I'm thinking of using one of my 6" Jaegers objectives in a small, backyard observatory that I can heat in winter. A refractor is ideal for this, with the closed tube and objective situated outside the insulated, heated observing compartment. The telescope itself could be covered, retracted, or brought indoors when not in use. I had originally thought of a camera obscura, using the now unused swamp cooler duct leading from my upstairs hallway straight up to the roof, but that would result in much limited sky coverage, as well as snow removal problems. Keeping the observatory in the backyard makes maintenance much easier. If I had a south-facing window, I'd go for a Gerrish mount, but again that limits sky coverage- and I don't have a south-facting window, lol. I'm tossing the idea out for comment by list members. Thanks!
I set up a propane heater that is mostly for my dog, for one thing I can be sure that is where she will be sleeping. I put it outside under the rolled-off roof and it makes for a handy hand warmer.
I'm thinking of using one of my 6" Jaegers objectives in a small,
backyard observatory that I can heat in winter. A refractor is ideal for this, with the closed tube and objective situated outside the insulated, heated observing compartment. The telescope itself could be covered, retracted, or brought indoors when not in use.
I had originally thought of a camera obscura, using the now unused swamp cooler duct leading from my upstairs hallway straight up to the roof, but that would result in much limited sky coverage, as well as snow removal problems. Keeping the observatory in the backyard makes maintenance much easier.
If I had a south-facing window, I'd go for a Gerrish mount, but again that limits sky coverage- and I don't have a south-facting window, lol.
I'm tossing the idea out for comment by list members.
Thanks!
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On 7/28/11, erikhansen@thebluezone.net <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
I set up a propane heater that is mostly for my dog, for one thing I can be sure that is where she will be sleeping. I put it outside under the rolled-off roof and it makes for a handy hand warmer.
My plan is to make this small and well-insulated enough to heat it with a blow dryer set on low, less than 1000 watts. I will sit inside, in a tee-shirt, warm as toast. Maybe big enough for 2 people, at the most. Could even be portable, transported in a pickup bed if needed.
OK, the idea is moving along a bit. I'm thinking of using the 6" f/10 refractor on a Gerrish mount. The telescope OTA would be carried out and slid onto it's cradle before each observing session, and removed afterwards. The "observatory" building itself won't even require a roof that opens. The only opening besides the entry door will be the portal that the OTA fills when installed, parallel to the earth's rotational axis. It will have it's own door when the telescope is absent. I have a 9" minor-axis elliptical flat that is perfect for this application, so I can go with a larger OTA in the future, if desired. The flat would probably be removed when not in use, as well. The RA drive will be inside the building. DEC motion will be achieved by a long shaft running parallel to the OTA, with the motor (or hand wheel, I haven't decided yet) inside the building as well. So I still have to carry out an OTA and flat, but no mount. And I can switch on the heat while I'm installing the optics so it's warm and toasty when I sit down to observe. Stay tuned.
participants (2)
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Chuck Hards -
erikhansen＠thebluezone.net