observatory in the attic

[MarkH]

Thinking in the future I may have the possibility of a new build house. I had a thought of incorporating an observatory in the roof by design. Has anyone on the forum attempted this? If not does anyone know of pro's con's or any existing designs. Cheers.

[MarkS]

I wouldn't attempt it. 

Two obvious problems I can foresee:
1) Rising heat from the house causing turbulence
2) Vibrations transmitted through the floor

You would be OK with widefield imaging and observing but you would have problems for planets - even simply observing them.

On the other hand, somewhere on the web, you might be able to find successful attempts.

Mark

[The Thing]

I saw one where the guy had put a telegraph pole up through the house as a pier! He had a slide off roof that slid over the actual roof i.e. a whopping hole in the roof.   He was American and it was a timber house. I don't think he had thought it through very well and I bet he didn't have buildings insurance!

[mickw]

If it's for visual only, there wouldn't really be a problem if you have patience - sit or stand still while observing, jumping around would make life difficult.
Jeff observes from his balcony.

If you're into imaging life will get complicated, being still is more important.  Any movement on the floor where the scope is mounted will cause vibrations which will disturb any imaging.
You will need something solid down to ground level especially if you are not the only person living there
An Aussie bloke who kept posting odd stuff on this forum built an observatory in his front garden that looked like a water tower (his neighbours might have shot him by now) I think his name was Baz and he can be found on the Ice in Space forum.

[Carole]

I would say even observing on the roof might still be affected by thermal currents.  However since you seem to be able to design this place yourself, why not put an observatory on the side of the house, maybe on top of the garage as that is not going to be heated.  Though if an imager I don't think your car would appreciate a dirty great pier passing through it   

Over an unheated workroom to the back of a garage might work, what do others think?

Carole

[Mike]

For observing - If the room was very well thermally insulated and was left to cool down to ambient temperature it might be 'OK' to use. Though you would get vibrations every single time you moved unless it was concrete floors.

For imaging - forget it. Seriously bad idea.

[MarkH]

Thank you guys, that's made the decision easy. Stay on the ground 

[Canadian Roger]

I saw one where the guy had put a telegraph pole up through the house as a pier! He had a slide off roof that slid over the actual roof i.e. a whopping hole in the roof.   He was American and it was a timber house. I don't think he had thought it through very well and I bet he didn't have buildings insurance!

If it's who I think that was, his name is Mark Kaye, he's Canadian, and I'll be going to see tomorrows partial solar eclipse with him.

The way he got the pole in was to pile the snow up on one side of the house.  In March, before the snow thawed, he and a few friends  just walked the pole up the snow and on to the roof, lowering it through the house.

The pier works incredibly well, and he has it completely isolated from the house itself.   

And it is insured!

[Rick]

In March, before the snow thawed

Heh! There's a theme here. Is it "Move to Canada!"?

[Canadian Roger]

In March, before the snow thawed

Heh! There's a theme here. Is it "Move to Canada!"?

Not really, observing here in the winter can be brutal.  Temperatures of -27F are not unknown, for instance.  I know one fellow who, in the days before autoguiders, used a balaclava and breathed through a SCUBA snorkel so he didn't accidentally breathe on the eyepiece and frost it over.

On the bright side, you don't need cooling for your camera!

Anyway, here's Mark's place.  More can be found at http://www3.sympatico.ca/mark.kaye/equip.htm

[Rick]

That's an interesting construction. Nice sunny clear morning views from his webcam, too. Expect it all looks a little different in the depths of winter. I wondered, briefly, how he'd managed the photo from above, but then I spotted parts of a lattice mast beside the house, and I guess someone climbed t to take the photo...

[Canadian Roger]

He got up on the roof every time he had a snowfall and pushed the snow off to one side to make a ramp.  In March, it was ready.

He hosted some friends for a Lunar eclipse 10 or 15 years ago, and one fellow, seen below, had his flashlight (torch) frozen to his lips when he put it in his much so he could check on some connections.  Apparently, he refused to miss any of the eclipse, and so stayed outside, with the flashlight frozen in place, until the event was over.