Now that I'm getting older I have decided to make a permanent home for my telescope. As having to lug my heavy Meade 10" Schmit Newtonian out side every time I use it is not going to get any easier in the future.

So here I'll be blogging all the trials, tribulations, successes and failures (of which there will be many I'm sure) of building an astronomical observatory from scratch.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Highland Clearance

Well, the hard work of cutting down the tree starts. I've only ever pruned this tree once a year before completely removing it is going to be a hole new ball game.

I'm toying with the idea  of using the stump as the central pier for the telescope mount as it would be the sturdiest mount ever, what with the 100 years + of root system under the ground. But I fear the tree is just a little to far forward of the shed which blocks the light from the police station, so that may not be an option. I could though use part of the stub embedded in concrete in the right position to save having to buy a new pier.


There it was Gone

The majority of the tree has gone up in smoke now,

Just the main stump left to take down, if any one has a chain saw and would like some fee fire wood please feel free to come around and chop the rest down. I'll supply the tea!
  The sheds here on the right will also feature in the plan, the far end shed already has an electrical supply and I fitted a red night observing light to it a few years ago to allow me to use my imaging equipment in a warm environment (oil filled radiator also fitted). I'll take a supply from this shed to give a perminant feed to my telescope for running the mount drive and anti dewing systems. As well as a USB and serial feed to my laptop, ( of which I'll need a faster one), to allow remote imaging and computer controlled sloohing.

Next is to plan the type of observatory, a roll off roof type is my thoughts at the moment as that would give some protection from the wind. I've already worked out that the minimum size will need to be 2.5mx2.5m, so this is no small project. WATCH THIS SPACE, (excuse the pun).

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