TheSkySearchers

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] The pier looking south The base in place looking east. The view to the west The view to the north The scope on the CG5 Mount. The current mount is a CEM60.
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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

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.

mcolbert wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:57 pm even the odd sundial and orrery perhaps?

Sundial - yes. Orrery - a bit tricky. 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.

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

That looks really compact, and very attractive. I like the colour scheme, and I approve of the landscaping!

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/

Now *that's* impressive!

A different scale altogether!

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.

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

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".

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.

WIP, but up and functional.

Pretty cool Mike!