Home observatories

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Milestone: first automatic closure

Last post by Butterfly Maiden « Mon Jun 29, 2020 3:39 pm
Replies: 2
by KathyNS » Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:55 pm

First post

I have been running my dome in full automatic mode for about a year. When I built the controller, I included automatic rain detection and closure. I...

Last post

Kathy, I am truly amazed at the set-up you have for your sky watching.

To have a dome is... amazing. Then to have all the automation to keep you and...

2 Replies

1913 Views

Last post by Butterfly Maiden
Mon Jun 29, 2020 3:39 pm
Pier base size

Last post by KathyNS « Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:09 pm
Replies: 4
by I Am Marsha » Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:57 pm

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I have a POD observatory that's been on a deck for several years. I'm going to remove the deck and have a cement slab to put it on. I want to put in...

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If you have bedrock 12 below the surface, then use that as your base. If you can drill into the rock and epoxy rebar into it, then your concrete pier...

4 Replies

2220 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:09 pm
My Home Observatory Story

Last post by umasscrew39 « Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:39 pm
Replies: 17
by umasscrew39 » Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:23 pm

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My wife and I moved from the Bay Area just outside San Francisco to the suburbs of Orlando, FL to retire (well, sort of- doing consulting :-)). While...

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Great obsy Bruce. I am in the SF Bay Area and also starting to look for a second home under dark skies somewhere in the West. I have been toying with...

17 Replies

5089 Views

Last post by umasscrew39
Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:39 pm
looking for ideas on home observatory without a permanent building

Last post by helicon « Sat May 30, 2020 2:58 pm
Replies: 13
by Ben Cartwright SASS » Tue Apr 21, 2020 11:21 am

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I had planned a home observatory, but the boss said NO. We have two sheds now, a garden shed and a she shed and lots of trees. I have a observing...

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Seems like a good option.

13 Replies

5620 Views

Last post by helicon
Sat May 30, 2020 2:58 pm
Parsec Observatory

Last post by astroavani « Tue May 12, 2020 4:02 am
Replies: 5
by astroavani » Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:16 am

First post

Hello everyone!
I'm Astroavani and I have my observatory at the back of the yard. It is located in the city of Canoas, southern Brazil, actually 30º...

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Ah the Parsec observatory, mostly for its world class selenography and planetary imaging.

What happened to your old 12 Dob?

Foi vendido a anos...

5 Replies

3117 Views

Last post by astroavani
Tue May 12, 2020 4:02 am
Step III of my retirement project: The scope

Last post by Don Quixote « Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:39 pm
Replies: 1
by jrkirkham » Wed Apr 15, 2020 2:03 pm

First post

This might go better in a different forum, but since all of the others have been here I thought I would finish here.

Step I: The Observatory

I...

Last post

This sounds mighty good Jr. 👍

1 Replies

1706 Views

Last post by Don Quixote
Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:39 pm
Step II of My Retirement Project: the Warm Room

Last post by Don Quixote « Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:32 pm
Replies: 5
by jrkirkham » Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:18 pm

First post

It's hard for me to believe I am actually doing this. I've been talking about it for probably 10 years now. My goal was to have the framework...

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This is a GREAT idea !

5 Replies

2586 Views

Last post by Don Quixote
Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:32 pm
Another small step toward an observatory

Last post by pakarinen « Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:34 pm
Replies: 24
by jrkirkham » Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:48 pm
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First post

After deciding where to place the observatory (which by the way wasn't any of the three locations I listed earlier), I finally broke ground and began...

Last post

My plan is to be in the POD when setting up and in the warm room while it makes its captures.

Nice!
24 Replies

11459 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:34 pm
Advice on a Warm Room

Last post by jrkirkham « Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:10 am

by jrkirkham » Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:10 am

Now that I have the Skyshed POD on a deck about three and a half miles from my home. I am considering adding a warm room near the observatory. I am...

0 Replies

1439 Views

Last post by jrkirkham
Sat Apr 04, 2020 4:10 am
OB Orientation

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy « Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:34 pm
Replies: 4
by Gulf Coast Guy » Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:15 pm

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If you had to give up observing in one direction N,S,E,W.. but had to pick one which one.
For example if views would be fine NS but you'd lose E or W...

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Yup, my first blush pick, too. It also will give a good view of the north for polar alignment ( I use SharpCap).

Got my mind grinding away on a plan...

4 Replies

2186 Views

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy
Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:34 pm
New home observatory WIP

Last post by Gordon « Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:35 pm
Replies: 16
by Gordon » Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:19 pm

First post

I moved from Southern California to central Arizona a few months back. One of the things I hated about the move was giving up my little 'dog house'...

Last post

I guess I need to figure out posting images. Someone want to clue me in. Image doesn't show on my screen, I'm guessing I haven't linked it...

16 Replies

6234 Views

Last post by Gordon
Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:35 pm
Here's a thought for a small, pre-fab set-up

Last post by pakarinen « Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:56 pm

by pakarinen » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:56 pm

While killing time at a local train station, I noticed this plastic salt bunker. Looks like it has a roll-top and the doors in front open. Probably...

0 Replies

1862 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:56 pm
Drat, there goes my imaging for a while!

Last post by UlteriorModem « Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:06 pm
Replies: 28
by KathyNS » Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:54 pm
1

2
First post

With several new-moon clear nights forecast this week, I thought it would be a good idea to clear the snow off the dome.

P1160122-1000px.JPG

That...

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Oh well, yea its always the little things.

My constant 'woops' is calibrating PHD2 before having the mount synched :p
28 Replies

9127 Views

Last post by UlteriorModem
Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:06 pm
Gemma Observatory

Last post by helicon « Sat Dec 07, 2019 2:22 pm
Replies: 4
by helicon » Tue Dec 03, 2019 4:24 pm

First post

Saw this on Facebook. A really cool obsy!

Last post

Hello Michael. Thanks for this great video on the Gemma Observatory. Very nice architectural design and craftsmanship here. I want one now. :clap:...

4 Replies

3120 Views

Last post by helicon
Sat Dec 07, 2019 2:22 pm
My observatory

Last post by Micke187 « Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:27 pm
Replies: 12
by Micke187 » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:36 am

First post

I am a little curios how you all have built yours observatorys :) So post an image of yours if you want.
Here is my little backyard obsy :)...

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Excellant observatory. It may cost, and be tricky to build an observatory, but the convenience is well worth it.

Thanks!
Ah yes if you got the...

12 Replies

4938 Views

Last post by Micke187
Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:27 pm
ScopeDome 3m observatories

Last post by Bigzmey « Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:47 pm
Replies: 6
by AntennaGuy » Sat Sep 21, 2019 8:43 pm

First post

Ok folks, would owning one of these be just absolutely awesome, or what?

They are made in Poland and sold in the EU, Canada, and Australia. At a...

Last post

So, while I'm dreaming, I'm thinking that the following OTA:

Just one left in stock you better hurry. :D

6 Replies

5498 Views

Last post by Bigzmey
Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:47 pm
Remote control of observatory

Last post by yobbo89 « Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:17 am
Replies: 12
by KathyNS » Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:29 pm

First post

I have good local control of my observatory on my local network, i.e. inside my router. I'd like to make it accessible to myself only when I am...

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i use lm viewer, it's free, a little simplistic , needs a fast network

12 Replies

4894 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:17 am
Astronomy: One rabbit hole after another / home observatory

Last post by pakarinen « Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:50 pm
Replies: 6
by jrkirkham » Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:11 pm

First post

First it was a new telescope; then a larger telescope, and another, and another. Then it was a camera and a mount, then another camera. Now after a...

Last post

Staying dry while sitting on the toilet gets more family votes than building a new shed for my toys.

Have you suggested they use a pancho?

6 Replies

3274 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:50 pm
Dome Observatory Construction

Last post by Aratus « Sun Aug 25, 2019 1:23 pm
Replies: 14
by Aratus » Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:37 am

First post

This was done nearly 5 years ago, but Ithought it might be of some use to anyone contemplating building this kind of observatory. I must give credit...

Last post

Thanks Ed

I'm happy to share my experiences in this, because it is so easy to make silly mistakes, and since I won't be doing this again, I hope...

14 Replies

5911 Views

Last post by Aratus
Sun Aug 25, 2019 1:23 pm
Rubbermaid Obsy?

Last post by Gordon « Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:48 pm
Replies: 3
by pakarinen » Fri Aug 16, 2019 2:37 pm

First post

Curious if anyone here has a Rubbermaid or Suncast plastic shed obsy, either full size or just a scope motel type thing.

Last post

That's interesting. I saw a lot of people commenting on skypods when they first came out, but not as many lately. If you went that way, how would you...

3 Replies

2542 Views

Last post by Gordon
Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:48 pm
Free download How to build an Obsy

Last post by JimMinCT « Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:33 pm

by JimMinCT » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:33 pm

Hey all,
As the title states, this just crossed my FB feed and I thought I'd share it.
It asks for your name and email. and sends a link to the pdf...

0 Replies

1720 Views

Last post by JimMinCT
Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:33 pm
Dome driver progress.

Last post by KathyNS « Sat Aug 03, 2019 2:31 pm
Replies: 26
by KathyNS » Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:31 pm
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2
First post

I am mostly caught up on my wife's gardening projects, so I am back to working on my dome driver.

I just got a heavy-duty stepper motor driver,...

Last post

That's what I have found also. I'm not fully automated but I do have a custom park and it only seems to want to park in the Home position. If you...
26 Replies

8727 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Sat Aug 03, 2019 2:31 pm
observatory thoughts

Last post by JayTee « Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:54 am
Replies: 4
by mcolbert » Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:41 pm

First post

I'm still waiting for engineers to get back to me with quotes on aluminium bases and I am a little tired of waiting, so... looking through a real...

Last post

I live on an island whose inhabitants could not live here without shipping containers. They're easy to get a hold of here which has got me to...

4 Replies

2661 Views

Last post by JayTee
Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:54 am
Pier for my LXD75 - Finally

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy « Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:46 pm

by Gulf Coast Guy » Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:46 pm

I'm finalizing plans for a permanant pier for my LXD75 mount. I'm almost done with a crude render of the pier and the surrounding deck. back in the...

0 Replies

1771 Views

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy
Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:46 pm
Pier Base

Last post by mcolbert « Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:04 am
Replies: 7
by mcolbert » Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:09 pm

First post

I'm not too sure if this is the best sub-forum to post this in, so if it is better in the DIY section, mods please transfer.

Copy from another...

Last post

I am coming up on the one year anniversary of putting my pier in. I have only used a tripod a handful of times since I installed the pier (and I...

7 Replies

3322 Views

Last post by mcolbert
Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:04 am

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