NOCTURNE OBSERVATORY - First night open under the stars...

Here is a link to the "First Light" image from the observatory.

Here is a link to the color version with data taken on the second night in the new observatory.

NOCTURNE OBSERVATORY - Ready for first use - YES!!!!

Inside, looking southwest at the still unfinished (until Monday) roof... 

Inside, looking northwest toward my home...

Another view...

Door and windows installed...

Dusk, and only half a roof... DANG!

Half way done with the metal roofing...

Metal roofing installation from inside...

From a distance...

Looking through the future door at the trusses...

Trusses installed and cross members in process...

Squaring things up...

Installing the roof box and rollers on the steel flats and angle iron...

The support brackets installed...

Installing the 1/4-inch thick steel "L" brackets to attach the beams to the structure...

View of the beams on temporary supports, looking east-southeast...

Horizontal beams installed on temporary supports, looking south...

Cast iron, ball bearing rollers from Albion

The roll-off roof box with rollers installed

Design details of the joint between the roof and walls, including the metal angle keeper that extends the length of the horizontal beams.  This design was graciously sent to me by Dean at the "Doghouse Astronomy" website.  His excellent website can be found at...

http://www.doghouseastronomy.com/

Many thanks to him for the great ideas.

The isolated pier block with Le Sueur pier and Losmandy G-11 mount

Northwest view of the interior walls with 3 window openings and the door opening

Southeast view of the exterior wall sheeting

Northwest view of the wall framing, looking toward our home

South facing view of the wall framing

This view shows the roll-off roof supports that were poured in sono-tubes with the steel topper installed.  The elevation of the support toppers is the same as the top of the concrete pad.

The view looking toward the house...  Notice that we did some work in the yard since those early photos.  :)
 
(Note - The other construction on the left of the image is our new swing set pole, which we poured at the same time as the observatory pad.)

The pad with the pier plate, 3" cord pipe, and power conduit in place... Saw cuts were made to prevent breakage. The pier block is 30x30 inches, and is 36 inches deep.

The pad after the main pour...  Notice the 3" pipe that was installed to allow cable to pass under the pad from the pier to the corner where my desk will be placed.  The two roll-off roof supports are also visible in the image.

(Note - The white post in the background is our new swing set support, which we poured at the same time as the observatory pad.)

The forms for the main pour... Approximately 4 inches of gravel were placed prior to the main pour.

This is the steel topper for the roll-off roof supports.  The "L" bolts will hold the top plate firmly into the cement, and the 1" top plate will give an excellent surface for welding metal posts, or mounting a bracket to hold wooden posts.  I am still debating which to use.

This image shows the pier block with the steel plate and attachment bolts for the pier.  These bolts are welded to the plate and go down into the concrete roughly 18 inches, where they bend for three inches to prevent any movement of the plate.   These bolts will be used to level the 8.25 inch LeSueur pier. The photo also shows the electrical conduit that will bring power to the mount.

The footing for one of the roll-off roof support beams... Yes! That is my belly and foot... :)

The observatory site with pier poured and 4 foot deep corner supports poured.

A view of the site with the pier and footers poured.  This view is looking south.

This was the view looking south when we bought the home.  It has a nice low south horizon, but the yard needed some attention. :).

This was the view of the observatory site when we bought the home.  I needed to put in a yard before I could entertain the thought of building an observatory.  The wooden fence line is running north.