The Maytag Repairman builds an ob...

[Bob_riggs]

Huh? Whazzat about?

Well, as moderator of this forum on ob's, I check in daily to see if anyone has commented on an ob, their ob, or anything ob related. Like the proverbial MR (co'mon, some of you are old enough to remember him), I feel like the loneliest moderator around...the last post was a year and a half ago, and it was mine...see what I mean ? It gives me to wonder if observatories are an obscure subject .

Guess its up to me. I have a project underway that someone may find interesting to follow. I'm putting an 8 X 16 floor down which will have an 8 foot dome at one end and an 8 foot warm room at the other. Its very similar to Jack Barne's beautiful ob which can be seen at http://home.comcast.net/~jackdanielb/ 'cept my WR will have a gambrel rather than a shed roof...snow load, ya know?


Here's a few pic's to depict (pun intended) progress to date. More will follow as I can beg, borrow and scrounge materials (a challenge in these interesting economic times). Comments and questions are welcome.

Clear Skies to all,

Bob

[budguinn]

Bob,

I know what you mean.....doesn't seem to be a lot of activity....I look at all new posts, but usually only post to the DSO section. It is interesting to see how many people will look, but not even leave a "it sucks" comment.....of course "it looks good and maybe you could do this" would be apprectiated, also.

I think you'll love having an OBS....it makes the setup for imaging so simple...turn on the computer and roll off the roof and you're ready to go.

Looks like you've gotten a real good start....with the dome it should be a lot easier than building the entire roll off portion. The roll off took me the longest to build......and I still think I need to change my channel iron to a v piece of steel....my mistake when I chose the channel.

keep the pictures coming

[Bob_riggs]

Hi Bud,

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement! I'd have gone with a roll off as I'm familiar with building them, but as fate has it my dark sky site and home are in a wind tunnel...literally! Still, given the necessity for a slitted dome its fabrication poses interesting challenges, so it really is more fun .

Wish I could help with your roll off situation. I only have experience with the SkyShed garage door hardware format. I have extra hinges and rollers I'll donate if you want to convert over .

CS!

Bob

[budguinn]

thanks Bob, I appreciate the offer....but I think the roof is a bit heavy for a garage door style.
It's really just a matter of buying the stuff and installing....won't be that difficult. I've just been busy with planting a bunch of trees and landscaping on our property here in Oregon.

[lknowlen]

Very nice facility.

[Bob_riggs]

Thank you, Loron. Welcome to AC!

Jack did a fine job on his. Siding is ready to go mine on if it ever stops raining. More pic's to follow.

Your webpage on the George H. Lutz Observatory is most interesting. Beautiful scope. Are you contemplating an OB to house it? Also, I really like The Sky Report. Do you maintain that?

Clear Skies!

[lknowlen]

Thank you for the comments. Yes the telescope remains outside most of the time but the tube is stored in the building in the background which houses two other telescopes. It is basically my observatory with a small office.

[Bob_riggs]

Ahhh, Loron, is the building the the background actually an observatory? If not, we have to figure a way to get that wonderful/beautiful scope under/in an OB. What would it take?

[lknowlen]

Small observatory facility with office along with workshop. You can see more pics at: THE GEORGE H. LUTZ OBSERVATORY's My Photos Photo Album - MySpace Photos

[Bob_riggs]

Thanks for sharing the pic's, Loron. Some very interesting ones, there!

I had "first night" in the ob a few nights ago. I'll attach a few pic's of the status quo. I have to have 6 foot walls for the warm room to attach and still give me sitting headroom, so the dob sits on a plywood box filled with sand. Yep, a sandbox...lol. Works great! For now, I have a tent frame with tarp over until I can get the dome fabricated. I have three lines to cast off and I'm up and running.

Clear Skies!