Buena Vista Observatory

Observatory built during the summer of 2005.

I'm hoping to get more of the interior finished this summer, I've started on the walkways to the door, and to my new shed. The roof motor is working great! a video of the roof opening. The roof motor is from Backyard Observatories.

This is a pictorial history of the construction of the roll off roof observatory. I've wanted to build something like this for a very long time! It's very exciting to get to working on it.

The observatory is in Shingle Springs, which is about 30 miles east of Sacramento, California, up in the foothills at an elevation of 1,650 feet.

Many thanks to my neighbor for being kind enough to turn his porch lights off while I take pictures!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Old Pad and Trees

This is the old newtonian mount pad, and two Locust trees, that spray sap all summer (not good for expensive optics), drop thorny twigs (not good for my dog's feet), and block the view to the south.

Cut down trees

Several problems solved

The Pier Hole

Approximately 24" x 24" by 44" deep. I'd almost reached my target depth when I hit a huge rock covering the entire bottom on the hole, so the whole thing is sitting on the rock now.

Pier is Poured

With the Astro Pier mounting kit in place, the pier is all poured. It sticks out of the ground a bit to match where the floor will be, since the ground slightly slopes.

Forms

Getting ready to pour the concrete for the floor. The pier cement will be isolated with 1" thick foam. The pier concrete also has a 2" PVC pipe that comes up in the middle of the pier for wires from the computer. I also have a power outlet in the pier concrete.

Concrete pouring day

My father in law helping out with the concrete. Notice the two PVC pipes to carry wires under the floor to the computer.

Floor poured

I put a board with nails embedded into the concrete for the warm room wall while the cement was wet.

Starting the framing

The walls are started

My dog

Checking to see if there might be some food laying around somewhere.

Walls are up

Framing about done

Siding going up

The pier arrives

I got the Astro Pier, and installed it with the MI-250 mount.

Pier Close up

The pier and the MI-250.

Getting there

The telescope it set up and ready to use (even though there is no roof).

Top View

I have one of the 4x6" beams that will hold the roof installed.

Roof beam

One of the roof beams with temporary braces in place to hold the posts up.

Metal rails up

I have both beams and the metal rails up in this photo. The older boards are still some temporary braces.

Roof base

This is before the 2x12's that will go on and cover the V groove wheels. The beams on the end connect with nails, and metal brackets that bolt in the corners for added strength.