· 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] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Observatories Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all) ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W       #2233746 - 03/03/08 04:29 PM Attachment (167 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Finally my observatory build has started. Every decision has been made after hours of reading CN and looking at photos. To return the favour I shall bore you with pictures of my build. I live 5 miles south of the heart of London. Light pollution is my middle name. I am hoping for a 10 fold or more increase in use of my scopes once this project is complete. I will do as much as I can myself. I have planned the build as a staged process that gives me maximum flexibility if I change my mind about anything. Current objective is to build an 8 x 8 roll-off roof wooden observatory. The base is made out of 4x2 timber, and sits on four brick pillars, one at each corner. I needed to gain a bit of height as I have to view over the shed next door, I wanted a wooden floor (warmer), I think a plug surrounded by earth will be better isolated, and finally and 8x8 6 inch deep screed is a hell of a lot more concrete. The base is 90% complete. I have left the gap to allow for easy access to the hole for the plug. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Edited by ProfMMC (03/04/08 03:15 AM) Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233761 - 03/03/08 04:32 PM Attachment (100 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A close up of the hole. The shuttering at the top is 3x3 and the hole extends around 2 foot six down. The ground never freezes in London (we get an inch of snow once a year) so I have concluded that I do not need to go real deep. Digging the hole was a nigthmare. I hope I have got this decision right. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233765 - 03/03/08 04:34 PM Attachment (106 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The shuttering is temporally held a few inches below the base. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233770 - 03/03/08 04:36 PM Attachment (82 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I drove two 4 foot long lengths of thick reinforcing 3 feet deeper, and have attacted the first layer of reinforcing. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 04:37 PM) Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233777 - 03/03/08 04:39 PM Attachment (80 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Three layers of reinforcing: -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233779 - 03/03/08 04:40 PM Attachment (76 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And reinforcing for the pillar: -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233782 - 03/03/08 04:42 PM Attachment (82 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Pillar in place and held upright: -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       Kaizu sage Reged: 08/17/07 Posts: 370 Loc: Finland Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233799 - 03/03/08 04:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you want to be sure that the ground never freeze, you can put styrofoam or some other isolating plates around the pier. The coldness is not bad and the wetness is not bad but together they can distort the pier and one time is enough. Kaizu -------------------- Some thoughts are so wise that they don't make me laugh http://www.kaiforssen.fi Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mother Reged: 05/14/05 Posts: 43950 Loc: montana Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233804 - 03/03/08 04:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Congratulations on your building of your Observatory! We are never bored with members sharing their building of their observatories! It looks as though you are progressing quite nicely! Please keep the photos coming, & best of luck with your continuing progress! Carol -------------------- Carol AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!) Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm, Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW. 14mm Meade 4000 UWA TV Panoptics; 22, 35 DreamCatcher Dobservatory Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: csa/montana]       #2233864 - 03/03/08 05:27 PM Attachment (95 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good to hear that I will not be boring anyone. A view down the pier. It does not look neat, but the reinforcing is there to do a job not look good. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 05:27 PM) Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233868 - 03/03/08 05:29 PM Attachment (79 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is my bottom plate. It is going to be held in the pier by 3 18 inch lengths of 10mm threaded rod. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Edited by ProfMMC (03/03/08 05:30 PM) Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233876 - 03/03/08 05:33 PM Attachment (90 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   An action shot: marking true north as the sun transits ... -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       Bowmoreman Post Laureate Reged: 09/11/06 Posts: 4137 Loc: Bolton, MA Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233926 - 03/03/08 05:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One thought before tyou get too far along... you probably should put additional concrete supports under the sides at midpoint... 8' span is kinda long; though I don't know the dimensions of your sill joists... If they are 10" or bigger you're probably OK... Looking good and we LOVE long "boring" threads with lotsa pics, etc! Clear enough skies -------------------- Dave Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS Visual: XT10i RTP EP: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,10XW,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8 Guider: SBIG STV eFinder Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor Post Extras:       Pedestal Post Laureate Reged: 03/11/06 Posts: 3990 Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2233949 - 03/03/08 06:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking good, so far. I would suggest you are going to need more support for your floor than just the four corners, though. Hubert -------------------- Hubert --------------------------------- www.smoggybottom.org Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: Pedestal]       #2233997 - 03/03/08 06:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes I am going to check the need for further supports after the pier is cast. The base has only been put together now since I can use it to hold up the shuttering and the pier. The base is just lying loose on the four pillars and can (with a bit of puff) be lifted up to rest against the fence. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Posts: 6813 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2234188 - 03/03/08 07:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great job so far, looking good -------------------- Chris Mallincam Color Hyper Plus 10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT M110 Doublet ED, AT 102Achro, ZS80FD 10th Anniv, ZS66SD, PST CG5-AGT, EZ-Touch, Voyager POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com Post Extras:       mikey cee Post Laureate Reged: 01/18/07 Posts: 4099 Loc: bellevue ne. Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2234324 - 03/03/08 08:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It's hard to tell but is your lumber treated? If not you'd better brush on something! Termites and their little mud tunnels won't have to go far and you won't even be aware of the extent of their damage untilit's too late! Mike -------------------- 7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te. Post Extras:       cnstarz professor emeritus Reged: 12/22/07 Posts: 549 Loc: Kentucky, USA Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: mikey cee]       #2234820 - 03/04/08 01:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I love the look of that pier, I've seen where others have a conduit for electrical inside the tube. Are you planning something similar? -------------------- Matt Apogee 50mm BB scope ETX-60 BB Meade 70-az 5" DIY Newt (wip) C6-N on CG-4 GEM Gallery Post Extras:       skybsd professor emeritus Reged: 02/01/08 Posts: 698 Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: ProfMMC]       #2234928 - 03/04/08 04:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello, Living just south of you, I'm following your progress with very keen interest! Although a couple of months into this most addictive of activities, I'm already having the beginnings of my own grand plans of "something a bit more permanent" in my garden, and have even already gotten the go ahead from my local planning office Looks great! All the best! Regards, skybsd Post Extras:       ProfMMC sage Reged: 09/13/07 Posts: 298 Loc: London UK Re: New build underway 51:27:32 N 0:5:46 W [Re: skybsd]       #2234951 - 03/04/08 05:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes I got treated lumber, and have brought a tin of preservative to paint the ends after sawing. I shall make sure that the timber is only resting on brick - not earth so it should last as long as I need it to. I am thinking about the conduit, but no final conclusion yet. skybsd: how far south are you? I find that being in south London means that the view south is better light pollution wise than it would be if you were north of the river. -------------------- Orion Optics UK 350mm F4.7 Dob (dismantled) Celestron 8SE f10, Meade 5000ED 127mm, ETX125 OTA f15 Revelation ED 80mm f6.8, Meade 5000ED 80mm f6 WO ZS66mm f5.9, WO ZS70mm f6 EQ6 Pro, CG5-GT, WO Eazy Touch DSI I + II QHY6 Pro, Shoestring GPUSB EQMOD Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Chris Schroeder, csa/montana  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 3337 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   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   General Observing   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*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space Exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties   Light Pollution*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics