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.