Building a backyard observatory

[#juan]

This is a blog site dealing with the building of a backyard observatory. My son built this one in Coquitlam and he has set this up, written the text, and taken all the pictures. You will be able to see that it is probably not a project for everyone. The whole idea of a backyard observatory is to let you spend more time observing than you do setting up your telescope. The larger the telescope, the more time it takes to set up. My son and I have been amateur astronomers for over thirty years. I would build an observatory like this, but for the fact that my house is surrounded by big trees and the horizon is almost straight up. I either have to sneak out with a chain saw and cut down the neighbor's trees or buy another house in a better location.


http://www3.telus.net/~ekfuller/files/dome_0c.pdf

 

[darkbeaver]

That is a nicely executed little observatory. I downloaded the file. I have a perfect place for one, and my brothers got a small telescope. That;ll make a big difference in observing.

 

[#juan]

That is a nicely executed little observatory. I downloaded the file. I have a perfect place for one, and my brothers got a small telescope. That;ll make a big difference in observing.

He is happy with it and I am Jealous. Right now I select a telescope because I'm able to carry it out to where I can use it. This is one of the things an observatory really helps. My old 12" cassigrain reflector weighs a hundred and eighty pounds. The little Maksitov I use weighs 17 pounds. including the tripod. I should explain that I live on Vancouver Island and my so lives in Vancouver.

 

[#juan]

This is my current telescope. It is small, only a 5" Meade cassegrain reflector but it is easy to carry and I get a pretty good view of the visible planets.

 

[darkbeaver]

My brothers is a Wal-Mart job but even then it's a lot of fun looking arround the system. That little observatory looks very cozy, you could spent the night.

 

[#juan]

My brothers is a Wal-Mart job but even then it's a lot of fun looking arround the system. That little observatory looks very cozy, you could spent the night.

You can spend the night, or most of it
The good thing about this telescope is that once it is polar aligned, it's computer(battery powered) will find whatever you want to look at and put it right in the eyepiece.(within the optical limitations of the telescope of course.)

 

[petros]

Great observatory. Judging by surrounding buildings, I was your son's neighbour. 8O