Small Astronomical Observatories: Amateur and Professional Designs and Constructions

228 Pages·1996·8.573 MB·English

by  Dennis Allen (auth.), Patrick Moore (eds.)

Practical Astronomy
Springer
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Other titles in this senes
The Modern Amateur Astronomer
Patrick Moore (Ed.)
The Observational Amateur Astronomer
Patrick Moore (Ed.)
Telescopes and Techniques: An Introduction to
Practical Astronomy
c.R. Kitchin
Amateur and Professional
Designs and Constructions
Patrick Moore (Ed.)
, Springer
The cover shows the glass-fibre-domed observatory built by Brian
Manning (Chapter 12)
ISBN-13:978-3-540-19913-7
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Small astronomical observatories: amateur and professional
designs and constructions. - (Practical astronomy)
l.Astronomical observatories 2.Astronomical observatories -
Design and construction
I.Moore, Patrick, 1923-
522.1
ISBN-13:978-3-540-19913-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Small astronomical observatories: amateur and professional
designs and constructions 1 Patrick Moore (ed.)
p. cm. - (Practical astronomy)
ISBN-13:978-3-540-19913-7 e-ISBN-13:978-1-4471-0999-0
DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4471-0999-0
1. -Astronomical observatories-Design and construction
-Amateurs' manuals. 2. Astronomical observatories-Great Britain-
-Amateurs' manuals. I. Moore, Patrick. II. Series.
QB82.G7S63 1996 96-13224
522'.I-dc20 CIP
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© Springer-Verlag London Limited 1996
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.
Typeset by T&A Typesetting Services, Rochdale, England
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Contents
Introduction
Patrick Moore ......... . ... ...... . ..... ix
A Practical Roll-off Roof Observatory in
Michigan, USA
Dennis Allen .. ... .. . . . .. .. . ........ . 1
2 Mount Tuffley Observatory in Gloucester,
England
John Fletcher . . ....... ............. 13
3 A Solar Observatory with a Slide Roof in
Jordanstown, Northern Ireland
Bruce Hardie .. .... .. .. .. .... ...... 23
4 The Edenvale Observatory in Edenvale,
South Africa
M.D. Overbeek ... .. .. ... .. . . .. ..... 29
5 A Roll-off Roof Observatory in New
Boston, New Hampshire, USA
Lawrence D. and Linda Lopez .... . ..... 37
6 A Suburban Observatory in Worcester
Park, England
Maurice Gavin ... .. ....... ...... ... 45
7 A Simple Rotating Observatory in
Nottingham, England
Alan W. Heath ... . .......... ....... 59
8 The Taunton School Radio Astronomy
Observatory in Taunton, England
Trevor Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 . . .
9 The Starlight CCD Observatory in
Binfield, England
Terry Platt . ... .. .... ...... . . ...... 75
v
.
I v Contents
10 The University of Hertfordshire
Observatory in Bayfordbury, England
C.R. Kitchin ........................ 93
11 An Amateur Observatory with a Glass
Fibre Dome
Ron Johnson ...................... 103
12 A Glass Fibre Dome for a 260mm, 1.9m
Focal Length Reflecting Telescope
B.G.W. Manning ...... . ....... .. .. . 115
13 ChigweU School Observatory in ChigweU,
England
A.J. Sizer ........ .... .. ........ ... 125
14 The Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Observatory
David Reid and C. Lintott .. . .......... 135
15 Patrick Moore's Observatory in Selsey,
England
Patrick Moore ..................... 145
16 A Deep-Sky Observatory
Jack Newton .... . ...... ........... 153
17 Worth Hill Observatory
D. Strange ............. .. ....... . . 163
18 Red Hill Observatory
Chris Plicht ...................... . 167
19 Powys County Observatory
Cheryl Power ...................... 173
20 A Large Run-off Shed Observatory for a
0.49m Newtonian
Martin Mobberley ............ .. .... 177
21 Tenagra Observatory
Michael Schwartz .. .. .... ... . ... .. . . 187
22 The Observatory at Birr Castle in
Co. Offaly, Ireland
Patrick Moore ..................... 199
Contents vi"
23 A Lancashire Observatory with a Glass
Fibre Dome
David Ratledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 2. 0.3
24 A Solar Observatory
Eric H. Strach .. ... . ....... . ...... . 215
25 The Carter Observatory - One That Didn't
Make It
John Watson ......... . . . . . ........ 223
Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 7 . . .
Introduction
Astronomy is still one of the very few sciences in
which the amateur can playa valuable role.
Indeed, amateur work is warmly welcomed by
professional astronomers. During the past few dec
ades the whole situation has changed; whereas the
average amateur used to own a modest telescope
and concentrate only upon various well-defined
branches of observation (notably Solar System re
searches, and variable star work), the modern ama
teur can make use of affordable but highly
sophisticated equipment.
Obviously, the serious amateur will need an ob
servatory, and while there are many books dealing
with telescope construction and use there are very few
dealing with actual observatories.
The present book will, I hope, fill this gap in the
literature. The observatories described here are of
various types, ranging from simple run-off sheds to
complicated domes; there are observatories designed
for studying the Sun, others suited to "deep-sky"
enthusiasts, others built for the benefit of radio as
tronomers or astro-photographers. In each case use
ful hints are given, and it is hoped that the would-be
observatory builder will find a great deal here to help
in the construction.
No two observatories are the same; each has its
own advantages - and its own drawbacks!
No attempt has been made at "standardisation" of
style; each author has been free to write in his own
way, and to explain the procedure followed and the
various difficulties encountered. Measurements are
given in both Imperial and Metric units, with author's
own preference coming first.
If you intend to build an observatory - good luck!
Patrick Moore
Dennis Allen
My family owns property up in west-central Michi
gan. This is an area known for its relatively dark skies.
It's a place I go to hunt, fish, and enjoy the occasional
clear night. Early this spring, I was treated to a whole
flock of clear nights. One problem: too much snow on
the ground. There was simply no place to set up my
telescope.
So this year, I vowed to build an observatory.
My original idea was to create a peaked roll-off
roof. This building would have a 12 ft (3.6 m) square
Figure 1.1 Dennis
Allen's roll-off roof
observatory.
r
2 Small Astronomical Observatories
wood floor and 4 ft (1.2 m) walls. Wide enough to
leave plenty of room for my 13.1 in (333 mm) reflec
tor. Whenever I got a bigger telescope, something
requiring more stability, I could always pour a small
concrete pad. I wanted something simple, practical,
and durable. But I didn't want to spend years plan
ning and months building.
I kept my design simple: a one-piece roof, rolling
to the north. Three inch (75 mm) caster wheels would
extend down from each truss and would ride on
aluminum channel. To keep the roof light, I'd use
corrugated sheet metal. The south wall would have a
standard 3 ft x 7 ft (91O mm x 2130 mm) door, cut off
at the 4 ft (1220 mm) mark. The upper 3 ft (910 mm)
section would hang from the southern gable.
Step one was to build a scale model. Most people
do not know what a roll-off looks like. A one-inch-to
the-foot (1:12) scale model helps illustrate your in
tentions (see Figure 1.2). You can obtain materials to
make the model from any model airplane shop.
As it happens, my father is a carpenter. I told him
my plans and showed him my model. I kinda knew
he'd help! He quickly drew up a list of materials. To
keep snow off the roof, he suggested a 6/12 pitch roof.
To maintain head clearance, he suggested using
church trusses. With 12 ft (3.7 m) church trusses,
the bottom 2 in x 4i n (50 mm x 100 mm) doesn't go
Figure 1.2 Scale
straight across. Instead, two 6 ft (1.8 m) horizontal
model of the
2 in x 4i n (50 mm x 100 mm) pieces connect to a ver
prospective
tical 2 ft 6 in (0.8 m) 2 in x 4 in (50 mm x 100 mm),
observatory.
creating an interior 3/12 pitch.