My makeshift observatory
- omeek
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My makeshift observatory
So now that I'm all settled in at my new place I figured out the easiest and cheapest way to get my observing spot going for now. After trying a few basic setups I ended up going with a bunch of 8' t-posts, some wire, and skinny tarps. It is working out really well for now! At least until I actually build something permanent anyway. haha
The concrete pad is 14' x 30' (and way off in my backyard) but I am only blocking off 14' x 20' since that is more than enough room.
The concrete pad is 14' x 30' (and way off in my backyard) but I am only blocking off 14' x 20' since that is more than enough room.
-Oliver
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Very nice Oliver!
Having a permanent observing location should be quite nice
Having a permanent observing location should be quite nice
Gabrielle
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
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, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
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, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- MistrBadgr
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Looks very effective. The plastic is in a region where it should block out any direct lighting from porch lights and things like that, but still let air flow come in underneath to help with any heat that needs to escape. Since you are leaving it up, you don't have to worry about putting it up after your session is over, just worry about your scope, chair, eyepieces, etc.
I had a nice 10 by 16 pad to use before I built my shop building on it. I certainly miss the pad now and really enjoyed it while I had it for observations, so I can appreciate what you have there.
I had a nice 10 by 16 pad to use before I built my shop building on it. I certainly miss the pad now and really enjoyed it while I had it for observations, so I can appreciate what you have there.
Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
- omeek
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Yes, it makes it easy for quick setups which is always nice. I am starting to plan some sort of permanent structure but still deciding on what style/setup to go with.MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Fri Apr 15, 2022 5:32 am Looks very effective. The plastic is in a region where it should block out any direct lighting from porch lights and things like that, but still let air flow come in underneath to help with any heat that needs to escape. Since you are leaving it up, you don't have to worry about putting it up after your session is over, just worry about your scope, chair, eyepieces, etc.
I had a nice 10 by 16 pad to use before I built my shop building on it. I certainly miss the pad now and really enjoyed it while I had it for observations, so I can appreciate what you have there.
-Oliver
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
- Makuser
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Hi Oliver. A very nice start on your home observatory. A permanent observing setup is on my wish and to do list. Thanks for your report and nice photo Oliver and I hope that you can complete your observatory project soon to really enjoy it.
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.
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>)))))*>
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.
>)))))*>
- omeek
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Thank you, Marshall! I really hope to make time to get something built this year but we'll see if I can come up with a plan and start working on it sooner rather than later.
-Oliver
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
Telescopes: Orion XT8i, Zhumell Z12
EP's: Baader Ortho 6mm, Orion Expanse 9mm, Tele Vue 10mm Delos, ES 68° 16mm, ES 68° 24mm, 2" Q70 32mm, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow (and various Plossls)
Bino's: 12x42, 12x60
- helicon
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Re: My makeshift observatory
Nice observing pad Oliver. I hope you can get to the actual construction of an obsy to house your scope. I have similar plans and hopefully will get something in place in a year or two.
-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
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
- pakarinen
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Re: My makeshift observatory
I'd like to have a pad but the HOA says, "Nein!", so my deck will have to do. I sank three concrete blocks in the backyard when I was a kid to set my Sears refractor on. Just doing that was an improvement over grass / bare ground.
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Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
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AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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