Stone Observatory

[Sunshine]

Building an observatory out of natural, irregular shaped stone is something I would love to do if I move to a home with dark skies and lots of land. Is this something which has been done by any members? is it feasible? while there are many examples of observatories here on SGL, none that I have seen have been made in such a way. Something like this, but not necessarily this large would be what I would love to have.

Edited June 17 by Sunshine

[Cosmic Geoff]

The example looks great, but I suspect building in stone is not for novices, and I wince at the possible cost of a professionally built structure and custom dome.  Only institutions and eccentric millionaires can afford that sort of thing.

[Vroobel]

10 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

The example looks great, but I suspect building in stone is not for novices, and I wince at the possible cost of a professionally built structure and custom dome.  Only institutions and eccentric millionaires can afford that sort of thing.

 

Dream killer! 😏

[alan potts]

Much more difficult than you think. I have about 300meters of dry stone wall around my land and when I have repaired it I cheat with concrete as a glue. I have a barn made very much like this and it's a work of art.

Alan

[Swoop1]

1 hour ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

The example looks great, but I suspect building in stone is not for novices, and I wince at the possible cost of a professionally built structure and custom dome.  Only institutions and eccentric millionaires can afford that sort of thing.

It may not be necessary to custom build a dome- an 'off the shelf' dome could have a stone structure assembled beneath it- still darned expensive I would guess.

Last year a member posted about a dome obsy build which was on an outbuilding or similar if I recall.

[jjohnson3803]

That's a magnificent looking structure.  The closet amateur structure I've seen is a semi-circular concrete block "turret".  No dome on it, but it does a very good job of blocking the wind and stray light.

 

 

[Sunshine]

9 hours ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

The example looks great, but I suspect building in stone is not for novices, and I wince at the possible cost of a professionally built structure and custom dome.  Only institutions and eccentric millionaires can afford that sort of thing.

Not if I built it myself! and when it caves in and flattens just leave me there in my astronomical tomb.

[maw lod qan]

That is beautiful. 

In this area of Florida we don't have many stones. 

[Alan White]

15 hours ago, Sunshine said:

Not if I built it myself! and when it caves in and flattens just leave me there in my astronomical tomb.

I posted a laugh emoji, but perhaps it should really be a sad one instead. ☹️