Eimer Sternen Observatory Build

[RCompassi]

Hello, fellows!

I started to build a ROR observatory to hold my 12" GSO in a GEM.

Here is the job o far:

Starting to dig the corner posts holes:

Planting the 4x4 posts and leveling:

Pouring concrete in the holes:

Pouring the foundation:

(Messy) foundations done:

Some bricks laid:

Corner posts cut to the right height (yes, it will be low, with 1,6m walls to get a good clearance)

Preparing to pour the concrete:

Halfway done:

Tomorrow I hope I can finish the floor (this thing is damned hard to do, my arms is soooo sore! No concrete mixer here, sir, doing all old style).

Another layer of quick cement will be set later for the ceramic tiles, so the slight ondulations doesn't matter a lot.

Cheers!

[tingting44]

awsome!! 

*pulls up a chair for this ride*

[MikeP]

What a lovely place and an interesting looking build.

Do you need some sort of damp proof membrane on top of the concrete and bricks?

Mike

[RCompassi]

Thanks, guys!

No need for membrane, the terrain have a small incline and the water doesn't Stay for long.

All the loose earth will be removed later, when the obsy is done (will have to do some scaping to appease my girl, ehhe).

Today's progress:

Finished the concrete pour:

And started the woodworks!

I guess I'm getting rain for 3 days, so, will have to take a break for now!

Stay tuned!

[RCompassi]

Weee, no rain!

[RCompassi]

Made some progress today!

After a lousy rainy morning, the weather cleared for the rest of the day.

Installed the support beams for the roll off roof:

Installed the rails for the roof:

I'm using these wheels. They are used in rolling gates:

And tested the roll off system, and it works flawlessly!

Next step is the roof!

[laser_jock99]

Good looking build.

[RCompassi]

Updating:

(sorry for the mess, it will be cleaned up once the building is done!)

[nytecam]

Nice work and superb location :-) As you say 'sore arms' are part of the necessary pain and although a bit late for this projects a concrete mix tip may help .......

minimise any lift of material by working direct on the ground covered with heavy duty sheet of polythene. The mix is made pulling in the corners of the sheet to 'fold' the mix into itself and repeated until the mix is even and consistant ready for placing. Let gravity do the work - Worked a charm for my solo obsy project :-)

[r3i]

minimise any lift of material by working direct on the ground covered with heavy duty sheet of polythene. The mix is made pulling in the corners of the sheet to 'fold' the mix into itself and repeated until the mix is even and consistant ready for placing. Let gravity do the work - Worked a charm for my solo obsy project :-)

Same technique I used on my build - very handy for small scale concreting.

[Mukv]

Greetings

What an awesome vista you have there the skies are just waiting!

I've looked at some of your pictures and I realized a massive error in my recent obsy build! it should have been 5m to the west of yours!

looking forward to your build, good luck

Andy

[RCompassi]

I've looked at some of your pictures and I realized a massive error in my recent obsy build! it should have been 5m to the west of yours!

Hahahah, nice, Andy!

My skies are pretty good! I measured visually the limiting magnitude at the zenith and could see a magnitude 6.1 star, next to Antares (can you imagine the center of the milky way at the zenith with this limiting magnitude? It's pretty awesome!)

Today I installed the door. I just put a external latch... and got locked inside, ahhah. I need to buy a proper door lock.

This is my assistant cat, called Fred. Sometimes he thinks he is transparent and just sits in front of the monitors.

I had some leftover ceramic tiles from another construction, and used them. Some had broken corners, but..... meh, I don't really care. (keep in mind that I never did this kind of thing before, so the job is very sub par). Also, I need to place the corner cuts later, after the mortar is fully cured.

The end is near!

[RCompassi]

Oh, and check out my north horizon. 

This is an almost 180° panoram. East to the right and west to the left:

[RCompassi]

Telescope is in the house!

[Phillipsba]

Really impressive build! I guess you don't have much of a light pollution problem - should get some wonderful observations. Barry

[sharkmelley]

A really practical build.  What a great location!

Mark

[yesyes]

That's a very nice build! Well done!

That scope looks a bit big in there though. 

[RCompassi]

Thanks guys!

Yes, I have to point sideways to close and open the roof, but ended with 1 inch of room between the tube and roof!

The light pollution is somewhat low in here, I managed to see mag. 6.1 stars at the zenith once (and can see the helix nebula in my 8x50 finder, with averted vision)

Cheers

[Singlin]

What are the internal dimensions of your observatory?

[RCompassi]

About 7 x 9 feet