Observatory

"Fourth day Observatory!"

A dual hub or "split reel" winch may be
what you want to help open your roof!

Dutton-Lainson dual hub winch #WG1500SR, download video's below!

Here is a diagram provided by Mike Zeidler. Visit his site and observatory page here! This shows how one pulley can both open and close a sliding roof observatory.

You should be able to order a split hub winch from a local boat dealer or an industrial supply house.

The other parts are 1/4" aircraft wire and matching size pulleys. We found the cable, pulleys, turnbuckle and bolts at Ace hardware! (Our winch is actually mounted to the side wall you may notice in video #3 below.)

All these purchased at Ace hardware!

Quick Video's!

Video mpeg #1 of the entrance to the observatory (2 min download @56k)

Video mpeg #2 of the split hub winch (3min download @56k)

These movies need an mpeg player, your computer probably has one built in.
If not, Real 1's free player works www.real.com

Tired of setting up your scope and aligning north?

Build your own observatory and be ready at a moments notice to observe deep sky treasures, planets or if you are lucky, a reasonably visible comet!

(Plus you'll make more room in you garage when you move your equipment!)

Tip #1 Read up on shed building. Get some books on shed building from your local library. If you have ever built a shed, deck or any framing this project will be no problem for you. If you have not built these things but are handy with a hammer and have some patience, you CAN build it. (If you build it, they will come!). Tip #2 Check with your local authorities on building codes. In our area a "Shed" under 120 square feet does not require a building permit! If that holds true in your area, you could build up to a 10 x 12 foot building without extra expense etc of a larger building. Foundations are another variable that is more time consuming in colder climates, again check with your local building code authority.

Tip #3 It is better to overbuild size-wise and strength-wise. Remember, make everything level and plumb!!! Remember the Observatory at MessierMarathon.com headquarters is merely a nice shed with a sliding roof. You can build a similar one!!! Aligning everything becomes important when you want a roof to roll and not get "pinched" etc. Tip #4 Get a thick pad of graph paper (you know the paper with small squares so you can sketch out your ideas as each square equals 1/2 foot or 1 foot or...).This is a must!!! There are different design ideas in those library books. Pick one that you can imagine building and modify the plans with a rolling roof. Check your local hardware stores for wheels and parts you can use. Of course you can copy our design if you like.

Here are some of the pictures as we built

MessierMarathon.com's

Fourth Day Observatory

1.

Foundation choices vary, make sure you are below the "frost line".

2.

4" x 6" x 12' beams topped by 2" x 6" x 8' floor joists. All this floor framing wood is "ground contact" rated to avoid rotting and pest problems.

3.

The joists have braces or "blocking" to reduce flexing. This will be topped by outdoor treated plywood (3/4") that is also ground contact treated, about $30 a sheet. Also shown, the beginning of a hole for the pier foundation.

4.

Wall framing goes up fairly fast and will impress your friends! Remember the building must be straight and plumb so the sliding roof will roll on parallel and level walls. Measure three times, nail once! Not shown yet behind building will be the rails and supports for the opened roof.

5.

Cover the outside in sheathing or plywood. Notice corner framing.

6.

We built the rectangular sides with wheels, lifted them up into place,
secured them, then added the roof framing.

7.

Possibly the most difficult part is building the roof on rollers. The order in which you put it together is important, especially if you are working alone. Make sure the roof is totally restricted from rolling away!

8.
After framing the sliding roof, we put sheathing (or plywood) on it,
and wrapped it in tar paper, then put shingle roofing on top.

9.
Building wrapped and ready to apply siding. Notice the "flap" with two hinges at it's bottom. This stays with the bottom 1/2 as the roof slides away.

10.
Exterior of "shed" observatory almost complete. You will have to get flashing and wood to fit so as to run water properly from sliding roof edges to outside walls.

11.
This is a "pretend" base for the scope hooked up to long threaded bolts
that will run down into the concrete pier. You must be able to polar align
the telescope base ( this base is like the top of your tripod )when you push this down into the wet concrete in the sonotube. Remember the top piece of wood will be removed and I will bolt my wedge down it its place...The top piece of wood is your "wedge bottom".

12.
Looking in the door you see steps on the right and a 6' tall pier. There is
about 3' high storage underneath for telescope boxes etc. Hey we wanted the extra height ok?!
Also notice the Wedge on the pier. You may want to buy the top 3' or so pier but this is much less expensive. Remember you need to adjust your scope level and East/West. We aligned
the wood "jig" (fake tripod top) carefully with Polaris and a level nailed to the north shed wall.

13.

Sunlit Pier

14.

Roof Half way open...

15 Ready to go!
Updated 05/13/2004
Please sign the guest book!

1. *Foundation choices vary, make sure you are below the "frost line".*	2. 4" x 6" x 12' beams topped by 2" x 6" x 8' floor joists. All this floor framing wood is "ground contact" rated to avoid rotting and pest problems.
3. The joists have braces or "blocking" to reduce flexing. This will be topped by outdoor treated plywood (3/4") that is also ground contact treated, about $30 a sheet. Also shown, the beginning of a hole for the pier foundation.	4. Wall framing goes up fairly fast and will impress your friends! Remember the building must be straight and plumb so the sliding roof will roll on parallel and level walls. Measure three times, nail once! Not shown yet behind building will be the rails and supports for the opened roof.

5. Cover the outside in sheathing or plywood. Notice corner framing.	6. We built the rectangular sides with wheels, lifted them up into place, secured them, then added the roof framing.
7. Possibly the most difficult part is building the roof on rollers. The order in which you put it together is important, especially if you are working alone. Make sure the roof is totally restricted from rolling away!	8. After framing the sliding roof, we put sheathing (or plywood) on it, and wrapped it in tar paper, then put shingle roofing on top.
9. *Building wrapped and ready to apply siding. Notice the "flap" with two hinges at it's bottom. This stays with the bottom 1/2 as the roof slides away.*	*10.* *Exterior of "shed" observatory almost complete. You will have to get flashing and wood to fit so as to run water properly from sliding roof edges to outside walls.*
*11.* This is a "pretend" base for the scope hooked up to long threaded bolts that will run down into the concrete pier. You must be able to polar align the telescope base ( this base is like the top of your tripod )when you push this down into the wet concrete in the sonotube. Remember the top piece of wood will be removed and I will bolt my wedge down it its place...The top piece of wood is your "wedge bottom".	*12.* Looking in the door you see steps on the right and a 6' tall pier. There is about 3' high storage underneath for telescope boxes etc. Hey we wanted the extra height ok?! Also notice the Wedge on the pier. You may want to buy the top 3' or so pier but this is much less expensive. Remember you need to adjust your scope level and East/West. We aligned the wood "jig" (fake tripod top) carefully with Polaris and a level nailed to the north shed wall.

13. Sunlit Pier	14. Roof Half way open...