Observatory Images


Name: Finished Closed Roof
Description: The nearly complete King George Observatory with the roof closed. The Observatory is 10x15 feet with a wall dividing the back 5 feet from the front as a warm room. The plans were based for the most part on SkyShed plans though I made alterations for the size, siding, warm room, etc.
Name: Finished Open Roof
Description: This image of the observatory shows the roof in the open position. Since the back portion is a warm room, the roof only opens back about 12 feet instead of the full 15 feet. The roof rolls on 30 high end garage door rollers and high strength garage door tracks.
Name: Top View Open
Description: This image shows the observatory taken from up on my house with the roof open back as far as the warm room. As can be seen in this image, though a bit tight, there is room for both scopes in there. The main room has been painted flat midnight blue but I still need to finish the warm room and put down the carpet.
Name: Floor Plans
Description: This shows the floor and walls of the new observatory as sen from abov (minus the tracks and such for the roll off roof). I will probably make soem minor mdifications such as increasing the "warm room" size a bit and setting the main pier a little more off center to the south.
Name: Pier Design
Description: The pier will be set on quite a bit of concreted, but the ground is a bit sandy so I have to ensure the weight helps to keep everything stable. Will probably lay gravel at the base as well before pouring.
Name: Connectivity Layout
Description: The observatory has a single Wireless repeater with a switch which connects it to the wireless network in the house, this then is connected to the three observatory computers via normal CAT5. From the primary imaging PC, a single USB powered cable runs from the warm room a 7 port powered hub. All usb connections including the cameras, GPUSB, and the USB-to-Serial hub connect to this single USB hub. The 4 port serial hub controls the mount, filter wheel on the camera, and also my Canon 300D.