observatory

I am just beginning to plan out an observatory at my house.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
Eric

Eric:

Eric wrote:

I am just beginning to plan out an observatory at my house.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
Eric


I'm an architectural designer with an interest in telescopes and
astronomy. Months ago I posted an offer to design observatory enclosure
structures or additions to existing structures.

You have a stated goal, however, there is not enough information to make
any appropriate recommendations or even to come up with a provisional
design solution.

How large is the house? What floor level is intended for the platform?
What size is needed for the platform? What sort of shape integration
with the greater house in needed? Will the platform be indented into the
roof or attic area, or will it be a raised structure? How many persons
would occupy the platform? There are many more questions that need to be
answered in order to provide the specifications for a design.

Ralph Hertle

Eric wrote:

I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
Eric


Eric,

My first thought is, how well insulated is you home? If there
is not enough insulation in the top floor of your home, and/or
if there is inadequate ventilation of the attic, you will
probably find yourself looking through shaky air. In warm
weather, the question becomes how quickly does your roofing
material cool off after sunset. In either case, ISTM that you
will have to address thermal radiation from your house as you
plan your observatory.

--
Tom McDonald

"Tom McDonald" wrote in message
...
Eric wrote:

I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
snip

I'd add that if the observatory is not cement from the second floor down,
the shakes will be a problem as well.

BV.

Benign Vanilla wrote:

"Tom McDonald" wrote in message
...

Eric wrote:


I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks

snip

I'd add that if the observatory is not cement from the second floor down,
the shakes will be a problem as well.

BV.


BV,

True. Would the anti-vibration pads that are placed under the
legs of the tripod help? (I'm assuming that the OP doesn't want
to pour a cement pillar from below the basement to the observing
platform.)

--
Tom McDonald

Tom McDonald wrote:

Eric wrote:

I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
Eric


Eric,

My first thought is, how well insulated is you home? If there
is not enough insulation in the top floor of your home, and/or
if there is inadequate ventilation of the attic, you will
probably find yourself looking through shaky air. In warm
weather, the question becomes how quickly does your roofing
material cool off after sunset. In either case, ISTM that you
will have to address thermal radiation from your house as you
plan your observatory.

good point, i hadnt thought about that. Thanks.

Tom McDonald wrote:

Benign Vanilla wrote:

"Tom McDonald" wrote in message
...

Eric wrote:


I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks

snip

I'd add that if the observatory is not cement from the second floor down,
the shakes will be a problem as well.

BV.


BV,

True. Would the anti-vibration pads that are placed under the
legs of the tripod help? (I'm assuming that the OP doesn't want
to pour a cement pillar from below the basement to the observing
platform.)


Maybe this isnt such a good idea. It seemed ok when i first thought of it as
i have a lot of trees nearby and being up at that level would have given me
access to lower areas of the horizon, plus a short run from there to my
computer room would have let me do some imaging to my desktop. The proposed
location of the platform actually would have had a straight shot down to
the ground so i suppose it could be Beam supported right off a concrete pad
below. If i supported the platform with 6x6 wood stilts sitting on a
concrete pad and braced to the side of the house would vibration still be a
problem?
Eric

Ralph Hertle wrote:

Eric:

Eric wrote:

I am just beginning to plan out an observatory at my house.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks
Eric


I'm an architectural designer with an interest in telescopes and
astronomy. Months ago I posted an offer to design observatory enclosure
structures or additions to existing structures.

You have a stated goal, however, there is not enough information to make
any appropriate recommendations or even to come up with a provisional
design solution.

How large is the house? What floor level is intended for the platform?
What size is needed for the platform? What sort of shape integration
with the greater house in needed? Will the platform be indented into the
roof or attic area, or will it be a raised structure? How many persons
would occupy the platform? There are many more questions that need to be
answered in order to provide the specifications for a design.

Ralph Hertle
all very good things to think through, i am at the very very early stage of
this and may not build for a couple of years (or never if it isnt going to
work well). My idea is that the platform would be about 20 feet up. The
building as it is now has an inside corner so the platform could be
attached to the house on two sides. There is pretty much a straight shot to
ground level where there is a 4 inch or so thick concrete patio surface.
Its a 2 story house and the platform would be at the upper roof line.
Thanks,
Eric

Eric wrote:

Tom McDonald wrote:


Benign Vanilla wrote:


"Tom McDonald" wrote in message
...


Eric wrote:



I am just beginning to plan o utanobservatoryatmyhouse.
I will remove a closet that is unused, put a doorway in and that will
go to a short set of steps up to a platform at the rooftop.
I was wondering if anyone had plans or recommendations for a small
observation platform where i could place a 12 or 14" reflector type
telescope and leave it there knowing it will be protected from
wind/rain and sometimes snow (This means a opening/closing roof)
Thanks

snip

I'd add that if the observatory is not cement from the second floor down,
the shakes will be a problem as well.

BV.



BV,

True. Would the anti-vibration pads that are placed under the
legs of the tripod help? (I'm assuming that the OP doesn't want
to pour a cement pillar from below the basement to the observing
platform.)



Maybe this isnt such a good idea. It seemed ok when i first thought of it as
i have a lot of trees nearby and being up at that level would have given me
access to lower areas of the horizon, plus a short run from there to my
computer room would have let me do some imaging to my desktop. The proposed
location of the platform actually would have had a straight shot down to
the ground so i suppose it could be Beam supported right off a concrete pad
below. If i supported the platform with 6x6 wood stilts sitting on a
concrete pad and braced to the side of the house would vibration still be a
problem?
Eric


Eric,

I'm not an expert by any means, but I think that the vibration
issue might be helped by a connection to concrete in-ground, the
more mass of concrete the better.

I'd be a bit concerned about the nature of the traffic near
your house. If there is much truck traffic, or a railroad
nearby, the vibrations from them might still be transmitted to
the 'scope.

Finally, I don't think tying the platform into the house
structure would be ideal. Houses move, in wind, cold or hot
weather, or just settling. Were I you, I'd check with someone
who builds observatories for a living.

--
Tom McDonald

"Eric" wrote in message
news:Y7uXc.315773$a24.238670@attbi_s03...
snip
Maybe this isnt such a good idea. It seemed ok when i first thought of it
as
i have a lot of trees nearby and being up at that level would have given
me
access to lower areas of the horizon, plus a short run from there to my
computer room would have let me do some imaging to my desktop. The
proposed
location of the platform actually would have had a straight shot down to
the ground so i suppose it could be Beam supported right off a concrete
pad
below. If i supported the platform with 6x6 wood stilts sitting on a
concrete pad and braced to the side of the house would vibration still be
a
problem?

You could probably save on cost, and hassle, if you built a small
observatory as a seperate building in the yard. You could avoid the temp
problems of the roof, and being on the ground, you could pour a nice solid
pillar. Trench out to it, and you can have all the computer hookups that you
could wish for.

I am hoping to do this in my yard some day. Still working on spousal
approval. I am hoping we can some day replace the old decrepit shed with a
larger model, with a sliding roof, and room for my scope next to the shovels
and mower.

BV.