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Resin Storage Building Observatory

Started by SJJindra, 06/30/2020 11:16AM
Posted 06/30/2020 11:16AM | Edited 06/30/2020 11:24AM Opening Post
I ordered a Suncast Glidetop 6’ 8” x 4’ 10” Resin Storage Shed to make a small (very small) back yard observatory. The roof  slides back about half way. The walls are about 4’ high.

It will sit on a small wood foundation. I plan to cut holes in the floor for the tripod legs and place the feet each on an 8” x 16” x 4” concrete block imbedded on the ground below the foundation. This will avoid any contact of the flooring and foundation with the legs.

It will be for a tripod, an AP600E mount, and a 4-1/2” refractor, primarily for Astro imaging. It is close whether I will be able to leave the OTA mounted when I close it up or if I will need to remove it.

I ordered all the wood and concrete blocks today and the shed is due this week. So construction is about to begin.

Any recommendations are appreciated. Does anyone have a similar setup? I will let all know how it turns out.

Thanks
Steve

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SJJindra's attachment for post 170516
Posted 06/30/2020 11:51PM #1
Good news.

After going over the measurements of the building and of my equipment, I should be able to leave the OTA, cameras, and guide-scope, mounted and rotate to a horizontal position and still close the doors and roof and lock it all up.

In the early hours of the morning it’s nice to be able to shut all down and be in the bed in 5 minutes (15 with a shower). Plus no real setup required the next day.
Posted 07/01/2020 01:47AM #2
One more update.

I decided to install my 6” x 30” steel pier. Figured it’s now or never. So this evening I’ll be digging a large hole and pouring a little concrete.
Posted 07/01/2020 03:46AM #3
Sounds like it will be a good setup particularly since you decided to use the pier......

20" MidnighTelescopes f/5
8" f/16 Muffoletto Achro
Meade 6" AR6 f/8.0 Achro
Celestron C11
Parallax PI250 10" F/5 Newt
Vixen FL102S,NA140SS,R200SS
80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk with WO APOupgrade lens, 90mm f/16.67 Parallax Achro
LXD75/LX200, Mini-tower, GP-DX, CG5 ASGT, LXD650, GM-8, G11, GM-100, GM-150EX, GM-200 and a Gemini G40
4" portable AP convertable 44" or 70" pier
Stellarvue M7 Alt-Az, TSL7 Pier/Tripod
12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA
Posted 07/01/2020 09:45AM #4
Yep. I originally started off trying to keep the little building low profile, but a permanent pier is going to make it much nicer.

My wife is a little concerned about the back yard right now, seeing all those bags of concrete stacked up. So tomorrow I dig and pour. Once installed, the little building should be pretty unobtrusive.
Posted 07/08/2020 10:00PM | Edited 07/08/2020 10:32PM #5
I completed the installation of my small (very small) back yard observatory based on a small plastic shed with a roof that slides back about half way. It beats a tripod in the grass. Easy set up, no wet grass, chigger bugs, or fire ants and less mosquitoes. Easy shut down for the night. Total cost was about $700, not counting telescope equipment. All the wood, including the plywood is ground rated, pressure treated.

This will allow some Astro imaging, primarily with my little Canon M50 that has been modified with the removal of the factory UV/IR filter for full spectrum. I will usually be using either a light pollution filter or a narrowband filter, due to heavy light pollution.

It allows access to about 20 degrees above the horizon in each direction and about 25 degrees for North. I am pretty much limited by the height of the neighbors roofs anyway. If you have a go-to mount, your only concern would be for the scope slewing to hit the roof (to the North on my installation). My mount is push-to with DSC’s, so no problem with that.

Notes on Photos

1. Concrete foundation for pier. 2 ft. 6 in. wide x 1 ft. 6 in. deep round hole, poured with 12 in. deep concrete with rebar, and a 12 in. round riser to about 2 in. above the ground and 4 - 1/2 in. all-thread rods embedded to mount the pier.

2. Setting decking support while fighting the heat with all the tools available (umbrella, fan, and water)

3. Deck, with isolation from the pier foundation to avoid transferring vibrations.

4. Little Plastic Building (4 ft. 8” in. wide x 6 ft. 8 in. deep x 4 ft. 4 in. high) with telescope installed. The roof slides back partially. Notice a little bit of room in the back for storage and a for little shelf for laptop and a short stool. I pretty much have access to all the skies above the neighbors roof lines.

5. Ready to close down.

6. It all fits and closes up nicely for the night. That way I can stop imaging and be in bed in 5 minutes (15 with a shower) and put the telescope away the next morning and leave the mount in place.

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Posted 07/08/2020 10:02PM #6
Fighting the heat.

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Posted 07/08/2020 10:03PM #7
Posted 07/08/2020 10:04PM #8
 Installed.

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Posted 07/08/2020 10:05PM #9
Ready to Close Up.

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