Astrokev

To help reduce mud, I laid a long offcut of EPDM across the lawn and along the side of the observatory. This worked well but, of course, has killed what grass there was underneath! As I want to put the paved path in a different spot, this means I'll have to re-seed this area, or convert it to stone chippings. I need to put my garden designer hat on and think it through.

Started to think about laying a path to the observatory yesterday and did a tour of local paving merchants. I still haven't finally decided what to do with the immediate surroundings of the build regarding "landscaping". I want to put stone chippings around the immediate edge to help reduce weeds, but then I also want to plant medium size bushes to the south to help shade the sun-facing wall. Didn't think it was going to be so difficult to decide how best to do this. And then there's the step into the observatory. Do I go for a narrow step, or one made-up of large paving slabs. Decisions, decisions! Looking forward to my local sparks coming round in the morning; at least I can hopefully get that moving. Although I've only used the observatory a handful of times due to endless cloud, I'm already fed-up of having to trail extension cables around in the middle of the night.

In my observatory, the four turnbuckles are all fitted at an angle in both N-S and E-W directions, so that they all pull against each other. I only tighten them lightly as I don't want to put undue strain on the fixings, but the roof doesn't move at all.

I too am a little concerned about how warm the scope room will get in the sun. There's been plenty of discussion and different points of view and solutions expressed on the various threads - as with most things there's not a single solution. I've therefore opted to take a watch and wait approach. I'm expecting that I'll need to do something to deal with heat build up. I agree that it's likely most of the heating will come from the EPDM roof covering. As I mentioned in my thread, when I laid this last summer, it was too hot to stand on without shoes (I didn't want to damage the EPDM!). I've thought that I may put in vents at top and bottom, as a few folks have done. Adding fans may also be needed. Plenty of work still to do on the observatory as the year unfolds, me thinks.

great, thanks James. I'll give it a try

I must try that if I can't download the free version

That said, my SketchUp days may be at an end. I've just had to install a new HDD in my main PC and have therefore lost my SketchUp install file (my data is fully backed up so all is OK on that score. I recall reading on an SGL thread that the free version is no longer available. I haven't checked yet, but does anyone know if this is right?

I'm always amazed and amused (and somewhat envious) by the amount of useful stuff you always seem to "just happen" to have lurking in your sheds and workshops

I rotate components well away from the final location, then move into place.

Looking great James. Good to hear it's now weathertight - makes a huge difference.

Great site you have there! Looking forward to following your project. SketchUp's great once you get used to the main tools and quirks

A while since I've posted on my build thread. After a bit of a break I'm now starting on the final push to get electrics installed, and to finish some exterior landscaping to tidy up the destroyed bit of garden on the site. For the electrics, I won't repeat my planning in full here - I've posted this in the thread "Electrical layout...." I started a while back, but once the planning is finished I'll post the installation itself in this thread. Looking forward to not having to trail the extension cable out every time I use the observatory (which, to be honest, has been all too little due to seemingly constant cloud cover since it was finished!).

Yes I wondered about that. I've used carpet tiles in the warm room, but I now find myself using an office chair in the scope room! It does leave some marks; time will tell if they spring back. Once I'm fully set-up I'll probably move the office chair back into the warm room and, if I decide I need a chair at all in the scope room (always was a lazy observer), I'll look for something with bigger footprints to reduce the risk of damage to the flooring.

Looks fabulous. Are those conduits sticking out of the floor? You’ll have to be really careful you don’t trip on those if they are.

Looks great

Agree with everything James and Alex said! My roof has 3 wheels per side, the middle ones to remove any risk of the roof beams sagging in the middle. 2 per side would have dealt with the weight no problem. Mine are V groove wheels and track. Pretty much silent when rolling the roof off, so would strongly recommend these - I used Brundle like most folks. I highly recommend EPDM for the roof. Good luck with your deliberations and build. Look forward to following it ? EDIT - agree with Alex. Think carefully about how to prevent water getting in to the scope room through the gaps by the rails. Design this out before you start to build!

Thanks James. One of the reasons for me wanting to keep it simple is that I don’t really understand electrics, as I think I’ve said in other threads. You’ve given some good options above so thanks ?

Great, thanks James.....and Alex! Not sure I need the luxury of wireless control (or maybe I do but just don’t realise it ?); at present I’m thinking of going for a simple on/off wall switch. Will also check out surface mounted conduits. Those flush fitting ones look great. Wish I’d thought of that before fitting the wall panels ?

Great progress James. The end’s in sight! What LED strip did you go for in the end?

Yes, it’s a bit late for recessed trunking now, but it’s good to see how LED lighting looks at this height. At the moment I’m thinking of putting the lighting nearer the top of the walls - when I eventually get round to doing this.

Looks great Alex. Very smart! still need to think about lighting for my obsy so you’re giving me lots of ideas ?

Making good progress. Look forward to the pics when you can squeeze them in!

Yes, I agree. I bought one of the cheaper Telegizmo covers and was amazed that the seams were not taped. There are very evident holes along some of stitch lines - a few of them being big enough to let narrow shafts of sunlight through, so I doubt would be water-tight. Very disappointed and would not recommend them.

So, tonight I tested the mod out in earnest and polar aligned the NEQ6 using the EQMOD polar alignment tool. Pleased to say that adjusting the altitude was really easy and I was able to change the angle with great control and precision. Once completed I retightened the three grub screws. Job done ???

Yes that's a good option. I have a solid pier, but the adapter plate on the top is adjustable. I'll see how I get on with the plate level to start with. One of the challenges of being at 52 north is the relatively small clearance between the south alt bolt and the polar scope cover. It had occurred to me that angling the adapter plate would increase this gap, making it a little easier to get your hand in to turn the alt bolt.