A Small Imaging Observatory

[IanL]

After four and a bit months of effort, I've pretty much finished building my imaging observatory (waiting on a permanent electrical supply but done otherwise).  I'm in the process of writing it all up with blow-by-blow photographs here:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-part-1/

In the meantime, there is a full set of plans available for anyone that might find them useful here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Thwu5Ko_kLcU1XbGh2dnVFeWM/view?usp=sharing

[nightfisher]

Nice looking build, happy imaging

[IanL]

Part 2 is now published, in which I explain how to build a concrete pier using an off-the shelf NEQ6 tripod extension and a steel tube:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-the-pier/

[Merlin66]

Interesting write-up....

I also used the EQ6 extension on top of a steel pier, but just added a M12.5 x 1.75 central bolt. The bottom plate of the extension was inverted and screwed onto the bolt. Fitted the extension tube with the three socket head screws then used the BOA clamp to pull it up VERY tight onto the top of the pier. Very solid outcome.

 

[Jkulin]

Nice to read Ian, sorry to side track, just had a look at your blog, that is a cracker of M51 that you imaged and with only 2 hours of data!

Your imaging toolbox appears really good, so will use that when next trying to determine which sites to image, if we ever get any more clear nights!

[IanL]

11 hours ago, Merlin66 said:

Interesting write-up....

I also used the EQ6 extension on top of a steel pier, but just added a M12.5 x 1.75 central bolt. The bottom plate of the extension was inverted and screwed onto the bolt. Fitted the extension tube with the three socket head screws then used the BOA clamp to pull it up VERY tight onto the top of the pier. Very solid outcome.

Nice looking set-up there with some serious counterweights going on! Things would have been easier for me with a nice flat pier head but the concrete didn't turn out that way. I also worried that if I bolted everything down with no contact between the pier head and black disk that the extension tube would have started breaking up the concrete surface due to flex even if it had been in contact all the way round. I was too cheap to go for a metal pier with a custom NEQ6 adaptor, though a local friend has recently had one made up at 'mates rates' by someone he knew.

[IanL]

21 minutes ago, Jkulin said:

Nice to read Ian, sorry to side track, just had a look at your blog, that is a cracker of M51 that you imaged and with only 2 hours of data!

Your imaging toolbox appears really good, so will use that we next trying to determine  which sites to image, if we ever get any more clear nights!

Thanks for your kind comments. The M51 was more like 3.5 hours, but it still isn't much data as it was just a quick grab one night after another target had gone out of view.

[IanL]

The next installment is now available, in which I cover foundations and creating the basic framework of the observatory:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-foundations/

[Adam J]

I love the right up and as a scientist I can appreciate the lengths you went to here and love the theory in respect to calculating the size of the obsy, but at the same time I am lazy so I just got a pole and moved it away from the mount until I could not deliberately hit it with the scope any more and then measured the distance from the mount to the stick. I then worked out the angle to the roof line of next doors house and made the obsy walls sufficiently tall so as to match the angle hence retaining my field of view. All took less than 30 mins.

[Merlin66]

As a "secondary" mini-observatory I had in mind a 4'x4'x4' on the top veranda. Fitted with a retractable "convertible roof" unfortunately in the end the Boss said it looked too much like a BBQ cover and canned the idea......

[IanL]

The next part is now up, in which I build three of the walls:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-walls/

[IanL]

The next part is now available, covering construction of the fourth wall and the door:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-door/

I've also updated the plans to reflect the 'as built' state more accurately:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Thwu5Ko_kLcU1XbGh2dnVFeWM/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Thwu5Ko_kLeWZmenhWMWtwTkE/view?usp=sharing

[IanL]

OK, we're getting near the end now! The next post covers building the all-important roof:

http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2017/09/building-a-small-imaging-observatory-roof/