Small robotic shed.

[ollypenrice]

This, ladies and gents, will be the last observatory I build! For one thing I have no more space and for another I'm getting too old. Well, that's my sales pitch to myself. I really hope I manage to stick to it! The idea is to house a fifth robotic instrument belonging to a small group of Italian friends, all of them very nice people to deal with. The big robotic shed masterminded by Per is full. This will be a little one-scope shed built next to it. I'll keep you posted in case anyone is fancying robotic imaging. It will be simple and inexpensive.

First problem is the heat wave. Working outside at 37C is no joke and progress is slow.The base shuttering is done. The ballast is wheelbarrowed into position.

Back soon!

Olly

[Garethr]

Good luck with the build Olly

Looking forward to following your progress.

Gareth

[iksose7]

I'm planning on building a little shed this winter, look forward to seeing how it turns out. And i agree, the heat is ridiculous for working in down here right now! 

Any chance on some progress pics? I'm planning on building a little shed this winter, interested to see how its done, you must of learned a few things building four of the things already!?

Callum

[Singlin]

Sounds intersting.

Looking forward to it.

[ollypenrice]

Cheers. It'll be a 1.6 metre square concrete base with four dwarf walls. I don't think I'll put in a door because it would badly compromise the integrity of such a short wall. (A door could only go in the north wall because the east and west have the rolling roof rails and the south will have the obligatory drop-down flap which will lower automatically as the roof rolls north. This is how the big shed works.) The kind of stepladder used to gain access to above ground or self supporting swimming pools ought to allow us to get over the walls when necessary. On the other hand I suppose a wall with door could be supported externally. I tend to think best about the details once I've got the first stage done.

One little idea I did have was to let the roof roll downhill once it has cleared the observatory. This would mean it obscured less of the northern horizon. Then again, do you need a low northern horizon? I would never image there. If the roof is light, as it will be, the need for the motor to pull it uphill for closing shouldn't be much of an issue.

I'll post some pics for sure.

Olly

[bob1957]

Looking forward to watching this!