Strgzr
sage
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 355
Loc: Apache Junction, Arizona
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I found this site offered by Joe Garlitz Very helpful!
http://www.oregonvos.net/~jgarlitz/observ.htm
Scroll down for the link to the construction details page.
Very informative if you plan to build a geodesic dome!
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Strgzr
My observatory construction pics
CHECK OUT THIS SITE!
Patina Gardens Observatory Clear Sky Clock
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 16249
Loc: Hoover, AL
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Observatories of the S&T staff
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/article_506_1.asp
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Tak FS 78
Tak Teegul-Lapides
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33
Vixen Porta Mount
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erik
telescope surgeon
Reged: 01/30/04
Posts: 24250
Loc: Off Grid in Paradise (Big Isla...
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great idea for a thread, mark- lots of useful links and information! 
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-Erik Wilcox
Homebuilt 16" Truss Dob
SV 80mm ED Nighthawk NG on M1 ALT/AZ
Nikon Prostaff 65mm spotter on Trekpod
Konusvue 20x80 binos/Peterson pipemount
Orion 10x50 binos
Homebuilt 80mm f/5 refractor
Mirador 60mm f/12 1960's refractor
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi everyone - I'm new to the hobby and to the forum as well! I'm doing some initial research on building my observatory at home and have a quick question. Since the *BEST* place for me to put the scope at my house is on the upstairs deck (mindful of all the inherent problems with this) I'd like to put in a pier from the ground below to support the scope properly. Problem with that is the house is basically on a cliff with only solid boulders below the deck. Has anyone ever heard of someone just putting the pad on top of a boulder and can this be done safely?
Ok, I'm ready for all the "this guy is an idiot" cracks - bring 'em on!!
nk 
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
You may find the free plans and photos of observatories from these links useful:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astronomical_Observatories/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatory_RoofandDome_Automation/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_Telescopic_Piers/
And there is my own website but some of the pages still need to be uploaded. I am working on this new website constantly: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sg.waters/
There is plenty there to keep you going for quite a while!
Regards
Stewart
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Meade LX200 GPS14" UHTC polar mounted in roll in roof observatory.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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These are great examples. I'm really wondering, basically, if anyone has an opinion on using a boulder as an appropriate base for the concrete pad that will ultimately support the pier??
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
I'm not sure about using a boulder at the base of a pier. Could be a lot of hard work and nothing but problems. I would be worried about the two seperate components moving in the ground.
I opted for a concrete pier in my observatory. I dug a hole a lot larger and deeper than i required for the pier and filled it with concrete. Before the concrete set i pushed the pier cage into the concrete.
Once the concrete set i placed the pier shutter over the rebar cage and concreted the pier. The result was an 12" diameter pier that is attached to an extremely large chunk of concrete. In two years there has been no movement of the pier yet. The pier is isolated from the observatory and it causes me hardly any vibration problems either.
There are some plans of my pier design here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/files/Olympus%20Mons%20Observatory/Pier%20Dimensions/
Regards
Stewart Waters
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Meade LX200 GPS14" UHTC polar mounted in roll in roof observatory.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Roll_Off_Roof/
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I see what you're saying. I was planning on building a large pad as a base for the pier (which will be made out of 12" dia sonotube packed with rebar etc) on top of the boulder. Just not sure that the concrete will adhere sufficiently to the boulder to support what will eventually be a roughly 12' high pier on top of it.
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Stewart
Vendor
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Colchester, Essex, U.K.
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Hi,
I think your design might work well enough without the boulder. I also have concerns about the concrete adhering to the boulder and if they seperate the weight of all that concrete above might start some movement.
Regards
Stewart
P.S. See what the guys at: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_Telescopic_Piers/ have to say about your design. They are very knowledgeable when it comes to pier design.
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Bob Hayes
newbie
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 4
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Here's a link to my dome construction pics that I completed in July of 2006.
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/550511533ICdPnP
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BigK
journeyman
Reged: 11/02/06
Posts: 5
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Bob,
Very nice! What is the diameter?
Ken
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dbeckstrom
super member
Reged: 10/29/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Andover, MN
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Here is a link to photos and a write-up on my observatory construction:
http://www.astroskies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435
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My Observatory build with photos http://www.observatorycentral.com/index.php?showtopic=435
Domed 12/17/2006
12.5 RCOS
Paramount ME Mount
Pilot's Cross Observatory
45° 15'48.85"N, 93° 21'30.91"W
"Time is the fire in which we burn" - Star Trek
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Bob Hayes
newbie
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 4
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Thanks Ken. It's 8' in diameter and houses a G-11 and Tak FS-128.
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Michael Morris
Member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 1391
Loc: Worcestershire, UK
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Quote:
Here is a link to photos and a write-up on my observatory construction:
http://www.astroskies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435
Link asks for a username and passwrod.
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Michael Morris
8" LX200 classic
Orion 80ED
ETX 90 (Grab 'n' Go)
Observatory Almira Observatory Website
Co-author of NightCal Astronomical Observing Calendar Software http://www.nightcal.co.uk
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Richard B. Drumm
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 1482
Loc: Albemarle Co. Virginia
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All ya gotta do is sign up! It's free!
Just like here on CN.
Rich
Moderator at AstroSkies.
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Orion Atlas 10 (10" Newt on an equatorial mount)
Celestron 15x70 SkyMaster Binocs
Coronado Ha PST
President, Charlottesville Astronomical Society
IOTA member
38° 10' 57"N, 78° 23' 09"W
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bloodhound31
sage
Reged: 03/01/07
Posts: 205
Loc: Canberra, Australia
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I know its a double post, but it looks like it is a topic relevant place to put this.
Heres my contribution.
Baz.
http://www.aussiepeople.com.au/asignobservatory/
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A.S.I.G.N. Observatory
http://www.asignobservatory.com
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dbeckstrom
super member
Reged: 10/29/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Andover, MN
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If you're interested in buying, building or automating an observatory you might want to check out www.observatorycentral.com
Its not a commercial site. Its an enthusiast site where people can learn about observatories and see observatories that others have bought or built. There are photo galleries and illustrated building projects that I found really helpful when I built my observatory. All brands of domes, roll-offs and home-built observatories are talked about and everyone is welcome.
You can post photos of your observatory for others to see.
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My Observatory build with photos http://www.observatorycentral.com/index.php?showtopic=435
Domed 12/17/2006
12.5 RCOS
Paramount ME Mount
Pilot's Cross Observatory
45° 15'48.85"N, 93° 21'30.91"W
"Time is the fire in which we burn" - Star Trek
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rodney
Vendor - Explora Dome
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 800
Loc: Asbury, NJ
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If you need further assistance in your observatory planning check out the Explora Dome dedicated yahoo group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Explora-dome/
You can get all your information on the Explora Domes history and projects. Also get up to the minute manufacturer updates.
You can post photos there or view other built observatories all in one location.
Edited by rodney (04/23/07 09:15 AM)
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pinkflyd34
Vendor -- The Urban Sky
Reged: 08/19/06
Posts: 41
Loc: philly
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http://www.jemartool.com/astro/observatory/observatory.htm
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[url]www.theurbansky.com[url]
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Flint.Hill
newbie
Reged: 05/23/07
Posts: 1
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Here is the URL of the observatory I just completed:
http://www.wcc.net/~myastronomy/Observatory/index.html
Flint.Hill
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