Pete Presland

The dimension is 1.8m x 1.8m square, height is 5ft to the top of the sides. I choose this size simply because of cost, i could source feather edge timber to clad it which was 3.6 metres long, so it was simply cut in half. I would like a bigger size to be honest, it is a bit small. The frame is just softwood, the cladding as mentioned above is feather edge board. The floor is a concrete base around 3-4 inches thick, but on a layer of hardcore rubble. The pier is separate and bolted into the concrete. It was and still is bit of a game changer due to the quickness of setting up and closing down at night. That said the location has got worse over the 12 years, due to tree growth, light pollution and the altitude of the planets in recent years.

Any questions please ask away 🙂

The observatory now looks a little cluttered and small with 13 years of buying and selling. I have added a few layers of old rubber backed matts that have come from the house. I also lined the inside walls with (free) MDF panels, the roof was also lined with plywood and felt to stop condensation. This has unfortunately made the roof a little to heavy. The frame that roof slides on will need replacing within the next couple of years i think.

I then added a pier a short while after as the tripod got in the way and i wanted to try imaging DSO's

The finnished obsy in 2010, complete with Mak 180 "planet killer" 🙂

I added "turnbuckles" to retain the roof when closed and allow it to slide open when required.

Those of you who were around here in 2010, might remember the £250 obsy build thread (or probably not 🙂 ) But as i was recently asked for some info regarding it @Ags , i thought it might be nice to revisit and add a couple of up to date images. The build was a simple frame on a concrete base with a roll on roll off roof, i am no carpenter but i found with some planning it was relatively straight forward.

That's a beauty, been clear blue skies all day here while at work. Now thick grey cloud as soon i got home, that looks like the biggest i have seen since around the Solar max!

Sounds like a great 1st light, especially with now issues and a nice evenly illuminated disc. Always helps that there is plenty of activity to view as well.

Definitely something to look forward to

I have seen and image Mercury a few times, never managed anything more than the Phase showing though. Uranus, i did capture the polar region in an image a few years back.

Nicely captured, the phase is showing very well.

Very nice details visible there Kostas, love seeing the UV Venus images, difficult to capture but worth the effort.

Thick grey stuff here unfortunately.

Always worth have a play with old data, especially during the quite planetary imaging periods. Does feel ages since i had a session worthy of any discussion.

Nice looking image, the phase showing very well. Venus is looking so bright even in the day time

Nicely captured, not managed a view of Mercury this time so far.

Very nice scope, looking forward to hearing how it goes 🙂

I use this one ISS Transit Finder (transit-finder.com) it allows you to enter your location. Also shows transit path on a map as well

Signed and tweeted the link 🙂

Very nicely imaged and processed, an excellent end result

Seen some interesting images of Venus using a 850 filter, look forward to seeing what you manage

Some very detail there Kon, very tricky imaging Venus and revealing anything other than the phase.

Spot on with your observations Avani, i have captured this area many times over the years. Never had an image i have truly happy with, but that is what keeps me coming back to imaging 🙂

captured on the 26th Feb, Another 1st for myself, Mare Humboldtianum, again helped by favourable libration tilting it into view. C9.25, ASI174MM, 642 Filter, X3 Barlow. Best 10% of a 90 second capture