Observatory

The observatory was built to replace my old run off roof shed, which was getting towards the end of its useful life. The shed was suffering from terminal collapse due to rot in several places and had also been home for a wood mouse at some stage. The hedge at the back was getting overgrown so that needed to go too - it was originally useful to screen security lights.

So, the large garden landscaping project was started.

The new observatory was inspired by Patrick Moores observatory and by the dome of the 3.5 metre WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory, Tuscon, Arizona, USA.

Here is a view of the new observatory (and the newly landscaped garden too). Construction of the observatory started in late August 2001 and was completed in early November 2001, it then took a further 2 months to get it completely weatherproof (the garden was completed in the summer of 2002).

Construction of the Observatory



The construction started with the building of the foundations. A large concrete plinth was cast to stand the telescope on. The central hole allows electricity and data cables up to the centre of the observatory.


The floor was completed with tongue and groove floorboards and painted with exterior wood stain/preservative. A cover was made for the junction box for access from inside and the electricity cable is now in place.


The top of the base walls was the place to put the dome rotation mechanism. This consists of two identical sized steel rings (2.4 metres diameter). The top ring has 8 grooved castors and runs on the lower ring like a train on a railway.


The dome walls were constructed from 7 identical frames (leaving a gap for the slit) clad in shiplap. These rested on a circle of plywood which will eventually be fitted with a skirt to close the gap between the base and the dome.


The roof was clad in plywood which would eventually be felted. It is now really beginning to look like an observatory!.


More or less at the finishing stages. The roof has been felted and two timber framed shutters have been made and fitted to the dome.


This detail shows the shutter latches and some of the weatherproofing added to keep the rain out.



			The paving slabs were concreted into place and they support the floor frame which was constructed from 80mm x 40mm pre-treated timber. The right hand area was divided to use as an underfloor junction box for the electricity.


			The walls for the lower (stationary) base of the observatory are made from 8 identical frames bolted together and to the floor/base. Each frame was clad in shiplap except for the wall that was to eventually take the door.


		This shows a detail view of one of the castors. The lower ring is bolted to the lower walls of the observatory and the rotating dome is bolted to the top ring. The rotating mechanism works like a dream.


			The roof timbers were put in place leaving a clear area where the dome slit was eventually going to be.


		Here the skirt has been fitted around the dome. This is made of hardboard covered with aluminium coated bitumen flashing (the type used for patching holes in flat roofs). I’ve also fitted the door at this stage.



		The shutters slide apart to open the slit. Each shutter is fitted with a drawer slide from a filing cabinet at the front and the back. The shutters then operate like a filing cabinet drawer and slide aside easily.


		And finally in early 2002 the 8.5 inch telescope was moved from the run off roof shed into it’s new home.

Download the Observatory plans here!

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