Observatory Progress

[AstroTasmania]

Hi All, especially Patrick,

Well, after about 2.5 weeks of less than ideal weather for dome cladding, plus a flu type lethargy, I have the side panels in place. Not fastened on yet, still a bit of minor adjustments to get things lined up. The tie down straps have done a good job in holding things in place during the wild weather over the week-end with winds gusting to 100 km/hr.

It was too windy to open the big dome so I had to set up my EQ6 mount on the patio to photograph the lunar occultation of Antares in the early hours on the 5th.

To-day some clear skies to take a couple of progress shots.

First Image shot from lower drive, second image shows one of the 8 triangular roof petals.

Clear skies...

[Radar]

Coming together nicely Shev. I like how the pier goes doen under the dome floor. Can you take a picture from inside it?

[orion]

I'm glad it all held together Shevill...looking good.

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Radar,

Here are some shots of the pier setup.

Eventually I plan to have a centre steel frame which can be lifted up about 450mm inside the big pipe casing, using a jack lift of suitable size. The top section of the pier will be attached to the inner section. Once it is all done, the four legs supporting the pier casing will be set in concrete.

Thanks, Colin.

Clear skies...

[hpcoolahan]

great progress Shevill, looks great, is the entrance from under the carport awning?
Sorry for the late reply , been busy doing a schematic of the wiring for a fellow dome automater in Queensland.Ill send u a copy too.
Those petals are big, still interested in how (plan 2) for sealing them is going to work out.

hope the weather stays clear for you, and clear skies of a night.

Looks like weve turned Radar to the dark side... he's looking into CCD cameras.:Oh_No:

Patrick

[Radar]

I like the idea of having a dome where you need to step up a few step to a higher platform. This would mean that the telescope is elevated a few extra feet, which means less dampness.

And yes, I'm looking to come to the dark side.

Regards

Ray

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Radar & Patrick,

Yes, the main concept behind this design and location is so I gain some extra height (about 2-metres)to give me an even better 360 degree view. With a telescope pier that I can use at various heights, it means that if I want to get something lower down near my horizon or a full 360 all sky shot, I jack the pier up. Entry is from the pergola, which is full of tools and building gear at the moment, so access to the big swing seat is not possible.

For normal use I would want the protection of the petals that are not lowered as in nights where the dew would otherwise make viewing impossible. Just withdraw into my cave, so to speak!

I have the basic concept in my mind of how it will all work, I am lucky, I can see it all in 3D in my head and rarely need to draw anything other than a back of an envelope sketch. I know Patrick is concerned with sealing the roof petals but in my mind I have various possibilities and one will work when I get to that point.

I bought 9-metres of 50 x 50 x 5mm steel angle last week to cut up and make the inner sliding column of the pier. Just imagine four lengths 1.5m spaced evenly inside the 13" stainless pipe and with cross braces to make a mini tower. The angle touches the inside of the pipe at four points the full length. So with a plate on the bottom and a hydraulic jack under the plate, just pump up the inner pier to the right height, lock in place and lower when finished.

As I will be using autoguiding, precise alignment will not be critical, but will be pretty good. I have separate alignment points in the top pier section above the floor.

Our weather for the past two weeks has been cloudy, misty, fine drizzle, the gales force winds, the rain has been very welcome as we are located in a rain shadow.

Clear skies...

[phoenix]

Hey Shevill

Looks like the dome is coming together well, Weather permitting how long do you think you have to go before it is finished ?
What scope do you intend on using in this dome ?



Cheers Jason :pipethinker:

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Phoenix,

The Anssen Technologies Alhena mount with a Meade SN-10, Takahashi Epsilon 180ED, 80mm guide scope and still to be fitted, a Takahashi Mewlon 210 from the other observatory. The pier it is on will just have the three base feet removed (6 bolts) and that pier will slide into the top stainless pipe with 6 side level adjusting bolts.

As you can see from the images, it is a changing setup depending on what is targeted. The solar setup is what I used for the Transit of Venus at Campbell Town (public and televised event). Live Solar images from this system went across Australia on ABC TV News that day.

The last image is the setup I used for the last Transit of Mercury, this time my Takahashi FS-102 is being used.

Tony, the tubes rings on the yellow scope I made from 2mm stainless and polished on the electric buff, the support is alloy channel also buffed to a high shine. The next step is to remove those rings etc. and fit a set of Antares tube rotators, in a box waiting to be modified to suit, The SN-10 will also be fitted with Rotator rings.

Finished, your guess is as good as mine!! but as soon as possible. (Controlled by weather, crook back & knees)

Clear skies...

[Radar]

You have a great assortment of big boys toys there Shev. I can't wait to see all this stuff setup in the dome.

[Duncan]

I can only DROOL!!!
Cheers,
Duncan

[Radar]

How is the octadome coming along Shev?

Cheers

Ray

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Radar,

Very slowly, due to the weather and some health issues that have slowed me down. I need good fine weather days to be able to work on the 8 petal installation, at the moment I have a big tarp over the top to keep the rain from getting at the floor, which is not intended to be waterproof.

I have been doing some work on the pier, have now made the central lifting section and worked out how to install the electric car jack to give me 450 mm of up/down travel. Just a matter of cutting & welding steel angle and plates etc. all a bit fiddly in situ under the floor.

I am also spending my 'spare' time on getting my two-day Southern Cross Observatory astro display ready for the big Antarctic Midwinter Festival on 23/24 this month - and lots to prepare.

Clear skies...

[Mick]

Using that jack sounds like a good idea, never seen an electric one though. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Mick,

The jack is a typical twin arm screw extender type fitted with a gearbox on a 12 Volt DC motor which has a up/dpwn switch on the end of the remote cable. Lifting capacity is 1000 kg. It works very well, and I plan to use one in another application! I will take some more pics soon.

Clear skies...

[Radar]

The jack is an awesome idea Shev. How long until this dome is completed?

Looking forward to seeing some pics of this. Good luck with the weather mate.

Cheers

Ray

[A.S.I.G.N_Baz]

Well done there Shevill!

Look after your health first, then keep at it mate.

Impressive work so far....

Baz.

[Draig]

HI Shevill,

Hope you get well soon.

What's this Antartic Midwinter Festival?

Cheers Colin

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Folks,

Here is a link to check out the details of what it is all about, an all inclusive family program of events spread over various locations. I am invloved with the 2-day week-end, I have a display booth "Southern Cross Observatory: and I will have lots of display to do with amateur astronomy in Tasmania, including telescopes, cameras, TV displays, cameras in action, posters, star mapps all that sort of thing, promoting Sky and Space Magazine.

I also have to give a talk on Aurora in the science section, for which I am preparing a Power Point presentation etc.

Any reference to the Astronomical Society of Tasmania in the program of events - is an error and should read "Southern Cross Observatory", as I am not representing the AST. Event organisers are so used to me as AST President (no longer) and they just use what they all still have on file.

http://www.antarctic-tasmania.info/

I am selecting some aurora images to get printed on a big diplay vinyl - I hope - if I ever finish processing these big image files. Some are 137 MB! and I am still under par, got to see the Vet later this week.

Clear skies...

[wakaleo]

Gidday Shevill. Get well soon mate.

Amazing effort going into the dome, and that electric jack is a terrific idea.

Jim

[Draig]

Hi Shevill,

That looks like it will be an awesome event.

Good luck with that and the Vet.

Cheers Colin

[Radar]

How's the dome coming along Shev? Any more progress? I know it must be freezing there at the moment. Jason had pics of snow from Tassy this week, ouch!

Ray

[hpcoolahan]

Well had to go and find this thread and just see how the progress is going .
so Shevill, hows it going??? lol

Are the petals of the observatory up and running ?

I cant wait to see how the progress is going.

Clear Skies and Happy building.

Patrick

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Pat,

Sadly, progress has really slowed over the winter/spring months with the petals, they are almost finished as individual petals, a lot of work on each one. We have our usual spring weather, gales force winds etc, so the top is covered with a big tarp. I have done more work on the pier, in that the inner section now raises & lowers 450mm. The Alhena EQ head and support column is installed and alignment is a breeze.

I need several fine windless days and a mate to help me install each petal, which will be tedious to get them all exactly right, a little more tricky because the top of the walls are 2.5 m high. I have to fit an external octagonal timer frame of exactly the right thickness to hinge the petals to.

So that the system is waterproof, the base of the petals need to overhang the walls, and its here that it all gets tricky.

I will keep you posted. I am also very busy with other projects and little time to spend on the forums, other than an odd post when I have something worth posting.

Hope all is well with you and your observatory,

Clear skies...
Shevill

[beren]

Good luck with it Shevill, look forward to reading about further progress {plus any thoughts and images with your cooled DSLR}

[Tenacious Del]

are petals like the panels on bloodhounds observatory?

good luck :thumbsupmate:

[AstroTasmania]

Hi,

The OctaDome is totally different to anything you may have seen, it is my own design & construction. Check out the link below for a pictorial description. Petals open individually either to give me a small aperture or all open for full 180 degree sky views when taking fisheye shots.

http://picasaweb.google.com/AstroTasmania/OctaDomeConstruction2007


Eight triangular cream colorbond sheets with folded edges, inside lined with 3 mm thick foam as insulation. Now ready to attach the 4 lengths of inner aluminium U channel strips to stop any bending. Quite a lot of work, to be repeated 8 times, and uses a lot of materials. The base of each triangle has 3 flat hinges to attach to an outer timber section so that each petal overhangs the walls to keep it water proof etc.

Clear skies...
Shevill