Observatory News

[MarkS]

Today I received a Certificate of Lawful Development for my dual pier roll-off roof wooden observatory.  This is a formal statement from the Borough Planners that it is a permitted development that needs no planning permission.

But before I start, I've got to give Dee her garden shed.  I'll probably build Dee's shed from scratch with a similar design (but no roll-off roof!) so I can identify any potential construction problems in advance.

Just need to negotiate the franchises for the amusement park and candy floss kiosks at the end of each pier

Mark

[mickw]

Certificate of Lawful Development for my dual pier roll-off roof wooden observatory

Well that wipes out cloudless views of the sky for 2013 then 

[MarkS]

Well that wipes out cloudless views of the sky for 2013 then 

Excellent, 'cos I building it to observe night-time clouds 

[The Thing]

Like these...



(This was Regulus on the 3rd March at 21:23:21 from Beckenham if anyone's interested )
SPC900 Mono LX on Meade 50mm Finderscope using SharpCap. Guided (I kid you not!)

[MarkS]

Here's one of the pictures I sent them.  This shows it from the South, in both its closed and open configuration:

[JohnP]

Cool result Mark. Just make sure you place it well away from where you have the bonfire.... Thought of any names yet...?

[MarkS]

So who was it who arranged for me to receive a info leaflet on roof trusses?
 

Mark

[Carole]

That looks the business Mark.  Will you not be planning a warm room while you are at it?

Carole

[MarkS]

No I'd rather have plenty of space to move around.

However, if I later regret it, I suppose I can always partition or curtain off a "warm corner" later.  I want a curtained off area anyway when doing solar imaging, so I can see the computer screen away from the sun's glare.

Mark

[Carole]

What some people do is put a warm room under the area where the roll of roof goes when it is rolled off, and this does not take any area away from the actual observatory itself, that's what I was planning to do when I was originally planning a ROR obsy before I got the POD.

Carole

[mickw]

I think Chris has the best solution for a warm room.
PC in the observatory driving the kit then sit down watching the TV indoors and controlling everything from a networked laptop

[Carole]

There's that option too.  Indeed although I don't automate everything I often sit indoors and watch how the subs are doing, check there is no problem with guiding and can at least control the software from indoors.

Carole

[Mike]

What some people do is put a warm room under the area where the roll of roof goes when it is rolled off
Carole

Doesn't that mean though that your laptop and chair would get wet when the roof was over the scope when not in use?

[Rocket Pooch]

There's that option too.  Indeed although I don't automate everything I often sit indoors and watch how the subs are doing, check there is no problem with guiding and can at least control the software from indoors.

Carole

My arthritis and hypermobility does not let me do that, plus the fact I'm lazy there days....

Oh and Frodo has one all soft and does not like staying out in the cold either.

[MarkS]

Thought of any names yet...?

Yes, my first thought is SECG - the South Eastern Cloud Generator. 

[Carole]

Doesn't that mean though that your laptop and chair would get wet when the roof was over the scope when not in use?

Very funny Mike, of course they build a roof over that too which the ROR rests on when open.

Carole

[Carole]

I want a curtained off area anyway when doing solar imaging, so I can see the computer screen away from the sun's glare.

Yes solar imaging is a PITA with reflections on the screen. 

I made myself a large cardboard box which sits over the laptop with a small lift up flap at the bottom so I can get my hands in to control the laptop.  I look through a slot cut out at the top edge, and with a peaked sunhat to shade my eyes, I get no reflections at all on the laptop.  And it all folds up flat afterwards, much better than spending ages sitting under a towel or blanket.

Carole

[MarkS]

Spent all Easter building this:



Dee's shed - a.k.a. observatory prototype.

Pretty happy with the result.  Very strong and it will scale up nicely.  Of course the real thing will have a sliding roof.

I can't believe how cold it was out there in those Arctic winds and it snowed most days.

I had a fixed camera taking an image every 60 seconds - I'll create a movie once the shed is complete.

[mickw]

Nicely done Mark, Dee will enjoy being locked in there 

[RobertM]

I can't even see Duncan bumping his head with a door opening that size

[MarkS]

I can't even see Duncan bumping his head with a door opening that size

There's a good reason for that - it needs the extra height in order to store the fold away table tennis table.

The observatory will have shorter walls and plenty of opportunity for Duncan's head-banging.

[The Thing]

I can't even see Duncan bumping his head with a door opening that size

There's a good reason for that - it needs the extra height in order to store the fold away table tennis table.

The observatory will have shorter walls and plenty of opportunity for Duncan's head-banging.

I used to enjoy a bit of head banging back in the day...

[MarkS]

The forecasters got it wrong again.  How come there was snow tonight when the forecast was a dry evening?  I had to rush out in the dark, wet and wind to put a tarpaulin over the roof to protect it until I can put the bitumen felt on.  The roofing felt should have been done on bank holiday Monday but it was far too gusty to attempt it.

[mickw]

Sunday is forecast as tornado free, would you like a hand ?

Or whenever you plan to do it.

[MarkS]

Sunday is forecast as tornado free, would you like a hand ?

Or whenever you plan to do it.

Thanks Mick - PM sent.