{"id":1027,"date":"2023-10-20T11:49:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T11:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starscape-experiences.space\/?p=1027"},"modified":"2023-10-20T11:51:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T11:51:27","slug":"setting-up-the-observatory-final-touches-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starscape-experiences.space\/index.php\/2023\/10\/20\/setting-up-the-observatory-final-touches-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting up the observatory – final touches (part 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In previous posts, I constructed the wooden frame for my upcoming astronomical observatory<\/a> set up the walls and roll-off roof<\/a>, and prepared the pier for the telescope mount<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I am wrapping the construction by building the door<\/strong>, adding some rubber pads for the floor<\/strong> to protect the equipment in case it falls on the floor, adding a waterproof self-sealant tape<\/strong> to avoid water from infiltrating the building, and raising the roof<\/strong> a bit to solve an error in the design of the pier’s height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final observatory with raised roof, and self-sealing tape for making the base of the walls waterproof.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adding the door<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the door, I used any remaining materials from the construction of the building itself but it can also be built from a single OSB board 125×250 cm<\/strong> by cutting it into two parts: one 8×179 cm to cover the wooden post on the left and another 70×179 cm for the actual door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • 3x door hinges<\/strong> placed at equally spaced intervals to hold the door<\/li>
  • 1x sliding latch lock<\/strong> to secure the entrance<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In my case, since I used the remaining OSB parts I constructed a wooden frame to hold them together from 3x 200 cm sawn timber 4cm wide and 1.5 cm thick<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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    The door frame (incomplete) with the various OSB parts attached to its side.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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    2 of the door hinges installed.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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    The door in a temporary<\/span> position before adding the 3rd door hinge and adjusting its orientation to cover the entrance fully,<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Adding the rubber pads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To avoid damaging the equipment and also to allow me to place it on the floor safely I decided to use 20x rubber pads 50x50cm<\/strong> in size and 2cm thick. I used a saw to cut them.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Rubber pads to protect the equipment in case of accidents.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Self-sealing tape to waterproof the building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Despite the roof, I noticed that since the floor was flat water was infiltrating from under the walls despite using silicone to cover the space. To solve this issue I decided to add some waterproof sealant tape. Mine was 10m long leaving plenty of extra for future uses as the perimeter of the building is 8m. This provided a perfect solution as I did not notice any more water inside the building.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Waterproof self-sealing tape to fix cracks and avoid water infiltrating the observatory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Raising the roof by a few centimeters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The previous steps should have sufficed but an error in the design of the height of the peer meant I had to raise the roof by about 13 cm to allow for my EQ6-R mount and the scope to safely park in a horizontal position without hitting the roof. For this, I used the following materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • 6x U-shaped post supports 10×10 cm<\/strong> (width x height)<\/li>
    • 12x nuts and 12x washers for M8 threads<\/strong> (to fit the existing gate wheels)<\/li>
    • 4x sawn timber 200 cm long and 2cm thick<\/strong><\/li>
    • 2x OSB pieces 200 x 16 cm<\/strong> that will attach to the sides of the roof parallel to the direction of movement<\/li>
    • 1x OSB piece 200 x 30 cm<\/strong> that will attach to the wall corresponding the the close position of the roof<\/li>
    • 1x OSB piece 180 x 16<\/strong> cm <\/strong>that will attach to the roof on the remaining side (the one that slides outward when sliding it open)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      I cut all 4 OSB parts from a single 125 x 250 cm board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The entire structure can be further raised by 1-2 cm if needed. It currently leaves about 1.5 cm of free space between the scope and the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      As a plus, the new design (wheels attached to the U-shaped supports allowed for a smoother (faster) sliding of the roof. This makes it better suited for automation and I have some ideas which I will post in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      One of the 6 gate wheels attached to a U-shaped post support. The horizontal wood supports the existing roof.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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      The constructed extension with the existing roof sitting on it.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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      Another view of the constructed extension.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      You can watch a short video explaining the process of lifting the roof on my Youtube channel below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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