Telescope Reviews: $344. roll-away observatory?

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

Pages: 1

Bob Myler
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: St Louis, MO

$344. roll-away observatory?
#3665845 - 03/07/10 03:01 PM

Visited our local Sam's Club yesterday and came across an assembled Apex 4 x 6 room. It's footprint measures 51" across the front, 75" deep - and a substantial 82.5" at its peak. Because of its height, it might work well as a safe house for a rollout telescope - or with some modifications to it's molded floor - as a roll-away observatory. Looks good, too - especially for those limited to use of a small footprint. More details may be found at: www.Keter.com

Post Extras:

JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp

Reged: 02/20/05

Loc: In the Primordial Soup

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#3665899 - 03/07/10 03:19 PM

That's a nice looking shed.

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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster

Reged: 12/11/04

Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#3667156 - 03/08/10 08:18 AM

Well done

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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/05/04

Loc: Sydney , Australia

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Chris Schroeder]
#3676053 - 03/12/10 02:33 AM

interesting-especially as you think it can be used as a rollaway shed

I just emailed the local Australian Rep to see where I can have a look at one of these.

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baconfreak
super member

Reged: 11/12/09

Loc: NJ

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: seeker372011]
#3677627 - 03/12/10 10:01 PM

I would love to see somebody make an observatory out of one of these. Totally within my budget (once I get a back yard to put it in, that is).

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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/05/04

Loc: Sydney , Australia

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: baconfreak]
#3694813 - 03/20/10 11:52 PM

RRP here in Australia is $779.....

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Bob Myler
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: St Louis, MO

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#3983218 - 08/14/10 06:52 PM

My local Sams Club has discounted its last remaining "Telescope Storage Shed" (a floor model) to $299. Given the valuable 26-1/2 square feet of aisle space it consumes, I believe I can convince the store manager to do much better - and so could you. Big Box stores are motivated to get rid of their Spring and Summer merchandise. Check the Keter website in my original March post (above) and follow the tabs to its 4x6 Apex storage building. With a few modifications, you will snag a cost-effective micro-observatory that that requires NO stooping to enter. And it looks gorgeous to boot.

Outside dimensions are 51"W x 75"L (includes roof eaves) x 85"T (at its peak). Inside dimensions are 46"W x 70"L x 82-1/2" at its peak. Interior volume is 138 cubic feet. I believe the sidewalls are approx. six feet tall.

Most Sams Club have probably sold out of this item long ago - but you never really know. When calling your local Sams Club, inquire about item #256832.

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GeneT
Ely Kid

Reged: 11/07/08

Loc: South Texas

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#3983461 - 08/14/10 09:53 PM

Rain, storms, and high winds?

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Avi
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/19/09

Loc: San Tan Valley, Arizona

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: GeneT]
#3983464 - 08/14/10 09:54 PM

LOTS of duct tape... Red Green to the rescue!

Quote:

Rain, storms, and high winds?

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Bob Myler
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: St Louis, MO

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Avi]
#3984283 - 08/15/10 12:03 PM

Keter claims all control surfaces are wind tunnel tested to sustain Mach-10 micro-bursts. Of course, placing it inside a chain-link dog kennel might also work.

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PWP
member

Reged: 07/24/11

Loc: Keller, Texas

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#5711830 - 03/04/13 01:01 AM Attachment (31 downloads)

Quote:

Visited our local Sam's Club yesterday and came across an assembled Apex 4 x 6 room. It's footprint measures 51" across the front, 75" deep - and a substantial 82.5" at its peak. Because of its height, it might work well as a safe house for a rollout telescope - or with some modifications to it's molded floor - as a roll-away observatory. Looks good, too - especially for those limited to use of a small footprint. More details may be found at: www.Keter.com

I went with this for an observatory and just finished the build. Has already withstood a few heavy rains and 45 MPH wind gust one evening. Still standing strong and no leaks. Cheers!

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5697636/page...

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FirstSight
Postmaster

Reged: 12/26/05

Loc: Raleigh, NC

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: PWP]
#5712063 - 03/04/13 08:23 AM

My local HOA would unfortunately never let me get away with using any of the common prefab structures like this for either observatory or storage. I'd have to build something out of materials and of a style resembling that of my house to pass muster with the Ahh-cah-tech-tural com-mit-hhee.

Fortunately however, my house as-is already has a great "safe house" for my scopes and gear: a two-car garage (that doesn't face the street when open) with clean, smooth concrete floors, which isn't used to park our cars.

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: FirstSight]
#5712260 - 03/04/13 10:41 AM

Could you remodel the exterior of the house to match the shed and get it approved that way?

Tim

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PWP
member

Reged: 07/24/11

Loc: Keller, Texas

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: FirstSight]
#5712326 - 03/04/13 11:24 AM

Quote:

My local HOA would unfortunately never let me get away with using any of the common prefab structures like this for either observatory or storage. I'd have to build something out of materials and of a style resembling that of my house to pass muster with the Ahh-cah-tech-tural com-mit-hhee.

Sounds like a neighborhood I used to live in back in Missouri. It was a golf course community and you couldn't even plant a bush or pull one up without checking with the landscaping committee. HOA dues were $460 a year and we didn't even get use of the golf course or pool. The only good thing was it kept folks from doing whatever they wanted. Let's face it, some folks will put up any old thing as long as it works not giving any thought to aesthetics. I used to roll my scope in and out of the garage but I got tired of polar aligning and having to star align every session then roll everything back in again. In Texas, every home has a 2 inch drop down for some reason as well so you had to be careful not to jar your mirrors or electronics. Just glad to be on a perm pier now. It is as simple as waking up the scope from hibernate, letting the GPS pull down current date and time and I am still aligned. Loving it.

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csrlice12
Postmaster

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: FirstSight]
#5716797 - 03/06/13 04:33 PM

Quote:

My local HOA would unfortunately never let me get away with using any of the common prefab structures like this for either observatory or storage. I'd have to build something out of materials and of a style resembling that of my house to pass muster with the Ahh-cah-tech-tural com-mit-hhee.

Fortunately however, my house as-is already has a great "safe house" for my scopes and gear: a two-car garage (that doesn't face the street when open) with clean, smooth concrete floors, which isn't used to park our cars.

Just paint the "Stars and Bars" on the door and you'll have to get permission to tear it down....cause they'll make you leave it up....

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csrlice12
Postmaster

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5716802 - 03/06/13 04:34 PM

Looking at the pics, it's on wheels. In Texas, it'd qualifiy as a mobile home......

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JMW
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/11/07

Loc: Nevada

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5719289 - 03/07/13 08:34 PM Attachment (23 downloads)

I have a roll away shed for my AP900GTO on a concrete pier. Had the pier for a couple of years. When I upgraded the mount I built a deck 12'x16' deck around the pier and bought a shed. I added interior 2x4 framing for strength, cut out a U shape piece from the floor, desk in back half, and added 4 crank up trailer wheels. I clip down the 4 corners to secure it from high winds. It looks pretty normal from the outside.

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shawnhar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/25/10

Loc: Knoxville, TN

Re: $344. roll-away observatory? new

[Re: JMW]
#5719420 - 03/07/13 09:36 PM Attachment (28 downloads)

I used a shed like this as a rollaway, cut a u in the floor so I can pull it around the pier.
Here's a shot when it was under construction almost finished

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