully, be up and running by August or so.
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12070
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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You may want to have the rail on the TOP of the header boards rather than hanging out the side. Over time, those could sag.
2 different designs going around are the Skyshed system, which uses Garage door track and wheels, on the INSIDE.
The other is the Backyard Observatory system which uses steel L-Channel on the top of the beams so it forms an upside-down "V". With that, you use V-Groove wheels. Very similar to your design.
You may want to consider one of those options.
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Neo... (Jeff)
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10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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Thanks Joel. From your signiture I gather you're in construction also. Good luck and keep us posted. I have a daughter in Greenland...anywhere near you?
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2329
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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John, there is a Greenville near me but can't say I recall a Greenland. I'm in southern NH about 15 miles from the Mass border. The concrete and site work is getting completed today. I'm watching concrete dry right now. 
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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I very much appreciate the comments Jeff. I wanted to do what I show to help reduce the possibility of wind-blown snow from entering at the track area. I am aware of the examples you reference. I should have no sag or "beam torque" as long as I keep the roof loads straight down (a truss does this nicely) and use through bolts for the track and roller anchorage.
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
|
John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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wow! Good progress. I tried to eliminate concrete and opted to build off the ground because of the slope of the land. Greenland is in southeast NH, close to Portsmouth off route 95.
Tell me more about your plans.
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
|
NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12070
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Quote:
I very much appreciate the comments Jeff. I wanted to do what I show to help reduce the possibility of wind-blown snow from entering at the track area. I am aware of the examples you reference. I should have no sag or "beam torque" as long as I keep the roof loads straight down (a truss does this nicely) and use through bolts for the track and roller anchorage.
With either design (Skyshed or BO), you can still have an outside "Skirt" and even include a "Brush" type weatherstrip or something to keep the elements (and bugs) out...
But you do want to keep the unit "Structural". The roof weight will add up quick, and over time, those "Outrigger" style tracks may bend on you.
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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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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2329
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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Quote:
Tell me more about your plans.
Well John, I chickened out on building it myself so my plans were pick up the phone and call somebody. I'm going with an 11.5 X 15.5 roll off from Backyard Observatories which will be a 10 X 11.5 observatory room and 5.5 X 11.5 warm room. I put in a 5.5" slab and a 2' sonotube footer 48" down with the floor level with the tube. I put a couple wraps of sill sealer around the tube for an expansion/isolation joint and sank my bolts for my pier in it. The obs will be built probably in July. I also had conduits run from the house for electric and data cables. I have a thread started already showing pics and stuff.
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2184
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Quote:
You may want to have the rail on the TOP of the header boards rather than hanging out the side.
I concur here, you could use a wider facia to deter blowing snow.
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 6006
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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John..Looks as if it's gonna be a winner.
Look forward to many pix.
Rob
GOMOC
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
Providing a great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
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John P
sage
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 234
Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY USA
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OK...I'm going to work on the roller/track design because of the comments and my desire to reduce the quantity of lumber the current design sketch shows. Thanks for the comments and input
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Stoney Lonesome Observatory
CPC 1100
C6
WO ZS80 ED II
losmandy gm8
canon 20Da
old, tired eyes
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