Attic Room Observatory

[Pluto]

The time has come to show my set up its taken 5/6 months to complete.Having no choice but to convert

my Attic room into an observatory,first i have to replace my small velux window with a much bigger one,

then with help from dippus we modified it we took the glass part out and replaced it with sliding plastic among other things.

then dippus made a mount but i had problems with the mount late in the evenings where the back end of the cameras would hit the

frame, so dips came up with an idea about having an adjustable mount,first position for viewing second position for taking pictures.

so here are the pics. o by way the window hasn't leaked we all know what winter we all have had. and so far no heat or vibration problems.

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[saturn5]

Smart thinking Pluto,very nice setup indeed with the added bonus of not having to go outside at all. :hello1:

[jgs001]

Nice one Pluto. That's a good solution to a tricky situation

[beamish]

I'd be very keen to hear more about how you achieved this, the size of the window and in particular the plastic sliding mod. How did you manage to stablise the mount?

Reason being I've been tinkering with this idea for 3-4 yrs, the house is quite high and the view of the whole of the southern part of the sky would be very good.

Karlo

[Sputnik]

That looks great, thanks for the photos, clever man.

[rawhead]

That looks fantastic. Are they velux windows? How did you get the glass out? Mine swing round the centre...

<edit>

Doh :oops:

I should really not just look at the pictures... <edit>

[gary1968]

What a great idea Pluto......................... :wave:

I look forward to hearing how it works out as I quite fancy having a go at that.

Gary

[centroid]

That is a really innovative setup, and well thought out.

I'm sure it will provide many hours of comfortable viewing/imaging.

Dave

[barkis]

You have broken a few conventions here, and I admire you for it. I really do hope it

does the business. This may be a very important trial, and the outcome, if successful, could trigger a few more of these being implemented.

A number of interested guys will be waiting eagely for your reports, both viewing and imaging.

It certainly looks the Bees Knees.

Ron.

[Pluto]

So far for viewing its been fine bang on the spot.Imaging wise haven't had a clear

night as soon as i get clear night i will post the images as well

as all the spec for the window and the mount and step by step instructions.

[mattifor]

I have a room with two velux windows one on each side of the room, I would be really interested in particulars of how you replaced the glass, and how you get the plastic in and out as I can not see it in the pictures you show.

New to all this and this may be a better alternative to converting the shed.

[Dippus]

The velux mod wasn't really our doing , we got some great info from here http://www.djcash.demon.co.uk/astro/scopes/loft/loft.html

Just got back from pluto's and hes just completed his first 10 minute sub from his extend-a-mount. Guided with PHD .Perfect round stars ....woohoo

[anthony]

Superb!!!!!!

Anthony

[Beyond_Vision]

Great idea if you have no garden or no where else to view from but if you have then its best to avoid the hot air that will rise through the house. Nice bit of engineering to get the two position of the mount.

Must be quite a sight from the neighbours seeing that rise up out of the roof.

Regards

Kevin

[RobH]

Really neat bit of work there

Keep us posted on how it works out.

How have you dealt with the heat problem? Could be a bit awkward in the summer when your roof tiles get hot.

Cheers

Rob

[Astroman]

I was wondering about the rising heat myself, as well as the possible springiness of the attic. I once took my C8 and tripod up to the roof with the idea that the house is very stable. I was shocked at how much like a trampoline the roof was! Made me look at the ceiling from inside differently, I can tell you.

[Neon]

Heh. That's pretty cool. Why do I hear the Thunderbirds music in my head when I imagine the scopes being deployed?

[Pluto]

Well there is no heat problems what so ever, with both velux windows open

all day a couple of nights ago the room temp around midnight was around -2.

well put it this way i couldn't sit in there for more than 10 Min's or so.

as far as the mount haven't really put it to the test as yet, when i do i will post the images.

O by the way the building isn't a house,its my work place

[Beyond_Vision]

You will get heat rising from the building in total not just down to the temperature in the room. Well lets hope it works out for you, it looks like a very nice set up.

Regards

Kevin

[SteelRat]

Brilliant looking 'ped' 8) Like it.

Cheers

Matthew(SR)

[beamish]

How/what did you use for the telescopic pedestal ?

[SteelRat]

How/what did you use for the telescopic pedestal ?

Yeah - looks just the job. I take it that's a good wobble free flush fit? Gotta say - the CG5goto head looks great on a pedestal 8)

[zhgutas]

wow, very convenient, should say an a great way to increase FOV!

Marius