· 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 | (show all) AlanT professor emeritus Reged: 08/20/07 Loc: 122º36' W, 47º37' N, WA USA No room for an observatory. So....       #2537867 - 07/24/08 12:41 AM Attachment (125 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Maybe this would be better posted in a different forum as it isn't an observatory, but I wanted to share. Maybe there is an idea here that will help someone. I have no place to put an observatory in my yard, but I wanted the ability to leave my scopes out for a few nights in a row at times. I found that tarp type covers tended to sweat and would allow the equipment to get very hot or cold. So I decided to build a roll away shed. The mostly finished shed is shown in the picture below. It's insulated and has 12v power which will either run a fan or small heater which are switched by a thermostat. Weather stripping around the bottom and the door panel keeps it well sealed from any wet weather. Wheels allow it to be rolled completely away, or just laid back as shown (which provides plenty of access for my needs). It's pretty light, 100 lbs or so and takes about a minute to put it up or down. There are cutouts that mate with the pier to help guide and secure it into position and a plexiglass window on the back so I can ensure it's well clear of the scopes while moving it. The only issue I've noted so far is that the front panel needs to be positioned on the box when it's laid down during the night to keep dew out of the interior. Total cost was less than $200. Ok, so it looks like an outhouse, but now my gear is protected and I'm pretty happy. al Post Extras:       Hermie sage Reged: 04/20/05 Loc: Cloudy HKG Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2537894 - 07/24/08 01:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Al, I think that it still counts as an observatory! Theres less setup time than my grab and go. That is a really nice job construction-wise too. Hermie Post Extras:       WidowMaker Catchy Title Reged: 12/29/07 Loc: Frankfort, Ky Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: Hermie]       #2537919 - 07/24/08 01:37 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think thats realy cool, Alan! Silly question I guess but will you be keeping it outside always? Nice job! Post Extras:       kiwisailor Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/07/04 Loc: Lyttelton, New Zealand Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: WidowMaker]       #2538003 - 07/24/08 04:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Absolutely counts as an observatory Al, and a nice job too Apart from dewing of the interior with the front cover off, have you had any issues with bugs etc getting in, or is it too well sealed for creepy crawlies ? Steve Post Extras:       mlcolbert sage Reged: 11/15/07 Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: kiwisailor]       #2538024 - 07/24/08 05:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   is it just me or does anyone else have the image of your backyard eventually holding many such 'outhouses'. Don't ever have a party other than a starparty! michael Post Extras:       StarWrangler scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 09/03/04 Loc: Three Rivers, MI U.S.A> Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2538185 - 07/24/08 09:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   As one Alan to another it looks great to me, It does the job and that is what counts. Feel free to join and post your Observatory over at my Flip Top & Clam Shell Observatories group. Just click on the link below my name, Alan O. Post Extras:       soreneck Pooh-Bah Reged: 04/01/06 Loc: Toronto, Canada Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2538274 - 07/24/08 09:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great job! Very tidy and functional, and I especially appreciate good work done on a tight budget. Congratulations! Post Extras:       AlanT professor emeritus Reged: 08/20/07 Loc: 122º36' W, 47º37' N, WA USA Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: soreneck]       #2538495 - 07/24/08 11:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks all for the kind comments. To answer some of the questions: Widowmaker: I expect to bring the scopes in during stretches of poor weather, and mount too during the long wet winter months. During such times I may only leave the equipment set up if we get a cold dry stretch (which happens once or twice each winter). High wind is a bit of a concern, I'm going to add some heavy bungie cords to clamp the guides to the pier if it blows really hard. If the weather turns really nasty, it's pretty easy to roll the shed to the carport. Steve: All exterior wood is sealed and painted, the insulation is pest resistant, and the bottom seal is like a garage door seal. I expect spiders will be the main pests I'll have trouble with. Michael: Fortunately, there won't be any more outhouses sprouting up . The pier position is in the optimum spot to see the most sky and is the only spot shaded from a nearby streetlight. Alan O: Thanks for the link. Wish I'd known of that group before. I'm sure there are some great ideas there I'd have incorporated. thanks again, al Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2538738 - 07/24/08 02:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well done Alan, that looks great Post Extras:       Starman27 Post Laureate Reged: 01/29/06 Loc: Illinois, Iowa Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: Chris Schroeder]       #2539141 - 07/24/08 05:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My grandmother used to call my observatory a "telescope house". You have areal one. Great idea and execution Post Extras:       Pedestal Post Laureate Reged: 03/11/06 Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2539184 - 07/24/08 06:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nifty! It appears you remove the door entirely? Any particular reason for doing that instead of hinging it? Hubert Post Extras:       AlanT professor emeritus Reged: 08/20/07 Loc: 122º36' W, 47º37' N, WA USA Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: Pedestal]       #2539284 - 07/24/08 07:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Right, I do totally remove the front panel. I was going to hinge it, but ran into a couple issues. Because the ground is sloped, I would have to mount the door so it would swing to the right (when looking at it). I got to measuring real close and found it was touch-and-go whether the door would clear a nearby hose spigot.... Then got to worrying about getting it mounted just right so the bottom rubber would slide across the concrete yet still seal well. My wife got tired of hearing me hem and haw and suggested just making the door removable. So that's what I did. There are two 1/4" bolts that stick out of the frame near the top that align with mating holes in the door, and 4 draw latches to pull it up agains the seals. Getting it on and off is a breeze. I think I'd like hinges better though. If I can find suitable bottom seal material/design, I may dig out enough of the slope to allow me to mount the door to swing left which would be best. But for now, it's easy enough. al Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2539356 - 07/24/08 07:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Your design probably helps keep the whole thing square and as you said, seals better. Post Extras:       dgs© Postmaster Reged: 03/29/04 Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2539357 - 07/24/08 07:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Reminiscent of the Observalavatory. Seen here with the door closed displaying the nifty logo. Post Extras:       DeanS Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Central Kentucky Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: dgs©]       #2539443 - 07/24/08 08:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nicely done! Simple design and quick to set up which is the key to any observatory. Post Extras:       o1d_dude o1der than dirt Reged: 10/03/07 Loc: The Wolfpack Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: DeanS]       #2539506 - 07/24/08 08:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Excellent idea! All you lack is a crescent moon painted on the door to complete the outhouse look. Post Extras:       David Pavlich Transmographied Reged: 05/18/05 Loc: Mandeville, LA USA Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: kiwisailor]       #2539527 - 07/24/08 09:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice! Ya' gotta' love innovation. David Post Extras:       Oly Olson super member Reged: 02/17/08 Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2543473 - 07/26/08 11:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think that's simply outstanding! Really nice job. Best, Oly Post Extras:       Snow dog Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/17/05 Loc: Alberta Canada Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: Oly Olson]       #2543492 - 07/26/08 11:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice. I was thinking when I first saw it "That looks like an outhouse". Great idea and well done on the construction. Like someone else pointed out...just be careful when you have friends over for a BBQ or other party Post Extras:       Mike Lewis sage Reged: 01/20/05 Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA Re: No room for an observatory. So.... [Re: AlanT]       #2543774 - 07/27/08 08:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Outstanding!!!! Well done Best skies! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 3 registered and 2 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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