Finished making the form for the pier base, made it come out the ground for extra stability, the inside of the form was also reinforced with more rebar.
Observatory Construction
Started by
KennFromTX
, Dec 12 2016 10:46 PM
observatory observing equipment imaging DIY beginner
173 replies to this topic
#151
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 05 June 2018 - 04:54 AM
#152
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 05 June 2018 - 04:58 AM
i was originally going to use a 7x7x12 foundation but i figured an 8x8x8 would also work so thats what i did, Here i am getting a feel for the layout.
Ground was leveled and pavers were set underneath the 4x4's (later pic).
#153
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 05 June 2018 - 04:59 AM
Here is the foundation screwed into place and added braces for the area around the pier.
#154
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 05 June 2018 - 05:01 AM
Flooring getting put on, i made sure to use some Thompson's Water Seal for both side's of the floor then screwed everything into place.
#155
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 05 June 2018 - 05:05 AM
Now the walls go up.Since the walls i had originally made were for the 7x7 that i was going to build i had to slightly modify them and added an extension to make it an 8x8 It did create a slight problem in the end but i managed to get it fixed.
#156
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 14 June 2018 - 09:19 PM
Roofing frame started, no kidding this was harder to design than the dome, Lol
#157
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 14 June 2018 - 09:21 PM
Here's the finished frame for the Observatory roof.
- barbarosa and seawolfe like this
#158
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 14 June 2018 - 09:23 PM
Roof on.
- R Botero, barbarosa and seawolfe like this
#159
CCD-Freak
-
-
-
- Posts: 2,110
- Joined: 17 Jan 2008
- Loc: Whitesboro,Texas
Vendor - Portable Observatories
Posted 01 July 2018 - 08:47 AM
Looking very good!!! That roof frame looks like it was quite a project with lots of special cuts. I sure miss having a back yard observatory.
John
CCD-Freak
WD5IKX
- KennFromTX likes this
#160
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 03 July 2018 - 07:43 AM
Thanks John, the roof was very tricky to build and i did it all by eyeing it, took awhile but came out pretty good.I will try and modify the other pics so i can upload the shingled roof. Clear Skies
#161
denny-o
-
-
- Posts: 555
- Joined: 10 Aug 2015
- Loc: hemlock, mi
Viking 1
Posted 11 July 2018 - 06:38 PM
Kenn, I had kind of forgotten about your build. I'm glad you did not run out of steam and give up. That dome is a ton of work. When I built mine I decided I'm too lazy for that much effort and made a flip top in 2 halves that are easy to open. The downside is there is no protection from the wind when open - though I can open just one side, north or south, which gives me a 180 degree traverse with the scope and some wind protection from the opposite direction, though not nearly as much as your dome does. Keep the photos coming.
- KennFromTX likes this
#162
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 17 July 2018 - 08:07 AM
Hello Denny, yes a roll off would of been a faster build but we suffer from really high humidity so a dome is a must not to mention the winds which get pretty crazy in my backyard. Im finally looking to wrap the build up just gathering up the last of the equipment to get it running.Thanks for following the thread bud, Clear Skies. More pics coming soon.
- Geo31 likes this
#163
StarmanDan
-
-
- Posts: 4,788
- Joined: 27 Aug 2007
- Loc: Where the stars at night are big and bright...
Aurora
Posted 19 July 2018 - 02:36 PM
WOW! Nice work on the roof. Looks very similar to the one I've got on the drawing board for my dome. Any pics of its construction?
- KennFromTX likes this
#164
Geo31
-
-
- Posts: 11,865
- Joined: 28 Jan 2013
- Loc: Willis, TX
Voyager 1
Posted 19 July 2018 - 08:21 PM
Hello Denny, yes a roll off would of been a faster build but we suffer from really high humidity so a dome is a must not to mention the winds which get pretty crazy in my backyard. Im finally looking to wrap the build up just gathering up the last of the equipment to get it running.Thanks for following the thread bud, Clear Skies. More pics coming soon.
Indeed.
I was debating back and forth between a dome and a ROR. I like the classic look of a dome, but I love the wide open sky with a ROR. Then one night I watched my telescope dew over in about 10 minutes. At that point I realized anything but a dome would be a waste of money for me.
- KennFromTX likes this
#165
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 20 July 2018 - 07:18 AM
WOW! Nice work on the roof. Looks very similar to the one I've got on the drawing board for my dome. Any pics of its construction?
I should have some in my other lap top, i will look around for them today.
#166
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 30 August 2018 - 06:59 AM
Got the conduit cut to height and ready to go into the pier, nice tight fit.
#167
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 30 August 2018 - 07:00 AM
Drilled some holes in the middle of the pier plate which will be set onto the concrete inside the pier.
#168
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 14 May 2019 - 02:44 AM
Oh WOW how time flies, Lol. Between bad weather and work schedule i finally got around to roofing the Obs and am getting ready to mount the dome this year.
- FOUNTAIN1, deepmedi71 and andrewweeks like this
#169
FOUNTAIN1
-
-
- Posts: 565
- Joined: 07 Aug 2011
- Loc: Winder, Ga
Viking 1
Posted 14 May 2019 - 05:35 AM
Looking good Kenn! Keep the pictures coming.
- KennFromTX likes this
#170
KennFromTX
-
-
topic starter
- Posts: 247
- Joined: 22 Jun 2015
- Loc: Pharr Texas
Mariner 2
Posted 14 February 2020 - 02:19 AM
The weather has not been kind and work has been demanding, i finally got around to putting the dome up and throwing in some electronics. I still got a couple more pics i have put up. Enjoy and Clear Skies
- drprovi57, R Botero, brave_ulysses and 2 others like this
#171
outofdark
-
-
- Posts: 77
- Joined: 04 Aug 2018
- Loc: SLC
Explorer 1
Posted 14 February 2020 - 10:43 PM
Very nice build! I'm impressed it is all diy.
congrats
- KennFromTX likes this
#172
Jim_V
-
-
- Posts: 20,767
- Joined: 20 Jan 2018
- Loc: Iron Range Lake Ontario
ISS
Posted 17 February 2020 - 11:51 AM
Long time coming, but it all seems to be coming together. 
#173
GlendaleGuy
-
-
- Posts: 136
- Joined: 26 Sep 2017
- Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
Vostok 1
Posted 19 February 2020 - 11:08 AM
The weather has not been kind and work has been demanding, i finally got around to putting the dome up and throwing in some electronics. I still got a couple more pics i have put up. Enjoy and Clear Skies
Very impressive. You should be very proud of that.
#174
GKA
-
-
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 03 Jan 2019
- Loc: South of Norway
Vostok 1
Posted 09 October 2020 - 06:03 PM
This is exellent , more Pictures please 
CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.
Recent Topics
-
-
-
Need Simple, Cheap Elemental Imaging Equipment For Star TestingTom Duncan - Today, 01:37 PM
Beginning Deep Sky Imaging
-
-
IC 405 and IC 410 - Flaming Star Nebula and Tadpole Nebulaendless-sky - Today, 01:30 PM
Experienced Deep Sky Imaging
-
-
Fitting my Canon 5DIII to a Nexstar 6SE - help please!rumbers - Today, 01:20 PM
DSLR, Mirrorless & General-Purpose Digital Camera DSO Imaging
-
-
NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula / First light Zwo ASI071MC Promeegja - Today, 01:01 PM
Experienced Deep Sky Imaging
-
