Unique approach to an observatory

Discuss your home observatory!
Post Reply
User avatar
Lowjiber
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 2
Offline
Posts: 975
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:30 pm
4
Location: Las Vegas, Nv, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Unique approach to an observatory

#1

Post by Lowjiber »


As my Granny would say, "I've been to three hog-killings and two county fairs, but I've never seen anything like this."

https://youtu.be/0vK-zwRAz5A

Clear Skies & Stay Safe
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4001
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#2

Post by pakarinen »


Interesting idea that probably took some effort to design. I wonder how much the roof section counterweights weigh.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102, Scopetech Zero, SW AZ5, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C; Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14926
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#3

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Well done!
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
User avatar
Juno16 United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 3:13 pm
4
Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#4

Post by Juno16 »


Really cool and efficient design!
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
User avatar
Makuser United States of America
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6394
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:53 am
4
Location: Rockledge, FL.
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#5

Post by Makuser »


Well, we have had dome observatories, the popular roll off roof observatories, but this new concept is really great. Thanks for finding and sharing this video with us John, and the best of regards.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
User avatar
Ylem United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 7457
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
4
Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
Status:
Offline

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#6

Post by Ylem »


Pretty neat 😃
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
:D



User avatar
AntennaGuy United States of America
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1407
Joined: Sun May 19, 2019 1:20 am
4
Location: Tyler, TX USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#7

Post by AntennaGuy »


Very nice. May I suggest that this be moved to the "Home Observatories" section of TSS, to make it easier to find in the future? Thanks.
* Meade 323 refractor on a manual equatorial mount.
* Celestron C6 SCT on a Twilight 1 Alt-Az mount
Prof. Barnhardt to Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still: "There are several thousand questions I'd like to ask you.”
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14926
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#8

Post by notFritzArgelander »


AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Fri Dec 18, 2020 12:21 am Very nice. May I suggest that this be moved to the "Home Observatories" section of TSS, to make it easier to find in the future? Thanks.
Good idea!
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
User avatar
Gordon United States of America
Site Admin
Site Admin
Articles: 1036
Online
Posts: 8220
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2019 10:52 pm
4
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

I Broke The Forum.

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#9

Post by Gordon »


Moved as requested.
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.

Image
User avatar
JayTee United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 2
Offline
Posts: 5617
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 3:23 am
4
Location: Hayden, ID
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#10

Post by JayTee »


This is a similar idea to the one I have for my upcoming observatory build. My idea is, instead of the clamshell design, I want to use two roll-up garage doors. I want them to roll up onto two opposite sides of the observatory to get out of the way, and the whole thing looks very compact when it is open. I'm still working on finding the right roll-up garage doors and how they will attach at the apex to become weather tight.

Ideas?

Cheers,
JT
JT -- Proprietor - Rimrock Observatory
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 (C11 SCT) #2: 8" f/7.5 Newt/Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102mm f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, ASI662MC, & ASI120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70° And: a box full of others
∞ Other AP Gear: EAF, Filter Wheel, Filters - L-eXtreme, UV/IR Cut
Image
I never met a scope I didn't want to keep. "My God, it's full of stars." Searching the skies since 1966!
User avatar
Unitron48 United States of America
Local Group Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 2742
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:48 am
4
Location: Culpeper, VA (USA)
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#11

Post by Unitron48 »


Great concept! Well done execution!!

Dave
Unitron (60mm, 102mm), Brandon 94
Stellarvue SVX127D
http://www.unitronhistory.com

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein
User avatar
turboscrew
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 3233
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2020 9:22 am
3
Location: Nokia, Finland
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#12

Post by turboscrew »


pakarinen wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:28 pm Interesting idea that probably took some effort to design. I wonder how much the roof section counterweights weigh.
From the picture, I'd guess about 30 kg (66 lb) a piece.
I assumed that the diameter is 40 cm (16") and thickness 10 cm (4").
- Juha

Senior Embedded SW Designer
Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
Eyepieces: 26 mm Omegon SWAN 70°, 15 mm TV Plössl, 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus, 10 mm TV Delos, 6 mm Baader Classic Ortho, 5 mm TV DeLite, 4 mm and 3 mm TV Radians
Cameras: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro, Omegon veLOX 178C
OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
Explore Scientific HR 2" coma corrector, Meade x3 1.25" Barlow, TV PowerMate 4x 2"
Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
Laptop: Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged, Windows 11
LAT 61° 28' 10.9" N, Bortle 5

I don't suffer from insanity. I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Image
User avatar
SkyHiker United States of America
Local Group Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 2293
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 8:40 pm
4
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#13

Post by SkyHiker »


Clearly observatories for visual and AP are built very differently. After folding all panels out there's almost nothing left! For AP you need the walls against wind and light. I suppose for visual it needs to be wide open? It has a nice low profile and looks sturdy enough to protect against the elements. The roof works nicely though I would add stops instead of that cable.

The holes in the tube are an interesting twist. Is that to save weight, and if it is mounted on a pier, why?
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9826
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#14

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Quite interesting, there was a similar one like this featured in Astronomy Now I believe a few years ago.
If I remember right it was a bit taller than this.
A nice compact design though.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, NočnĂœ stopĂĄr 152/1200, VyrobenĂ© doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
kt4hx United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 4
Offline
Posts: 3478
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 12:18 am
4
Location: Virginia, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Unique approach to an observatory

#15

Post by kt4hx »


I have seen designs with a flip off roof, but never one that short in stature.

SkyHiker wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 3:21 pm Clearly observatories for visual and AP are built very differently. After folding all panels out there's almost nothing left! For AP you need the walls against wind and light. I suppose for visual it needs to be wide open? It has a nice low profile and looks sturdy enough to protect against the elements. The roof works nicely though I would add stops instead of that cable.

The holes in the tube are an interesting twist. Is that to save weight, and if it is mounted on a pier, why?
Well us visual observers like shelter from wind (particularly in winter) and light. But we also like to have access to lower elevations at times, so there generally is some sort of compromise. Perhaps he lives somewhere that there is no ambient lighting hitting his location. I would suspect the most open end (where the door is) is toward the south since we don't need as much of an open look to the north at mid-northern lats.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Home observatories”