Posts Made By: Bryan Raser

I'm going to modify an Arrow Shed into a roll off roof observatory.
( The Oakbrook : 10' x 14' )
I'd like any ideas about reinforcing the flimsy sliding doors that come with it or even constructing/installing something completely different.
Any thoughts as to whether I should put entrance facing North or South?

My nephew has almost finished my roll off roof observatory. It's a modified 10' x 14' metal garden shed.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions or have installed any sort of alarm system for an observatory?

I've thought of just installing a car/truck horn that would go off if someone managed to break open the door. (I'm having my nephew construct a stronger door behind the flimsy ones that come with the shed) That would be fine when I'm around to hear it.

I'm wondering if anyone sells an alarm system (for boats, cabins, RV's and the like)that would work at a remote site in cold weather.

I was thinking of an alarm that would transmit a message to a dedicated pager or radio receiver, as opposed to signing up to a security service, so someone off site could be alerted when nobody's home(i.e. when I'm gone on vacation).

The observatory is in the barnyard of the family farm, as opposed to a remote site in the mountains. There's generally someone on the property most of the time, so I'm mainly worried about the relatively brief periods when no one is on the farm.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

I've acquired an old starliner mount. The RA axis has a Hurst AC motor drive.

Does anyone still make a stand alone drive corrector for ac motors?

I'd even be interested in constructing one, provided components easily available (i.e. Radio Shack or equiv.), reasonably priced and "hobbyist level" complexity. AND THOROUGH INSTRUCTIONS.

All my web searches are coming up empty.

I don't even have the pier ready, so I'm just looking for general info at this time-unless there's something on the market now that I should get while still available.

Thanks

Thanks

I purchased the 45 watt solar charging system from Harbor Freight.

I was planning on mounting panels at a 45 degree angle-I'm at 42 N.

After giving it some thought, I'm wondering if a steeper angle wouldn't give me better performance for the winter months.

Panels are advertised as weatherproof, that sounds like it's ok if they get rained/snowed on. I'm planning on framing some plexiglass-or chicken wire?- to protect from hail and lawnmower debris. Not finding convenient sizes off the shelf.

Thanks for the input.
Bryan

I have someone lined up to pour a concrete pier for me. I'm planning on 3 3/4"-10 bolts spaced 120 degrees apart.

Now I'm wondering. Would there be any advantage to putting in 4 bolts @ 90 degree spacing? I know 3 point support is the most stable(for mirror support and tripods), but wouldn't 4 be stronger? the telescope is attached to pier via adapter plate similar to Dan's pier plates.

Thanks.

I'm fixing up an old Starliner GEM.

It came with a 5 1/4 " worm gear on the shaft, but no external clutch/brake attachments(just a pair of threaded holes on the top and bottom hubs of the gear itself).

I'm thinking of anchoring 1/2 of a 2 piece shaft collar to the hub of the worm gear with a bolt or set screw.

I could then clamp the worm gear with fewer, more accessible set screws or shoulder screws with plastic knobs attached.

Q1: I was thinking of drilling the pilot hole in the collar 1st, then using that as a guide to drill pilot hole in the gear hub itself, with both collar and gear clamped to end of the dec shaft. Sound like a plan?
Q2: Do I need(and how) to shim the "fixed" half of the collar so there will be clearance to rotate freely when disengaged?
Q3: Obviously, I'm not an experienced machinist, is this plan feasible?

Thanks

I've built a storage case for my eyepieces. Just to make the project more interesting, I was thinking of wiring it for 12V heating element(s) or red painted light bulbs. My thinking was a case to "preheat" eyepieces to prevent/delay dewing or to store a dewed up eyepiece for drying out.
Has anyone ever tried this? What wattages would be needed to generate enough "dry air" in a (mostly)closed wooden box to be effective?
If this idea is totally useless, I'll just install some red light bulbs for ambient lighting. It'll be like the guys in Pulp Fiction when they open that briefcase.

Mice are repelled by mothballs. I guess I wouldn't want to use them near a mirror surface or optical coatings, but you could put a few in corners, nooks and crannies or especially in storage cabinets with paper, charts, books, cloth, etc.
Maybe around the outside perimeter of the building? Also the support posts.
Mice can flatten their ribcages, which is how they can squeeze thru the narrowest of openings-maybe stick some small
pieces in any gaps in structure, or along roof rails.
Of course, all this depends on your tolerance for smelling mothballs-but it might drop the local population more quickly-then use traps or cat for the long term.

I heard about this along time ago but have never tried it: Wear an eyepatch (sold at WalMart, about $2.00) over your dominant eye a couple/few hours(no cheating and make sure patch seals out all light) prior to observing.

It may be a little uncomfortable, but keeping one eye in darkness is supposed to help it dilate to its maximum. Theory being it takes time to achieve this.

I remember Orion selling an "astro eyepatch" years ago. Apparently didn't catch on, though. I'd be apprehensive using meds on an otherwise healthy eyeball.

Bryan