I Get Advice from an Architect on my Observatory Build

❤️ Patreon ❤️

[raytbrown]

Totally helpful interview/discussion. I'm not building an observatory; but his advice spans other backyard construction projects I have going on in my garden. Thank you!

[woody]

Humidity is a big deal, he’s giving you great advice there. In my sauna there is two screened holes in the floor and and one above the door that closes. When open and heat on, you can feel the air coming out of that top hole via convection. Concrete retains energy, my open air pier is set in concrete and that retained energy keeps my feet warm all night. Great video.

[joebar]

Very interesting discussion. I have programmed a RaspberryPi with an inner and outer temperature and rel. humidity sensor steering an air vent and an chain opener for a windows to decrease the humidity of my cellar. With each combination of temperature and rel. air humidity sensor you can calculate the absolute air humidity. It does only make sense to vent the cellar if the outside absolute air humidity is less than inner absolute humidity. So in winter times it is easy to keep the humidity on low values. But in summer such a RaspberryPi is a very nice feature. I have used that combination for years now. I would highly recommend it.

[DS-iuut]

On the shed (shack) that I'm using, I have the roof rolling off to the North. Several reasons for this, but one of the advantages is that after Polar alignment and depending on the direction that I'm taking images, it allows Me to roll the roof back and possibly get some of the equipment out of the weather. Plus in the South, definitely helps keep things drier from the Dew including Me.

[MichealPreston-yd]

Nico great video If I wasn't in a townhouse I would build one also. A couple of comments keep the concrete pier for the building. I would check with a local builder that you don't have any type of soil that could grab the pier and drag them up with the frost. Also with an unheaded building and no ground cover soil, grass just rock the frost can go deeper than the frost. I would maybe check what is used by the city or rural water for water pipe depths to prevent freezing of the water pipes. The comment on keeping the telescope pier free of the floor is what I've heard also. And depending on the soil I would definitely put this below all freezing ground. One last thought with digging out and vapor barrier and rock to hold it in place just don't create a bathtub that holds the water. Create a French drain if need be to a low spot that wouldn't back up into the space below the observatory.

[isjoshhere]

Great video. I'm in the process of building my observatory that will also function as a club observatory, here in Central Maine. I also purchased plans from Backyard Observatories. The 16ft x 24ft club observatory plan is what I got. Though I was a bit disappointed as the drawings lacked some detail and had no cut sheet of materials that would be used. I am going a different direction with the floor and pouring concrete pad with 2 sections boxed off to pour the piers so they will be isolated from the rest of the pad. I don't think the pad will warm up enough to affect using the telescopes. I am planning on two piers and a warm room. One pier for visual use with a club mounted scope and a second pier for my own astrophotography use (telescope and mount tbd). Pad should be poured in the next month, if weather clears enough for the concrete contractor to get caught up. Clear skies!

[lenn]

Im a non-native english speaker. So i have to concentrate really and focus to get all of the spoken content.
But boy. You guys have really calming and warm voices. I got a good nap while you talked.
Now im watching again to consume the actual talk. ❤

[kevindishc]

I for one am also in the same boat now, I’ve just recently started the hobby after almost a decade of wanting to since my undergraduate Physics days, and your videos have been a tremendous help and very insightful. Thanks for all the work you guys do for all us folks!

[JimNotCarrey]

As usual, there's a lot more involved in this than I thought! You want something that will last and do its job well throughout. Great video and conversations, Nico!

[backyardspacedude]

This might be the single most interesting video about obsy construction I’ve seen. Great conversation that goes into the reason obsy’s are built the way they are.

[canen]

Thanks for this great video! If I would have the space in my garden and a view, i already was digging some holes .. :D

[thomasvassiliades]

Really great discussion that touched on several critical points in constructing a roll-off obs. I built one (designed it but a carpenter did the real work) last year. One idea that has seemed to work is the use of a "soffit" on the inside of the observatory. It is constructed of two 2x8 boards (on each side) running the length of the tracks (in my case 3" garage rails and rollers). The two boards are connected at a right angle forming one half of a square where the two open sides face up and outward and the boards face down and inward. When the roof is closed, it provides added protection from two openings at the end of the rails. You can make this as tight a tolerance as you like realizing there will be settling over time. My main concern was snow here in Minnesota. BTW, there are many weatherstripping solutions that can block those end of the track openings without causing significant friction when moving the roof. Great stuff! Thanks again.

[greatpix]

This was an outstanding video because you're smart enough to get professional advice on the challenges that your location places on you. A lot of guys would build without thinking things through to that degree and have a lifetime of problems and regrets.

[rogergriggs]

My solution here in western Washington was a 12x12 vent in one wall and a small fan that I leave on year round speeds cooling to ambient and takes care of humidity. After 5 years or so I have no mold or rust problems.

[lukomatico]

Excellent video as always! - Really nice of Tim to help out with advice like that! :-D I can't wait to see what you build mate!

[DSOImager]

Excellent video! Learned a lot. Thanks to you both. CS!

[SimonsAstro]

Hi Nico, you’ve been doing a fantastic job interviewing people and visiting their observatories! I’m glad you’ve gathered enough useful information to finally build your own observatory! And share that information with others to inspire and help them to build their own😀 I wish you all the best with your build, and I’ll be watching your progress 👍 Good luck from here in the UK!

[Simon_PieMan]

Great video Nico. Looking forward to this build series. Plenty of tech details please!

[ruthlessrog]

Bro, im echoing everyone else... podcast! I know id watch the hell out of it. This was cool to be a fly on the wall for this discussion.

[matej.mlakar]

Very interesting talk, even if I am not interested in building an observatory. And I love stuff like this about astro community, because for many its just a hobby, so many have a lot of knowledge in other fields too, like Timothy here.