Decommissioning Hall's Harbour Observatory

[KathyNS]

Decommissioning an observatory is almost as much work as setting it up. All the scopes and cameras had to be stowed in their cases. All the little bit and pieces had to be sorted and either discarded or packed. Every cable had to be disconnected and labelled for later re-connection. It has taken me six days so far.

Today was one of the last tasks. I pulled the long power and network cables from their conduits and cut off the conduits below the floor. The cats found that the cable disappearing into the far end of the conduit was fascinating. One of them was still watching the conduit half an hour later!

Tomorrow, I will disconnect the deck from the building. The observatory hits the road July 17th for the 20 km trip to our new location. I will have to leave it parked by the side of the driveway until I can prepare a foundation for it. Then I'll get a crane to move it onto the foundation.

[Bigzmey]

That's a lot of work! I hope the move will go smoothly for you.

[JayTee]

Now that I have an observatory, I can't imagine moving it. What a load of work it would be. You have done yeoman's work. You should be rewarded with the beverage of your choice.

Cheers,

[SkyHiker]

If it's only 20 km, can't you leave all your AP gear on the scope, computer included, throw it in the car without any boxing and plunk it back on the mount when it's back up? That's what I just did going to the Kaibab star party, it takes no time at all and still worked fine after I came back.

I can imagine that the dome takes more time than a simple slide or roll off observatory. My simple one comes apart in 5 light panels. And you'll have to build a new pier base too, I suppose.

Good luck with everything, and I hope that your new home provides more safety to prevent harrowing experiences like the one you told us about.

[Lady Fraktor]

Good luck with the move and setting up again!

[Graeme1858]

Sounds like quite a project!

Looking forward to the new construction thread for D2O!

Graeme

[jrkirkham]

That looks like a lot of work. By the time I had a new foundation poured I would forget how to reassemble it. Will the ne observatory be a clone of the od or will you make some tweaks during the change?

[KathyNS]

I can imagine that the dome takes more time than a simple slide or roll off observatory. My simple one comes apart in 5 light panels. And you'll have to build a new pier base too, I suppose.

Good luck with everything, and I hope that your new home provides more safety to prevent harrowing experiences like the one you told us about.

I won't be taking the dome apart. It will stay on the building. The whole thing goes on a flatbed trailer.

I will need a new foundation for the pier.

That looks like a lot of work. By the time I had a new foundation poured I would forget how to reassemble it. Will the ne observatory be a clone of the od or will you make some tweaks during the change?

No significant changes. I plan to make the connection between the pier and its foundation a bit more rigid than what I had. I also want to paint the interior, and maybe add some built-in storage.

[chris_g]

Looking forward to when you are back up and running again. I won't be moving mine once it's setup, my next move is my last move. And thank you for the advice given in an earlier post about flashing lights!

Clear Skies,
Chris

[Gordon]

You've made a few moves since I've known you. I don't envy you....

It's great you are going to be able to move the bulk of your observatory, that should take some of the work out of getting set up.

[messier 111]

I wish you the best .

[helicon]

Good luck Kathy with everything.

[Ylem]

I was just thinking about your move as I am also packing here. What a PIA lol

Good luck with the observatory, that's quite the ordeal!
My Screaming Frog is just visual equipment in a plastic garden shed, I will just need to buy a new shed and a concrete pad for Screaming Frog North.
Oh, and build a new pond for screaming frogs lol

It's really amazing how much stuff we accumulate over the years.

[KathyNS]

I was just thinking about your move as I am also packing here. What a PIA lol

Good luck with your move, too!

[Nakedgun]

It's really amazing how much stuff we accumulate over the years.

~

Indeed. We're always bringing things inside, seldom taking things out.

Moving brings this reality into a very sharp focus!


.

[10538]

Good luck Kathy! I hope all goes well with your move!

[KathyNS]

The observatory hits the road July 17th for the 20 km trip to our new location. I will have to leave it parked by the side of the driveway until I can prepare a foundation for it. Then I'll get a crane to move it onto the foundation.

Yesterday was the day. The Hall's Harbour Observatory hit the road (again) to become the Helena Observatory. (Who is Helena, you ask? Helena Handbasket, a commentary on the social and political state of the world.)

Getting it ready to load onto the trailer.

After a bit of work, it was strapped down onto the trailer.

Coming through the woods was tricky. It took a while, but it made it to the driveway undamaged. The same cannot be said for the trees. Some branches had to be trimmed and one tree had to come out entirely. It made it in this way eight years ago, but the trees had grown a bit in the interim. Also the trailer being pulled this time instead of pushed meant it couldn't zigzag enough to clear the trees.

Preparing to unload at the destination.

Parked beside its final home. Once I get the pad and pier foundation prepared, the observatory will be moved about 4 metres to the left.

[Michael131313]

Thanks for the photos. Hope everything proceeds easily.

[Graeme1858]

Looking forward to following the re-commissioning thread!

Graeme

[KathyNS]

Looking forward to following the re-commissioning thread!

Graeme

...and here it is: The Helena Observatory (re)build