Sky and Telescope article - HELP

Hello Group ,


A few years ago I read a article in (if I remember
correctly )S&T mag. about mounting an equatorial mount on a pier and
the pier was placed in the yard with no building around it . The cover
was a small box that went over the German equatorial mount . I think it
was heated with a small light bulb to keep dew from forming on the
metal of the mount . This was 3 to 5 years ago ? I'm looking to
purchase the back issue , does anyone know what issue it was in ?


Thank you for any help , Leoanrd

It's an LX200 on a wedge.

With a GEM, the box will have to be tall enough, or more accurately stated,
the tray that acts as a baseboard on the box will have to be low enough to
allow for the counterweight shaft to be in the down position.

Not that you can't make it work. I think.

-Stephen


wrote in message
ps.com...


Hello Group ,


A few years ago I read a article in (if I remember
correctly )S&T mag. about mounting an equatorial mount on a pier and
the pier was placed in the yard with no building around it . The cover
was a small box that went over the German equatorial mount . I think it
was heated with a small light bulb to keep dew from forming on the
metal of the mount . This was 3 to 5 years ago ? I'm looking to
purchase the back issue , does anyone know what issue it was in ?


Thank you for any help , Leoanrd

wrote:



Hello Group ,


A few years ago I read a article in (if I remember
correctly )S&T mag. about mounting an equatorial mount on a pier and
the pier was placed in the yard with no building around it . The cover
was a small box that went over the German equatorial mount . I think it
was heated with a small light bulb to keep dew from forming on the
metal of the mount . This was 3 to 5 years ago ? I'm looking to
purchase the back issue , does anyone know what issue it was in ?


Thank you for any help , Leoanrd

S&T January 2004 "Three Basic Telescope Shelters" pg131 has "The Mini-Max
Observatory" by Bob Allevo (www.skyfoto.com) pg134. Its a piered scope
with a box on the top that unfolds, warmed at night by a 40 watt bulb when
not in use. Sent the one page article to above email, ~ 260KB jpeg. Looks
like he's upgraded his observatory from the link above. HTH

Hi Stephen,

As I now know it was a fork mount , and your correct
in that it presents a problem with the counterweight .
Its always something ,if its not clouds it counterweights . Thinking I
may be able to work around this . I like this idea so much I'm going
to try to make it work for me .

Thanks for your help , Leoanrd

Hello Klaatu ,

I thank you very much for sending me the
entire article . It is the one I remember . It has a fork mount but the
concept may work with a GEM . Yes it does look like he changed things ,
but a small on the ground shelter is just what I do not want to have .
So I'll be looking to make his box idea work for me . After reading it
through I will make up my mind if its worth the effort to go forward
with the digging and mount work .

Again thank much , Leonard

wrote in message
oups.com...


Hello Klaatu ,

I thank you very much for sending me the
entire article . It is the one I remember . It has a fork mount but the
concept may work with a GEM . Yes it does look like he changed things ,
but a small on the ground shelter is just what I do not want to have .
So I'll be looking to make his box idea work for me . After reading it
through I will make up my mind if its worth the effort to go forward
with the digging and mount work .

Again thank much , Leonard

Hi Leonard,

Just wanted to add that the materials used for the Allevo design are quite
expensive actually. Remember that with a GEM, you would have to add more
material.

A lot depends on your climate as to what you can use. Hot and humid or
dusty climates are just about the worst for ANY type of observatory or
enclose. Sorry to sound pessimistic, but "been there and done that". After
trying out a variation of the Allevo design myself for a 12" Meade, I also
tried a small, modified garden shed. In both cases, because of heat/
humidity here, I ended up with moisture problems no matter what I tried. My
only solution that has continued to work is to simply assemble/ disassemble
my equipment on a regular basis. There are plenty of ways to make this task
easier, such as setting up a pier, which is much easier to shield from the
elements than the entire system. Also, you can cannibalize, in effect, your
computer, cameras, eyepieces, etc and bring all of that out in one trip with
the right custom container.

Good luck with whatever you decide,
JP

Hi Leonard,

Just wanted to add that the materials used for the Allevo design are
quite
expensive actually. Remember that with a GEM, you would have to add
more
material.

A lot depends on your climate as to what you can use. Hot and humid
or
dusty climates are just about the worst for ANY type of observatory
or
enclose. Sorry to sound pessimistic, but "been there and done that".
After
trying out a variation of the Allevo design myself for a 12" Meade, I
also
tried a small, modified garden shed. In both cases, because of heat/
humidity here, I ended up with moisture problems no matter what I
tried. My
only solution that has continued to work is to simply assemble/
disassemble
my equipment on a regular basis. There are plenty of ways to make
this task
easier, such as setting up a pier, which is much easier to shield
from the
elements than the entire system. Also, you can cannibalize, in
effect, your
computer, cameras, eyepieces, etc and bring all of that out in one
trip with
the right custom container.

Good luck with whatever you decide,
JP

Hello John ,

Setting up a pier , yes thats what I have in mind . The
only thing that would not stay outside on the pier would be the
telescope . The GEM would stay on the pier along with the rings . I
want to keep it simple with no building of any kind , I want the
ability to place my telescope on its mount at dusk and let it cool down
and observe . I know it sounds like I want to have my cake and eat it
too but I know it can be done . Where I live there are no real issues
with dirt , dust or excessive moisture . If I go through with this idea
, it will be much smaller than the one Mr. Allevo made for himself. I
don't think your to pessimistic as all solutions to keeping a telescope
outside and ready to go comes with its own problems . Why just getting
the pier constructed correctly can be a real pain. Thanks for your
advice John . Its just one more little step into the unknown .
Leonard

wrote in message
ups.com...

Hi Leonard,

Just wanted to add that the materials used for the Allevo design are
quite
expensive actually. Remember that with a GEM, you would have to add
more
material.

A lot depends on your climate as to what you can use. Hot and humid
or
dusty climates are just about the worst for ANY type of observatory
or
enclose. Sorry to sound pessimistic, but "been there and done that".
After
trying out a variation of the Allevo design myself for a 12" Meade, I
also
tried a small, modified garden shed. In both cases, because of heat/
humidity here, I ended up with moisture problems no matter what I
tried. My
only solution that has continued to work is to simply assemble/
disassemble
my equipment on a regular basis. There are plenty of ways to make
this task
easier, such as setting up a pier, which is much easier to shield
from the
elements than the entire system. Also, you can cannibalize, in
effect, your
computer, cameras, eyepieces, etc and bring all of that out in one
trip with
the right custom container.

Good luck with whatever you decide,
JP

Hello John ,

Setting up a pier , yes thats what I have in mind . The
only thing that would not stay outside on the pier would be the
telescope . The GEM would stay on the pier along with the rings . I
want to keep it simple with no building of any kind , I want the
ability to place my telescope on its mount at dusk and let it cool down
and observe . I know it sounds like I want to have my cake and eat it
too but I know it can be done . Where I live there are no real issues
with dirt , dust or excessive moisture . If I go through with this idea
, it will be much smaller than the one Mr. Allevo made for himself. I
don't think your to pessimistic as all solutions to keeping a telescope
outside and ready to go comes with its own problems . Why just getting
the pier constructed correctly can be a real pain. Thanks for your
advice John . Its just one more little step into the unknown .
Leonard

Ever consider just looking into a good, heavy duty tarp? I have known of
folks using tarps to cover their GEM all year around, in just about any
climate or conditions, without too many problems. I never went this route
myself just because I lost interest in keeping anything outside, but I think
if you search around enough, you will find info on the tarps. It runs in my
mind that people have used desert storm covers, but the tarps I'm thinking
of are even more heavy duty than that... perhaps someone here could
elaborate further.

Good luck,
John