Post pics of your observatory

Discuss your home observatory!
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KathyNS Canada
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Post pics of your observatory

#1

Post by KathyNS »


I'll start. I built this observatory six years ago. When we moved less than two years later, I wasn't about to leave it behind, so I had a crew jack it up onto a flatbed trailer and haul it to the new place, where I reinstalled it.
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Taken with my ASI120MC with the 2mm fisheye lens. It doubles as my security camera when not in astro use.
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DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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The Happy Parrot
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#2

Post by The Happy Parrot »


Gosh Kathy, that's a dream come true! Is it heated during winter?
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Telescopes: Refractor: Celestron DX 102AZ SSE f6.5; Newtonians: Z8 f5.9; Jason Comet 480t (ret.)
Eye Pieces: Meade 5.5 mm, ES 8.8 mm/82, Agena SG 12 mm, ES16 mm/68 & 24mm/68, Z30mm WF, Celestron 32 mm Pl.
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KathyNS Canada
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#3

Post by KathyNS »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 11:56 am Gosh Kathy, that's a dream come true! Is it heated during winter?
I WISH!!

You don't want heat in the winter, because that will cause bad seeing as the warm inside air rises out through the slot. I do have a small space heater for when I am doing maintenance.
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DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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The Happy Parrot
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#4

Post by The Happy Parrot »


That makes sense. We need astronaut suits sans the helmets for winter viewing.
THP

Semper ubi sub ubi.

Telescopes: Refractor: Celestron DX 102AZ SSE f6.5; Newtonians: Z8 f5.9; Jason Comet 480t (ret.)
Eye Pieces: Meade 5.5 mm, ES 8.8 mm/82, Agena SG 12 mm, ES16 mm/68 & 24mm/68, Z30mm WF, Celestron 32 mm Pl.
Binoculars: Olympus DPS I 10x50
Backyard Light Pollution: Orange Bortle 4-5
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sdbodin United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#5

Post by sdbodin »


The attachment Bigdog_in_home.jpg is no longer available
Just a quick couple from a few years back.
Bigdog_in_home.jpg
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Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
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sdbodin United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#6

Post by sdbodin »


Opps, one pic did post, must've done something wrong.
exterior_north.jpg
Showing roll-off open during construction, note A/C unit. Not heated, but cooled, just like the pro's.

Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
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Gordon United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#7

Post by Gordon »


It's small but it has worked very well for me for a long time!
dog house.jpg
I made it out of old scrap stuff I had laying around. My daughter had just had her home re-roofed and had a bundle of roof material left. So all said and done I probably had $50.00 invested in it. It has withstood heavy winds, rain, snow etc etc and never leaked. I run everything from inside my office so no sitting in the cold. I remove the scopes and cameras from the mount and bring them inside but the mount stays outside.
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Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
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JimMinCT United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#8

Post by JimMinCT »


I'll add my 2¢ adjusted for inflation...
A 7'x7' RoR shed trying very hard to blend in with all the other little sheds in the neighborhood... :D
Everything can be controlled from here, or from my main machine in the house.
It has full electric and is hard-wired via Cat5 to the house's network, so has full internet as well.
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Please note the desk area has been upgraded and there are new cameras on the scope. I need to get updated pics of the rig.
OTA's: Kson 1026-C, 4" Carbon Fiber ED Refractor, Home-built, 6.1", f/2.? APO refractor... (In Progress) 8" Meade LX2 SCT Mounts: CGX Imaging: ZWO ASI 1600MM, Canon 550D (T2i) Software: PixInsight, APT, PHD2, SharpCap, SGP, Stellarium, Registax, Stuff: Astro-Tech 0.8x FR/FF, Hotech SCA FF, ZWO 7nm 31mm LRGB-SHO filter set, ZWO 8 position EFWObsy: "Maybe Spaceship" Observatory
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JimMinCT United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#9

Post by JimMinCT »


Oh, and just because...
Santa never had things like this when I was a kid...
We saw this while we were out with the Granddaughter over last Christmas Holiday season at the Mall. :D
Santas Obsy.jpg
OTA's: Kson 1026-C, 4" Carbon Fiber ED Refractor, Home-built, 6.1", f/2.? APO refractor... (In Progress) 8" Meade LX2 SCT Mounts: CGX Imaging: ZWO ASI 1600MM, Canon 550D (T2i) Software: PixInsight, APT, PHD2, SharpCap, SGP, Stellarium, Registax, Stuff: Astro-Tech 0.8x FR/FF, Hotech SCA FF, ZWO 7nm 31mm LRGB-SHO filter set, ZWO 8 position EFWObsy: "Maybe Spaceship" Observatory
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#10

Post by mcolbert »


colour me green! :). Seriously though, threads like this are really useful for people considering building an observatory type structure. Gordon's picture reminded me of an elderly gent living in the suburbs of Sydney with something similar in size. It was about the size and shape of an old outhouse. It will be interesting to see what other designs people have come up with - with or without a dome. Thanks to all!
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#11

Post by mcolbert »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 12:34 pm That makes sense. We need astronaut suits sans the helmets for winter viewing.

more like ski gear where we are - and that's just during the day.:)
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#12

Post by Jennifer Christine »


20190308180246_IMG_3162.JPG
3m x 3m garden shed with homemade roof and 8 foot diameter dome.
Unpowered but easy to revolve with on hand.
Scopes, 100x900, 102x500, 150x 1000, 200x2000, 200x 1260. 80x400.
Canon lenses 100 to 400 L series, 18 to 135 usm.
Mount's, 2x alt az, 2 x eq (adventurer an neq6pro.)
70dw cam. Ssag guider. Observatory and pier setup.
Binoculars Saxon 20x80.
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#13

Post by Don Quixote »


Wow!
I just came across your thread.
This is a fantastic display of observatories!

I think I feel a construction project coming on...:-)
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#14

Post by mcolbert »


Jennifer Christine wrote: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:06 pm 20190308180246_IMG_3162.JPG
3m x 3m garden shed with homemade roof and 8 foot diameter dome.
Unpowered but easy to revolve with on hand.
looks like QLD. ;) - with the bush around, I mean. ;). I can't tell from the image but it seems that you have trees blocking sight behind the obs. Does this cause any problems Jennifer?
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#15

Post by Jennifer Christine »


Truckloads.
Slowly trimming back trees.
The Western side though is clear to 15 degrees and no lighting.
Scopes, 100x900, 102x500, 150x 1000, 200x2000, 200x 1260. 80x400.
Canon lenses 100 to 400 L series, 18 to 135 usm.
Mount's, 2x alt az, 2 x eq (adventurer an neq6pro.)
70dw cam. Ssag guider. Observatory and pier setup.
Binoculars Saxon 20x80.
FRIED wallet.
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#16

Post by mcolbert »


Jennifer Christine wrote: Sun Jun 16, 2019 4:44 am Truckloads.
Slowly trimming back trees.
The Western side though is clear to 15 degrees and no lighting.
sounds like a labour of love. ;)
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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Aratus Great Britain
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#17

Post by Aratus »


Mine is a Pulsar 2.2M , with 1 equipment bay located in an 'English Country Garden'! I took this photo last year, but since then I've raise the all-sky camera by half a metre. Also it is now powered by a 12v solar panel and batteries.
Image

It is getting a bit crowded in there with the 11 inch, but is OK for me, and 1 or 2 guests

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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#18

Post by mcolbert »


Aratus that has a really nice feel - I can see how your garden observatory would sit well in the 1800's. Thanks! :)
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#19

Post by Aratus »


Thank you. Visitors to our garden often don't even notice that there is an observatory there. Other friends have likened it to Jules Verne's Columbiad. They imagine I'm going to take a trip to the moon in it!

In fact I took inspiration from16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who invented the astronomical dome as we know it today. His 'Uraniburg' and 'Stellaburgus' observatories were surrounded by gardens, and, in the style of the day, was designed to be symmetrical and harmonise with its surroundings. It is a pity he lived a little too early to see the invention of the telescope. I know some astronomers like their observatories to be practical and devoid of anything which is not strictly neccesary - and I appreicate that . Personally I like a bit of cultural reference and harmonisation. Like Tycho Brahe, I have references to past astrometers dotted around the garden, and some art work, and even little bits of poetry. Controversial stuff - I know! :twitch:
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#20

Post by mcolbert »


even the odd sundial and orrery perhaps? :)
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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