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My Observatory


dwc

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I’ve had a roll-off roof observatory since early 2013, ground preparation started 6 months earlier, then the delivery got put back due to supplier issues. Originally I didn’t have pier but soon regretted that and retrofitted one the following year. All of this is documented on my web page here, so I won’t expand too much:

http://dwcmeuk.weebly.com/orange-skies-observatory.html

 

What the pictures don’t show is the adjacent street light and trees. This image is facing North, so you can see the light about 2 metres away and shining into the open observatory, and also the trees obscuring Polaris for most of the year. Polar alignment is possible but tricky in the winter.

61E191E1-724D-4D77-8303-BFB4721337E8.thumb.jpeg.1fea2b7f19520d6a50e43992fdab045b.jpeg
 

So this is the view North from in the observatory at night:9F426582-929B-4F78-866C-613F736DD841.thumb.jpeg.804bff57c0dbcf44b4a78c5901f11697.jpeg
 

I get round this by erecting plywood panels on top of the walls. Pictures without and with flash:

4668D6DB-0062-4873-A979-E2910231780A.thumb.jpeg.823d341f6e6b40a701915b91477c9743.jpeg

F2944F80-6FDA-42FB-BB24-3E6B1FD2B631.thumb.jpeg.58bfb092d41621a105e54c249b740b0b.jpeg


It actually does a good job of keeping the light out, though under some conditions I have another panel that I put above the one you see, that keeps light reflecting off the dew shield into the guide scope when the scope is pointing high. I just have to be careful when it is breezy!!!

 

The panels are installed on all 4 walls, though the ones facing E, S, and W are much lower, just enough to hide lit windows in the surrounding houses.

 

My lowest useful viewing horizon due to adjacent roofs is 30 degrees to E, S, W and about 0 between NW and NE!

 

Observatory has mains power to 4 waterproof sockets, red and white bulkhead lights, Ethernet over mains, and a mini pc with monitor, keyboard and mouse. There is a USB hub and dew controller fixed to the pier.

 

Finally, the scope in action:

54038AC4-E004-4E81-A676-9869F54A9E20.thumb.jpeg.e78f124b194125da958db58827d5a8c3.jpeg

Edited by dwc
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