The Observing Area Build

[Alan White]

Amazing my photoshop skills....
The nail holding the bubble straight in the level painted out well 🤣

[JeremyS]

8 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Amazing my photoshop skills....
The nail holding the bubble straight in the level painted out well 🤣

I was impressed that you even used a spirit level on the shelving in the khazi, Alan. I'd have never thought of that 🤔

Probably why my wife always insists I get a "proper man" in to do jobs.

🙂

 

[Alan White]

Just now, JeremyS said:

I was impressed that you even used a spirit level on the shelving in the khazi, Alan. I'd have never thought of that 🤔

Probably why my wife always insists I get a "proper man" in to do jobs.

🙂

Just because it's in the picture Jeremy, does not prove it was used now?

One thing I always try and do is get things level, I was a building services engineer for years,
so things had to be tidy, clean, painted and straight.
I Apprenticed with my dear Dad and a slap on the head soon got me focused on using a level correctly.
Dad, like my old teacher gave up on me and wood though......'if he could just see me now' sounds like a song.

[JeremyS]

Just now, Alan White said:

Just because it's in the picture Jeremy, does not prove it was used now?

One thing I always try and do is get things level, I was a building services engineer for years,
so things had to be tidy, clean, painted and straight.
I Apprenticed with my dear Dad and a slap on the head soon got me focused on using a level correctly.
Dad, like my old teacher gave up on me and wood though......'if he could just see me now' sounds like a song.

That's brilliant Alan!

I certainly take my hat off to you. I know this project has been a lot hard work and caused use some pain along the way, but it looks like the end is in sight. 

[NGC 1502]

Hi Alan, so the Sabre alt-az will be on the pier for now.  To me that’s a great idea because when I use an alt-az on a tripod the legs often get in the way of where I want to put my observing chair, or my own legs and the tripod legs tangle.

Is that one of the reasons for the pier ?  As well as stability of course.

Ed.

[Alan White]

2 hours ago, NGC 1502 said:

Hi Alan, so the Sabre alt-az will be on the pier for now.  To me that’s a great idea because when I use an alt-az on a tripod the legs often get in the way of where I want to put my observing chair, or my own legs and the tripod legs tangle.

Is that one of the reasons for the pier ?  As well as stability of course.

Ed.

Hi Ed, yes stability first and yes easy clearance for the second reason.
It will obviously hold a nice larger scope in years to come too.
 

[Alan White]

Well the final bolt down and first light, albeit WL and a blank disc in poor seeing 😁
Biggest delay today was finding an M10 nut in my vast collection of M6 and M8 nuts!

Clearly the cover is temporary, it's a rubble sack covered by a stuff sack,
tied closed with an old bike inner tube......needs must.
But as I need to decide on the final mount, no big spend ona cover until I know what I will be covering.
 

[garryblueboy]

Looks Amazing Alan fantastic job well done 

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, Alan White said:

Well the final bolt down and first light, albeit WL and a blank disc in poor seeing 😁
Biggest delay today was finding an M10 nut in my vast collection of M6 and M8 nuts!

Nicely done Alan.

Do you have a night time target in mind for first light?

[Alan White]

32 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Nicely done Alan.

Do you have a night time target in mind for first light?

No plan as of yet, but I certainly will very soon.

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by Alan White

[mikeDnight]

That looks fantastic Alan.  That refractor really makes my heart rate increase!  

Edited May 17, 2020 by mikeDnight

[AdeKing]

Very nicely done Alan, a "Proper Job" as they say down here in the West Country.

Nicely done, and the Vixen Frac just tops it off beautifully.

 

[Alan White]

14 minutes ago, AdeKing said:

Very nicely done Alan, a "Proper Job" as they say down here in the West Country.

Nicely done, and the Vixen Frac just tops it off beautifully.

A nice new mount and then a 130mm Frac would top it off even more though 😉, I can but hope.

[Alan White]

It got first 'night' yesterday, sadly clouded out while observing, but got a look at a number of the obvious doubles.
All that I can say is that the whole experience is transformed for the better.
Set up feels like its fixed to a rock, any shake from focusing goes in <.5 second or less if at all at very high power.

All I can say is if you are considering a pier, have the space and can afford to do so, go for it 👍

[JeremyS]

26 minutes ago, Alan White said:

It got first 'night' yesterday, sadly clouded out while observing, but got a look at a number of the obvious doubles.
All that I can say is that the whole experience is transformed for the better.
Set up feels like its fixed to a rock, any shake from focusing goes in <.5 second or less if at all at very high power.

All I can say is if you are considering a pier, have the space and can afford to do so, go for it 👍

Great stuff Alan. Sounds like it's transformational for you!

[AdeKing]

I'm glad you've finally had "first night" and it's good to hear that your efforts have transformed your experience for the better.

[newbie alert]

Wow, Alan.. you certainly got a shift on..looks really good.. eye spy with my little eye, I spot a vixen..nice, what's the specs of that beast? 

[Alan White]

3 hours ago, newbie alert said:

Wow, Alan.. you certainly got a shift on..looks really good.. eye spy with my little eye, I spot a vixen..nice, what's the specs of that beast? 

ED103s, f7.8. 795mm fl.  Very nice indeed.
Made for that setting.

Edited May 20, 2020 by Alan White

[newbie alert]

11 hours ago, Alan White said:

ED103s, f7.8. 795mm fl.  Very nice indeed.
Made for that setting.

Nice, very nice

[Alan White]

And just to show it's not a one trick Pony, with the OOUK OD6 f5 mounted.
Works well standing and seated (just).

 

[JeremyS]

The whole thing looks very smart indeed Alan!

[Saganite]

On 16/05/2020 at 17:38, Alan White said:

Well the light is fitted in the Khazi.
A nice eyelid bulkhead lamp so the light only shine into and not directly out.
Also fitted a natty LED RGB bulb, that has a remote and a memory so when power is put back on the last colour and brightness is used again.
I await darkness to fall to see how dim the dimmest setting is.

 

Also I drilled the bolt holes for the pier and had a trial fit.
The ground has not suddenly sunken to the right, dodgy camera operation!!
Just edited this in, its North pin is pointing Magnetic North.


 

And then the big drill with mys trusty SDS and a lot of vacuum and brush and vacuum and brush to clean the holes after.
Then the oh my, how does this gunk work few minutes and then the big and brave chemical into the holes and hope moment.
It clearly sets fast, the test bit on my shirt (that was deliberate of course), has set like the proverbial on a blanket.

So here it is, sits quite level too, must be the floating off of the cement I did.

And just to show how level, well a picture of a level of course!

So I await the cure of chemical fixings and then will bolt down and fit the alt az mount.
It will have my Sabre for now for the summer.
Now need to sell off some kit and work out how to safely sell the dob in the present times,
which may be a no for the foreseeable.

Anyway a decent update, very happy for now and relieved it's nearly done 😁

That is looking great Al, well done !

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

Very well done and looks nice. The area doesn't look out of place in your well kept garden.

 

 

[Solar B]

Outstanding job altogether Alan ... on what appears to be your own private 

annex for observation ... I'm loving the pier and its level table top to 👍

Brian 

[Alan White]

The Observing Cupboard is still loving called 'The Khazi' by family and friends, the name has stuck I think.