Post pics of your observatory

Discuss your home observatory!
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JML United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#21

Post by JML »


I started mine in September of 2017. The plan was to build a 8 foot by 8 foot ROR observatory. The pier and base were finished in October when I found a used SkyShed POD for sale. Knowing that my ROR would not be done before the cold set in I purchased the POD and set it up in a week.
[image]
8BD122EB-4A05-4212-B458-471EDBE2CCE4.jpeg
The pier looking south
79231A84-6330-4378-9CE9-05A9E57B4030.jpeg
The base in place looking east.
8E278495-9B4B-496A-BA71-E01BD09B950D.jpeg
The view to the west
6B1C5D08-BDD7-4ABF-9675-50590B87E425.jpeg
The view to the north
1776805A-2938-4996-845F-79E506BC10A5.jpeg
The scope on the CG5 Mount. The current mount is a CEM60.
[/image]

It is a little tight getting around the scope when imaging so a ROR would have worked out better for the equipment that I use, but being able to be imaging in just a few minutes is great once the weather gets cold.

John
John

Backyard POD Observatory; Telescopes - Celestron C8, AT115EDT, AT60ED, ES AR102, Orion ST80, TeleVue Ranger 70mm, WO 50mm guide scope; Binoculars - Oberwerk 11x70 LW; Mounts - CEM60, CG5, Astro-Tech Voyager 2; Astrophotography Cameras - ASI1600MMC pro, Orion StarShoot AutoGuider.
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#22

Post by pakarinen »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 12:34 pm We need astronaut suits sans the helmets for winter viewing.
Check into snowmobile suits. Quite warm and easy to move around in.
=============================================================================
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
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Aratus Great Britain
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#23

Post by Aratus »


mcolbert wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:57 pm even the odd sundial and orrery perhaps? :)
Sundial - yes. Orrery - a bit tricky. :o An analemma plate and gnomen would make an interesting, but easy to make sundial. A framed sextant or quadrant might look impressive. I have wondered about making an armillary sphere. There are several garden ornaments which look like an armillary sphere, but they don't even claim to work. I could possibly make one of wood. Five interlocking rings - a challenge for my woodworking skills. (or lack of them!) It would be an interesting project though.

I like the construction photos, JML. It is very useful to see how an observatory is made.
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drgui
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#24

Post by drgui »


bmjctobsy.jpg
This is my RoR that houses my 8" Celestron. It was built in the summer of 2013.
Since it was built I have added a UPS and high speed internet connection.

https://www.stellarfragments.net
Light Pollution Bites!
Blue Moon Jct. Observatory

"In the heart of the light bulb. - Bortle 8/9"
:sprefac:
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Aratus Great Britain
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#25

Post by Aratus »


That looks really compact, and very attractive. I like the colour scheme, and I approve of the landscaping!
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#26

Post by Sky »


I built my garage-top, ROR observatory back in 2001. It houses a fork mounted 12" SCT which is used almost exclusively for astrophotography and asteroid astrometry. One unique feature is a 14' chimney block pier, which was left hollow and placed directly on the concrete floor. I've never been bothered with any vibration problems when imaging with the scope. The cost of the materials to build the pier came to about $75 dollars (USD) with labor supplied by myself and a friend.

OrbitJet Observatory:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/27684115@ ... 177074161/

Dome_Home_Observatory.jpg
observatory pier.jpg
Home Observatory Inside.jpg
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#27

Post by pakarinen »


Now *that's* impressive!
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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
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#28

Post by Aratus »


A different scale altogether!
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John Fitzgerald United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#29

Post by John Fitzgerald »


Getting the thread going again. Most of the masses think it's a hot tub enclosure. I don't comment one way or another to them. :lol:
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Double and multiple star observer. Over 3,500 unique pairs logged.

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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#30

Post by Graeme1858 »


John Fitzgerald wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 1:43 am Getting the thread going again.

Good idea!

Nice dome John. How long has it been up and running?

Regards

Graeme
______________________________________________
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#31

Post by pakarinen »


John Fitzgerald wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 1:43 am Most of the masses think it's a hot tub enclosure. I don't comment one way or another to them.
Probably wise - gives no incentive to any local doofus to break in to "play with the telescope".
=============================================================================
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
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#32

Post by John Fitzgerald »


Graeme1858 wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:15 am
John Fitzgerald wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 1:43 am Getting the thread going again.

Good idea!

Nice dome John. How long has it been up and running?

Regards

Graeme
It will be 12 years this fall. I relocated it about 15.5 miles in Oct 2013.
Double and multiple star observer. Over 3,500 unique pairs logged.

No good deed goes unpunished.
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#33

Post by chartram »


WIP, but up and functional.

Image

Image
Mike Chartrand
Scopes: WO Star 71 Gen-II (F/4.9), Astro-Tech AT115EDT (F/7), Celestron 8" Edge HD (F/10)
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600MM w/ Baader 1.25" LRGB & Narrowband Filters, ZWO ASI174MM mini, Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro
Guiding: Orion ST-80 (f/5) w/ADM MiniMax (side-by-side), ZWO OAG
Software: PHD2, Sequence Generator Pro, PixInsight
Dark Site Transportation System: 2020 Telluride SX
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Re: Post pics of your observatory

#34

Post by helicon »


Pretty cool Mike!
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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