Embedded Files
I have been interested in astronomy for a long time and had a couple of small telescopes before. Currently, I own a Meade 10 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain LX200 classic. When I first got it, I used the tripod that came with the scope to setup for observing. The setup and tear down always took away from observing time, so I decided to design and build my own observatory building which you can see pictures of below. The building that I planned was to be 12 x 16 feet in size with so I could invite groups for observing or the space can be used as a small classroom. In applying for a permit, my town didn't know how to deal with the request since I would be their the first 'observatory' permit on the books. They settled on calling it a 'shed'. So long as I finally got my permit I didn't care what they called it. Stony Point Observatory was built over a period of a few years whenever weather and time allowed and was completed around July 2004.
This seemingly overwhelming project was first broken down to smaller manageable tasks. The design took almost two years having gone through several iterations before settling on this final design. I used Visio to draw out the plans and detailed every complex view. I also needed Excel to help me calculate the shape of the dome petals. The ten foot dome is made up 24 gores. These are the petal side pieces that when combined form a perfect dome. The dome weighs ~750lbs and rotates easily on 72 inline skate wheels. The shutter doors open and closed smoothly by way of two sets of heavy duty drawer slides. The dome turns with about 15 pounds of force thanks to the distribution of the skate wheels.
In order to save money, I needed to try to do as much of the construction as I could by myself. Never having done a project of this magnitude, I realized I had to learn many new skills. After clearing the land as much as possible by myself, the backhoe work and concrete foundation and leveling were to follow. Since I couldn't do that work, it needed to be hired out. Thankfully, I had a neighbor down the road that was in construction and well equipped for the job. The hill that the observatory is built on was riddled with boulders (one about five feet across) and small trees and bushes with thorns. Soon the hill became clear and smooth with a large hole for the foundation below the frost line.
In the days to follow, the foundation concrete delivery was supposed get close to the build site, but got stuck well before it got close enough. I was warned by the driver that I had only so much time to get the concrete off before being charged extra "per Minute" and it was my responsibility to get his truck unstuck from my yard. I was in a panic and thought I was going to have a heart attack when it got stuck. Little did I know that I would actually have a real heart attack 3 years later. (The heart attack had nothing to do with this project. Apparently, my body was heading that way for years before. Take my advice and exercise, please). Thankfully my backhoe guy showed up and not only rescued me from the stuck truck problem, but renegotiated the cost of my concrete also.
The next part of the construction was the concrete block walls to get from the frost line to the surface. I have seen walls being built and had some idea on how to do this, but still did a lot of reading and YouTube video watching to learn what I didn't know how to do. There are around 400 blocks and countless bags of mortar plus months of hard work whenever I could get to it. Basically you start at the corners and work in, filling the walls. This required constant checking that each course was staying level and the walls were plumb.
I needed the telescope to be isolated from vibrations if I was ever to take pictures of the sky. To do that, I decide that the telescope support needed to have it's own foundation. The tall pyramid like structure in the middle of the block walls provides that support and the steel column goes to the second floor also isolated there. Furthermore the column is filled with sand to help deaden any possible vibrations.
The floor was done by the same guy and his crew that did the foundation. They did a very nice job and stayed away from the steel pier.
The rest was all done mostly single handed by me with some occasional help from my wife. The first floor is a basic shed so that was easy. the curved wall sections below the dome were made up with 3/4" plywood pieces and then, using a router, formed into several rings. The short wall below the dome has some electrical outlets for power and low level lights which can switch to red color to help see what you are doing. Above that, are more rings on which the skate wheels are mounted and the base of the dome which hooks over the lower rings to help keep the dome from being blown of by strong winds. So far that has worked with winds gusting to 60 miles per hours.
The dome construction is made up of standard 2x4's which were ripped down to make a series of thin strips. Two jigs were created on the lower floor and these strips were glued back together to form arched ribs for the dome walls and the dome doors. Final interior just looks like curved 2x4's after planing and sanding. The worst part of this was the making the two long arches that go from front to back and form the main spine of the dome. Erecting these two pieces to a vertical position and securing them all by yourself is quite the challenge, but with the help of some clamps, ropes and a bunch of thinking way out side of the box, I succeed. As the building continued, the other ribs served to further secured them. The gore (petal) pieces were installed between the ribs ans were covered with plastic film to help waterproof things. The whole dome is covered with aluminum flashing material after that.
The rest of the building is an ordinary roof with a soffit overhang and ridge vent to keep heat from collecting and disturbing the air around the dome which would otherwise affect viewing.
Here are some construction pictures of my Stony Point Observatory and other interesting astronomy related pictures (not taken by me):
My planning in 2000
A Meade 10 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain LX200 classic telescope.
Sept 2003 Look at this, grass and everything. Three years of part time work.
Aug 2000 Backhoe starts
This Boulder is five feet across
Oct 2000 Footers aligned North and poured.
Block corners started
Late Nov Winter is here. More than half of the blocks in place.
April 2001 Finishing up the walls. Getting ready to do the telescope foundation.
May 2001 Bridge to pour Concrete into the pier form
Many bags of concrete and lots of Rebar later.
Everything is back filled and the floor is going in.
Fourth of July weekend was busy. Decided I don't like the door position.
Making the base ring with a router. Almost 1 year so far.
Late Aug 2001 Lower half wall done. with a few of the 72 inline skate wheels in place.
Making lots of ribs to look like curved 2x4s.
Nov 2001 Moved the door, completed the roof and made the upper dome ring.
Ring, two main arches, and first supporting rib in place.
More ribs and the first gores.
Middle of Nov Basic dome is complete. Now for the doors.
Inside looking up. No doors yet.
Flashing done and covered up waiting for winter to pass.
May 2002 Doors framed up and moving like they should
Doors complete. And they are working.
Aug 2002 Everybody needs some power. Two years now. I can see the light at the end.
The Pier goes in. Had this made by an out of work pipe fitter/welder. VERY heavy.
The Pier is up. My wife helped align it to the bolts in the floor. Almost Three years now.
Various internet pictures. My views aren't this good, but still are fun.
Google Sites
Report abuse