Observatory Thoughts . . . Some things to consider before you build!
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- So you want to build an observatory. I go over several concerns and factors that I consider as I begin to plan my observatory build. I look at site location in my back yard, I go over whether or not to do one or two piers/tripods, and I discuss the roll off roof, all as I make my plans for the observatory.
My Astrophotography Gear
Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro and Celestron branded LosmandyG-11 (being rebuilt)
Pier: Homemade pier, yeah!
Telescope (wide angle): Apertura 75Q, F/5.4, 405mm FL
Telescope (long): Third Planet Optics (TPO) 10" Newtonian F/4, 1000mm FL
Telescope (A bit longer): Third Planet Optics 6" RC f/9 1370mm FL
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Evoguide 50mm ED, F/4.8, 242mm FL
Guide Camera: Player One Neptune-M (IMX178 sensor, monochrome)
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI 290MM Mini
Astro Camera Monochrome: ZWO ASI 2600MM Pro
Astro Camera Color: OGMA AP26CC
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 2" 7 position and ZWO EFW 2" 5 position
Rotator: Pegasus Astro Falcon Rotator
Focuser: ZWO EAF (on each scope)
Power: Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen 2 and Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Micro
Flat Panels: Deep Sky Dad Motorized Flat Panel, Wanderer 190mm motorized Flat Panel, Pegasus Astro Flatmaster 150, and a homemade one for my 10" Newtonian
Software Control PC: Mele Quieter 3 and Mele 3 Overclock C
My Astrophotography Software
Mount control software: Green Swamp Server (controls EQ6r Pro mount)
Mount control software: Gemini 2 (controls G-11 mount)
Pegasus Astro device management software: Pegasus Astro Utility Platform (controls all of my Pegasus Astro devices)
ASCOM 6.6 Platform
Acquisition software: NINA (lastest version)
Guiding software: Phd2 (latest version)
Planetarium software: Stellarium (latest version)
Plate solving software: ASTAP
Plate solving software: Plate Solve 2 and Plate Solve 3 from Planewave
Waiting for the build. Thanks for sharing.
The observatory build... what a journey! I've started building mine two weeks ago. My backyard is somehow better than yours in some aspects but weather and specifically rain is always an issue. As you said, what counts is making the best within what one has. I went for two piers, 10x7", concrete floor and metal structure. I also choose the garage rails approach (well, kind of) but I set them in the exterior side to avoid rain go into the observatory through the rails. Feel free to contact if you wish. If you allow me a comment, don't overthink and don't fall into analysis paralysis. As soon as you have and rough global idea, go for it. Start with the first building phase and reevaluate after them. IMHO this is faster, less error prone than allow correct the inevitable mistakes you will commit as this is yours (mine) 1st obsy! Best wishes for the construction and looking forward to seeing in your channel the progress.
I found your video on thoughts on your Osbsertory builded very interesting.
I'm living in London Uk,
I am planning on retire on my island home of Barbados, I planned to builded an Osbsertory in my mom's
backyard , a roll off roff Osbsertory.
I'll be watching your next video on your builded.
Always a tricky choice as to where the best location is for an obsy. Looking forward to seeing the build unfold.
Hi Dave, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
When I was planning my observatory back in 2011, I faced almost the very same questions like you did. I live in Bavaria / southern Germany. So some of the ideas sound very familiar to me. Let me give you my feedback on your thoughts:
1. Location. Please keep in mind that roofs reflect temperature and therefore will cause turbulences in hot nights. As a rule of thumb, I try to avoid taking pictures of objects above roofs if they do not have at least 40° of "space" between the roof and the object. As I am living quite near to a major airport, I only take pictures in the airport direction with narrowband filters, if at all.
2. Environment: I used a raised wooden deck, (about 15cm high) filled with gravel. There is literally no space for critters. By avoiding a concrete floor I am also very flexible with the future usage of this spot (if I may remove or relocate the observatory). Additionally, concrete gets also very hot in summer and is a very good heat conductor, increasing the temperature delta of your ground floor to the air inside the observatory:
3. Size and roof: The dimensions you are planning with are perfect. I also have a flat roof with a 5° angle. The lower part is facing into the direction the wind/storms are coming from usually. It survived some very have storms without any problem so far. Also, I have a 50cm wide extra room inside (simple wooden frame construction) for most of my equipment, keeping the main room free from any "tripping traps". Thus the main room is always nice and tidy.
These are just my 2 Cents, based on my experience in 12 years with my observatory. Maybe I was able to contribute something useful in your design process.
If you have any questions please let me know and good luck in this exiting phase and for the upcoming realization of your project. Keep us posted, please :)
Clear skies!
I like your ideas, I think I'll add crushed rock beneath the floor, that is a great idea to keep the critters out along with some screening. And your idea of a small storage room I really like, I might add something to the east of the building, a small room for telescopes and the like for easy access and winter storage. Unfortunately, here in Phoenix, the summers get up to 115+ temps (46+ degrees C), so anything I store will need to come into the house during the hot months. But yes, I will be incorporating these two ideas! Thanks and CS!
Looking forward to the build. I am stuck on analysis paralysis. Should I build a home observatory or build a mobile observatory to get to the really dark sites?
I think that the wooden floor in a raised floor observatory cools down a *lot* faster than a concrete slab. Slabs can store a lot of heat for a long time after sunset, especially in hot climates. Also, I think standing for long periods on a raised wood floor is easier on your feet and legs than with a concrete slab. I built a roll off roof observatory in Portland and, my current one, in Southwest Montana. My current observatory floor is just high enough above the ground that I can slither under it and easily make changes to conduits and cabling if needed. Yes, it is attractive to critters. Here, we have rattlesnakes, skunks, and foxes. But it cools down quickly when you open the roof. Also, based on my experience, I think you would find that two piers in an 8ftx10ft floorplan would be quite cramped. I also have some neighbors who have very obnoxious lighting. I designed my wall heights to block the neighbors' lights. You can't shoot in the direction of the lights anyway so you may as well have your walls block the light from that direction. Another benefit of doing this is that the higher walls block the wind very well. It can be very breezy outside and completely calm inside. Plus, it makes the view of the sky directly above the observatory appear much darker and clearer.
I hope you will provide plenty of videos about your designs and construction progress.
Congratulations! I just finished the form for my observatory floor. It is on my roof deck and has been a nightmare of an 18 month process to get the permits. First inspection tomorrow. Try not to build anything that will require too many permits!
Hi Dave, glad you are planning to build an observatory. I have one and really enjoy using it. I follow your channel regularly and like all the videos you post. If you have any questions about the observatory build don't hesitate to reach out to me if I can help with any suggestions on the project. Cs
If you are up for it, I wouldn't mind visiting your observatory. I might be able to pick up some insights and thoughts on constructing mine. Thanks and CS!
Sounds like a good idea. I'll send you a email with my contact info.
nice planning Dave! think you thought of everything.. power and Data? I assume.
It's great hearing from you! Yea, I am going to use wireless for data and power. I will dig a trench and put in proper electrical; I just haven't settled on where to tie it to the house yet. CS!
Great video, and look forward to the build, one question, the pier you have already looks very low, will it not be even lower with a floor around it..?
Yup, as you will see in the next video when I demonstrate that I will most likely need to go higher. The fun never ends! CS!
I guess you just store the OTAs in the house? I would image the observatory would be extremely hot in the summer. I see it’s already up to 110F today. Will you add insulation to the roof and walls? I assume electricity and Ethernet will be run. Do you have to get a building permit? Property tax increase? HOA issues?
These are all good questions. I will store (as I am currently) all electronics and optical systems in my house. This includes mounts, computers, telescopes, and associated devices. As the observatory will remain empty during the summer, insulating is unnecessary, but I could change my mind. Electricity will be run, and I will use wireless, which I use now in the backyard. I've been using it for several years now with no issues. As for the building permit, as it will be on a raised floor, it is considered a temporary building, so no permit is needed. If I were building a casita with running water and electricity and being able to sleep people, then it would cross into another category, but I don't have to worry about that. And as it doesn't increase the amount of livable space, it doesn't increase property taxes. My HOA rules are that as long as it is not easily visible from my neighbor's backyard (all neighbors around me have sheds, etc., and that is why I am going with a flat roof design), it isn't an issue. Front yards, well, that is a much different story, I can't have anything in the front yard taller than 6 inches (LOL!) except bushes, plants and trees.
Looking forward to the build. I am stuck on analysis paralysis. Should I build a home observatory or build a mobile observatory to get to the really dark sites?
LOL, both! I am building one in my back yard as I work during the day, so traveling to a dark site is about an hour and half travel (Phoenix is a large city, with a pretty significant light dome) and even then I am only at Bortle 3 or so. So backyard with narrowband filters is what I use in the backyard, and I work on broadband targets when I get away to something darker. CS!