Construction of the Double Star Observatory
(click on any image for a larger view)
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Lignt pollution and location map of the observatory. Nighttime skies are between 6.5 and 7.0 limiting magnitude.
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Blueprint of the observatory layout. The observatory is 14' x 26' in overall size, divided into a 14' x 8' control room and a 14' x 18' observing area. The observing area roof rools away from the control room roof.
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A "glass house" rendering of what the completed observatory will look like.
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Clearing the future Double Star Observatory site. The road will lead from the front of this picture, back about 150' to the observatory site.
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Clearing of the road is almost complete. The observatory site starts at the red flag in the center of the picture.
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The log tripod marks the site of the observatory.
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Looking north along the completed road to the observatory site.
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Looking south from the observatory site.
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The observatory site cleared and ready for construction.
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The observatory and roof support system will have a foundation of 14 concrete piers, 12 inched in diameter, with a minimum depth of 32 inches. The "X" marks the spot for the first pier to be augered.
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There will be four telescope concrete piers of 16 inches in diameter and a minimum depth of 48 inches. We augered the telescope pier holes with the 12 inch auger bit and later dug them out to the proper size.
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Setting the Sonotubes and support forms for the foundation piers. According to building code, each pier will have 3 pieces of #5 rebar wired together.
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All the observatory and telescope forms are in place and ready for the concrete pour.
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Two of the concrete telescope piers are designed to be fitted with steel piers for future telescope setups. The other two telescope piers were designed specifically for a Meade 14" LX200 and a Celestron 11" CGE.
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The form with the four j-bolts is the anchor base for steel piers. The form with the custom 3/4" bolts will support either the Meade or Celestron telescope mounts.
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The concrete truck is backing up the driveway. We calculated that 3.3 cubic yards will be needed to fill the tubes and order 3.5 yards to be safe. But we ended up needing two extra 80 lb. bags of concrete to fill the last tube.
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Just 1.5 hours later and all the concrete has been poured and the wood connector forms are set. The tricky part was getting concrete into the telescope tubes which are over four feet above ground level.
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A closer view of the telescope piers.
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The telescope tubes were filled with concrete to 1"-2" from the top, leaving room for final finishing.
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Concrete grout is poured into the telescope tubes to give a smooth and level final finish.
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All the piers are finished and ready for construction to begin.
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The start of construction.
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The deck beams are in place.
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Adding the floor joists.
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A late spring snow storm covers the La Plata mountains. This view is from 100' north of the observatory.
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The deck framing is complete.
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Another view of the deck framing...
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... and a final view.
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Adding the 7/8" decking.
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The deck is complete and ready for the walls.
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The pocket at the end of the long wall will hold the 4"x6" roof support beam.
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All the walls are framed, squared and plumbed.
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The control room, with window, is on the right. The roof supports will connect and be on the left.
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The roof support system is being installed.
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Adding the trusses over the control room.
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A look down the north side of the observatory.
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Finishing the truss installation over the control room.
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All the trusses are in place and the roof overhang is installed.
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Sheathing of the walls is almost complete. The trusses on the roll-off portion of the observatory are installed on the beams with the v-groove rollers.
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Sheathing of the roof underway.
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Installing the roof over the control room.
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Metal roof panels are in place.
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The roof over the control room is complete. The soffit has also been installed under the roof overhang.
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Ready to start siding the observatory.
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Getting ready to pour the pad for the observatory stairs.
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The concrete pad just after the pour. After a couple of days wait, we can add the stairs.
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The finished pad and stairs.
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The roofing and siding are complete. A few pieces of trim and some final caulking and the observatory will be ready for painting.
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Closeup of the engineered "cedar shake" under the gable.
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A full view of the entry side of the observatory.
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Painting is underway. Gravel is being placed around the observatory to prevent mud from spashing on the siding when rain and snow come off the roof. Stone is being placed around the entry to minimize mud inside the observatory.
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A closeup of the stone around the entry.
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A beautiful sight -- The final building inspection and a signed Certificate of Occupancy means that we can start using the observatory for stargazing.
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The observatory weathers the first snow storm of the season, which dumped over a foot of snow.
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The main observatory area is finished. Painting is complete and the control room window and door is in place.
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The piers are sealed at the base and the telescopes are all setup and ready to go.
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All four telescope/mount systems are in place, aligned and ready for stargazing
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This closed-loop roof pulley system quickly and easily moves the roof. Because the observatory runs on battery power, a manual system was chosen over a motorized version.
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Final landscaping is now complete. The road to the observatory now has a sign at the beginning and a parking area at the end.
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A view of the parking area, looking towards the observatory, with the dobsonian observing area in the background.
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A view from the dobsonian observing area looking towards the observatory and parking area.
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Outside rope lighting makes it easier to see, and safer, for guests visiting the Double Star Observatory.
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Rope lighting is install on both of the long walls and is individually switched. The wall lighting makes shutting down the observatory after a night of stargazing quick and easy.
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Stargazing from the observatory.
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