Setting-Up a Small Observatory: From Concept to Construction (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

242 Pages·2007·6.32 MB·English

by  David Arditti

Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series
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(ContinuedafterIndex)
Setting-up a Small
Observatory:
From Concept to
Construction
David Arditti
With a Foreword by
Patrick Moore
David Arditti BSc, MSc, PhD.
British Astronomical Association
[email protected]
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2007931612
PatrickMoore’sPracticalAstronomySeriesISSN1617-7185
ISBN:978-0-387-34521-5 e-ISBN:978-0-387-68621-9
©2008SpringerScience+BusinessMedia,LLC
All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part
withoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher(SpringerScience+BusinessMedia,LLC,
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection
with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information
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towhetherornottheyaresubjecttoproprietaryrights.
The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy
of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or
liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. Observing the Sun, along with a
few other aspects of astronomy, can be dangerous. Neither the publisher nor the author
accepts any legal responsibility or liability for personal loss or injury caused, or alleged
tohavebeencaused,byanyinformationorrecommendationcontainedinthisbook.
Printedonacid-freepaper
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Contents
1 Telescopes and Techniques........................................ 1
What is an Observatory?........................................... 1
Of Telescopes and Allied Equipment ............................... 5
Visual, Film or Electronic Observing?............................... 23
A Summary of the Options........................................ 29
2 The Observatory Site.............................................. 31
Selecting the Best Site............................................. 31
How Large Should It Be?.......................................... 34
Environmental Considerations..................................... 37
Statutory Planning Requirements and Building Codes................ 40
3 Types of Observatories............................................ 43
A Fully-Portable Setup............................................ 43
Removable Telescopes with a Fixed Mounting....................... 46
Run-Off Sheds.................................................... 48
Run-Off Roof Observatories ....................................... 51
Domed Observatories............................................. 56
Totally-Rotating Observatories..................................... 59
Novel Designs.................................................... 60
4 To Build or To Buy?............................................... 63
Costs of DIY and Ready-Made Observatories........................ 63
Adapting Commercially-Made Outbuildings......................... 65
Employing Others to Build Your Observatory....................... 66
v
vi Contents
5 Techniques of Construction........................................ 69
Tools............................................................ 69
Foundations and Stability ......................................... 70
Materials and Joining Them....................................... 74
6 Finishing the Observatory......................................... 85
Paint and Preservation............................................ 85
Flooring.......................................................... 86
Regulation of Temperature and Humidity........................... 86
Security.......................................................... 88
7 Organising the Observatory........................................ 89
Electricity........................................................ 89
Lighting.......................................................... 94
Storage of Equipment............................................. 96
Cables........................................................... 97
8 Comfort and Convenience......................................... 99
Observing Positions, Chairs, Ladders, and Platforms................. 99
Warm Rooms and Automation..................................... 104
9 Some Case Studies................................................ 113
Bob Garner’s Observatory: CCD Imaging
from a Converted London Garage................................ 113
Martin Mobberley’s Plastic Shed Adaptation
and His Telescope on Wheels.................................... 120
Olly Penrice’s Observing Retreat in the South of France.............. 128
My Observatory: A Combined Run-Off Roof
and Run-Off Shed Construction.................................. 136
Dave Tyler’s A Priori Fibreglass Dome.............................. 155
Norm Lewis’s Observatory: An Experience
with a Commercial Dome....................................... 165
Es Reid’s Solar Observatory........................................ 172
Richard Miles’ Compact Remote-Controlled
Photometric Facility............................................ 179
Mike Morrison-Smith’s Dobsonian Storage Box ..................... 183
10 Maintaining and Getting the Best from Equipment.................. 187
Collimation ...................................................... 187
Cleaning Optics................................................... 196
Adjustment, Cleaning and Lubrication of Mechanics................. 199
Preventing Dew................................................... 200
Polar-Alignment for Equatorials.................................... 202
Balance, Accessories and Extra Telescopes.......................... 204
Software ......................................................... 215
Final Thoughts................................................... 218
Contents vii
Appendix 1: Observatory Manufacturers................................ 219
Appendix 2: Useful Web Links......................................... 221
Index................................................................. 225
Foreword
Two books in this series, Small Astronomical Observatories, have been widely
read and used. This new book by David Arditti gives the full story – how to
chooseatelescope,howtoconstructanobservatoryforit,andhowtomakethe
best of it when completed.
Astronomyisthebestofallhobbies;itcantakeupasmuchtimeasyoulike–
or as little. In any case, you will make many friends, and give yourself endless
enjoyment.Tobeaproper“astronomer”youneedanobservatory,andthisbook
tells you how to set about making one. Follow David Arditti’s advice, and you
will not regret it.
Here’s to clear skies!
Patrick Moore
ix
Author’s Preface
Books on amateur observatories are quite rare, and most, if not all of them, in
the past, have taken the form of collections of articles on particular observa-
tories authored by their builders. The two books on observatories in this series
already published, Small Astronomical Observatories, and More Small Astro-
nomical Observatories are of this type. While useful, a danger of this approach
is that it leaves gaps, and can be inconsistent in style and coverage. Discussing
it with John Watson, the UK astronomy editor for Springer, we considered that
it might be time for a more systematic and logical approach to be taken to the
subject. Discussing it with other practical astronomers, there was also a feeling
that the coverage of the subject in print had not kept pace with the technical
developments that have transformed amateur astronomy, at least for some, in
the last couple of decades, and that the examples in print now seemed rather
old-fashioned.
This book is the result of these considerations. It became apparent to me,
in writing it, that the real-life examples are very important and informative,
and I have made these a major part of the book, while attempting to cover
most of the possible approaches to the amateur observatory, from the simplest,
cheapest, most portable and low-tech, to the most sophisticated and up-to-date,
and covering both the DIY angle and the commercial. It is not possible to be
completely comprehensive within a reasonable amount of space, and time to
research, so I have also done my best to point readers to further sources of
information on the subject, which will now come predominantly from the web.
I have tried to write the book which would have been most helpful to me, when
Ifirstsetaboutbuildinganobservatory.Ifithelpsanybodyelsetoachievetheir
goal of a practical and successful small observatory, I would be delighted.
Edgware, 2007
xi