Re: ATM Home observatory advice requested

[George Anderson <georgea@cam.org>]

Hi John

You may want to vivit the site www.skyshed.com for some ideas on roll on
roll off roofs. Although they have designs for complete observatories
their roof designs should give you a good starting point.
They were a pretty big hit at Starfest this year from what I have
heardfrom numerous friends who attended.
As usual I have no affiliation with this company other than they seem to
have a good product.

George Anderson
Montreal Canada

Clear skies and good health

"John D. Gallagher" wrote:
> 
> Fellow ATM list members,
> I have been lucky enough to purchase some open acreage in a relative dark sky area, and hope to build a home observatory. I've browsed the Web, checked back issues of S&T, and been disappointed by  Moore's book on Small Astronomical Observatories. (The individual chapters were fine, the overall content outline failed to address many important considerations.) Mel Bartels asked for advice about a similar project a few years ago, but I've not heard his final solutions. Anyway, here goes:
> First question: Is it better to have a separate building or to make the observatory part of the living quarters or garage?
> I am leaning towards the garage, New Hampshire is snowy, I'll be higher up and get a better horizon without the house being as much in the way.
> Second: I don't want to have a dome as it is too conspicuous. I'd like advice as to whether a roll-off roof or door opening design is better.
> Third, I am guessing I'll place a concrete pier pad separate from the garage slab with bolts level with the ground. I'll add a pier of some sort to the "second" floor on which the telescope pier (a G11 with 10 inch Newt) will be mounted. I thought a 8 inch pipe, perhaps filled with sand, might be adequate. Yet in one of Moore's books Jack Newton describes a 1 meter square concrete pillar. Wow!
> Why can't the bolts be placed right into the garage slab, provided a separately poured foundation supports (and isolates) the walls.
> Fourth: Any guidelines as to how high the walls of the observatory should be? I hope not to buy a Pier Tech extendable pier. If a clamshell opening door type system is used, the doors can be shaped to lie over the telescope. If however, a roll off roof is chosen,. either  the scope lies below the walls, or some kind of secondary opening or fold down wall must be incorporated to clear the scope.
> Fifth: Pier material considerations: Why a concrete pier, versus steel pipe (hollow or filled) or girder, or even a wooden post? What are the vibrational considerations, temperature and humidity expansion considerations, etc. The steel tube has the advantage of being removable, then bolts to the slab could be cut and a future owner could use the space differently.
> Sixth: I hope for a 10 ft  by 10 ft opening although 8 by 8 may be more reasonable if I choose doors. Any opinions?
> This note is quite long and I apologize. Replies can be directly to me if you think it more appropriate. I hope to begin building if the ground ever thaws here in the NorthEast.
> Thanks
> John Gallagher
> john.d.gallagher@hitchcock.org