Steve Hopkins
super member
Reged: 03/20/07
Posts: 155
Loc: Manitoba Canada
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I though this thread may be helpful to anyone contemplating or currently building an Observatory.I'm sure other people have there own ideas on what they would change if constructing another observatory.
1)I would used pressure treated wood for the floor only
In actual fact I would build a cement foundation next time with wooden floor joust's
2)I would get a moisture meter to make sure that all the lumber had a minimum moisture content and was stable.I'm not sure what the moisture content should be but it should be easy to find out.(I think its 15-25 %)
3)If building a roll off I would use only kiln dried wood for the roller assembly's such as Douglas Fir. I have already noticed shrinkage as the wood dries out. I swear that the wood must have been swaying in the wind three days before I purchased it.
4)I built my walls 6 ft high as per BYO's plans but I should have went 7 ft to block out annoying street lights.
5)Make sure you have more than enough people available to help you when pouring Cement (it jut about killed me when doing the piers and sidewalk.)
Steve Hopkins
WinterView Observatory
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WinterView Observatory 12'x16'ft Roll-Off
Meade 12" LX200R (His)
Celestron CPC 9.25 (Her's)
Meade Series 5000 UWA (Complete Set)
Meade Series 5000 Plossl's (Complete Set)
Two sets of Denk 21's with Vaults
One set of Denk 14's with Vaults
Two sets of Denk II Binoveiwers (His & Hers)
Two Power & Switch Diagonals with Filter Switch
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28681
Loc: montana
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Steve, I'm most fortunate that I would not change a thing on my Dobservatory! It's the perfect size for me, perfect wall heights for my Dob (3'). I simply can't think of a thing that would benefit it, by changing, or adding to it.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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rsbfoto
super member
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 187
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Hi,
I would put more power sockets into the walls 
You can never have enough.
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regards Rainer
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rodney
domed in NJ
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 463
Loc: Asbury, NJ
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Steve,
I agree with Carol. I would do nothing different. My observatory is perfect for what I am doing and is upgradeable to a larger scope at any time. Maybe a bigger dome would be nice. Not really.
Clear skies,
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My Explora Dome construction is here:
http://www.freewebs.com/rodbo1967/observatoryconstruction.htm
Rodney
13 Truss
C8-NGT
Orion 80mm/F11
Extremely happy owner of an Explora Dome home observatory
and a list of goodies to big for this sig
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SometimesKen
sage
Reged: 07/15/05
Posts: 443
Loc: Bad Moon Observatory
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I would build it bigger ..... maybe 16' X 10'. Other than that... it's fine.
Here's a link to the BMO contruction thread .... wow it's 30 pages back now!
Bad Moon Observatory
Good Luck
Ken
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As the setting sun / melts below the horizon / the stars applaud her bow. ~W. Terrance~
Bad Moon Observatory - February 1, 2007
39° 54' N - 74° 09' W
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 6550
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.38 X 90....
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Hey Steve...point #5. And I did it in 90°F weather with humidity to match. Same result. It just about killed me. I haven't been that bushed in a LONG time. I'll be renting one of those mixers the next time. Mixing cement in a wheelbarrow is not fun....not at all.
David
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A few scopes and mounts.
Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
Life expectancies would go WAY up if green vegetables smelled like bacon...
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask
Reged: 10/01/04
Posts: 352
Loc: Mineral Point, Wi
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I love our observatory. For public events it's excellent. However, if I were to do it over again, I think I would be more likely to put it in my back yard rather than a 20 minute drive. I still have kids and home and it's just far enough away that makes it inconvenient for imaging. Although the observatory is at a site a full magnitude darker, I would get more use out of one in my backyard.
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask
Empire Ranch Observatory
Iowa County Astronomers
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Locoweed
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Ft. Davis Texas
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Taller pier
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 206
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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I love my place, which is now 10 years old. If I had to do it again I'd start with a full foundation instead of blocks (I think raccoons are living under it), and I'd have the switch inside the door turn on an interior light instead of a silly porch light, which is entirely useless. Other than that it's perfect for me.
Jono
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2165
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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I would build a 12X16 roll off instead of a dome...
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
Meade 2080 LX10
5" Celestron SCT
Skywatcher Equinox 66
Starblast OTA
EQ6 Pro mount (spiffed up with ADM stuff)
8X42 Bushnell binos (pretty decent for 25$)
Canon Rebel XT (AKA 350D)
Starshoot autoguider
Tolerant Spousal Unit (AKA The Lovely Mrs. RogerRZ)
----------AJP Observatory----------
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Scott K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 920
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Not that this will surprise anyone, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd build the foundation of my dome differently:
1. I'd do the work myself. (Couldn't turn out any worse than what I got from a "pro".)
2. I'd make certain that the ground was prepped better.
3. I'd make certain that the pier footer was isolated from the foundation.
4. I'd insure that the foundation was quite level.
5. I'd make it round, and the same diameter as the dome
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BCB
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 3833
Loc: Look over your shoulder
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HMmmmmm
Considering I converted a Rubbermaid Bigmax shed to a roll off design, I did rather well. BUT (there's always one o those), There IS a few things I'd like to revisit eventually. (and do it all over again)
In no particular order..
The roll off rail design.
I hashed that one over for weeks before the solution I used came into being.. It's not perfect, but it works. Could be better though.
A pier. DIRE need of this to gain some floor space back from the 6'9" x 6'9" design. No room to move..
BIGGER!!! (is better) Like mebbe 9x9 or 10x10.. 2 to 3 feet extra on 2 sides compared to what I have now would be a godsend. Then I REALLY could fit all the stuff I have without having it all piled in the one unused corner I have that isn't used to sit and observe from.
That's all I could think of offhand.. 
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Mark
Making people sorry they asked since 1967
Astro-Tech 102ED
Orion 8" F5 Newt w/Moonlight CR-2 focuser
SVP mount w/Meade 497 Autostar GOTO mod
Treeline Observatory
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GJJim
sage
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 270
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I am finishing a 10x10 roll off. When I designed the roof I allowed about an inch and a half for clearances on the spaces between the base and the moving part. Gravity came along and reduced the clearance to about 3/4" in some places and that's cutting things a bit too close. If I had it to do again I'd arch the rafters and allow at least two inches clearance.
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1257
Loc: AR
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I would use a large metal angle or beam to stiffen the front of the roof. I might still do so.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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astrotrf
sage
Reged: 09/30/07
Posts: 287
Loc: Rodeo, NM
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As a would-be astroimager, when I started building my observatory, the high-tech remote-over-the-Internet siting places hadn't started yet. It was quite costly to build my way-out-in-the-desert place, which is a live-in facility so I can stay out there for weeks at a time.
If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it at all. Instead, I'd put all of the money into larger equipment and site it at one of the remote-facility places. For visual work, I'd put a small dome in my back yard.
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Terry (astrotrf)
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Tom and Beth
sage
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 434
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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1) I would have a tad more "overhang" to the roll off roof to provide a better drip edge.
2) I added a gutter to the portion of the roof that slides over the scopes. With a flat roof, I was getting drips when opening the observatory.
3) A wooden subfloor inside is better on the feet and back when standing.
4) I used "steel" studs for the roof. While it is light and easily moves, adding a layer of insulation and venting the roof would help the Observatory to track ambient temps.
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