My Backyard Observatory (FULL TOUR)

[@oneummah6795]

I am looking to build a back yard observatory. I felt I had to say that your observatory is the best that I have on social media, and I have seen loads. 👍

[@psegre]

Wow, that’s impressive, great job on the build. On your next telescope… I’ve got 3 Newtonians, they are good, F4-5 is great, but I recently bought the Skywatcher Maksutov-Newtonian, the MN190, F5, 1000mm, and it’s incredible for imaging. It’s twice the price of cheaper Newtonians, but unlike those, it is a sealed tube with a glass corrector plate that locks the secondary mirror in place. It is designed for photography, no sketchy coma corrector needed, and gives completely flat star fields.

[@jberganzo]

Loved you Observatory, really nice! I do have the same RC6 you have but branded as GSO and I love it. I can image anything with no issues including narrowband. I added the Astro-Physics CCD reducer that take it to f/6.-f/7 and I have no problem with it. For collimation I had the same struggle as you but I finally resolved it with a Takahashi collimator, a bit expensive but really worth it. I have collimated it just once, back in Nov 2022. I took me like 5 minutes and it's still holding it. I do use fewers spacers than you and I can get it focus with no problem making it also easy to balance. Keep the good work. it's really nice to see your progress moving forward!

[@Orbit_3_astronomy]

Looks real nice man. Pretty impressive home observatory you got there!

[@nivethofficial]

love it, learnt a lot for my new observatory. Still deciding on whether I should go for a dome or a rectangular structure. Dome will be complicated to build though, but will look more like an observatory IMO.

[@cjstrainsandadventures2124]

Awesome build!! I'm jealous! I'm researching building my own backyard observatory and so far, find your videos the most informative. A few questions, are you concerned you didn't sink the pier below your frost line? Do you think you may have over insulated the observatory?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

Thanks! I think my pier is pretty solid, if had no issues of polar alignment shift, i do re polar align every few weeks just in case, but as far as i can tell its as solid as it can be. The insulation works great but i will be able to tell once it gets warmer out, iv noticed it staying about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than outside temps so far, so well see how it preforms on the hot summer days. Thanks again and clear skies.

[@slapastronomy8646]

Nice setup!

[@tomservo3728]

I think you've thought of everytning (Pink Floyd-Learning To Fly) Awesome!😎

[@diannaantes5262]

😊

[@hermannschuenemann3231]

Nice observatory man... thanks for all the things shared

[@deepskytrekkin9600]

Great build! I designed and built a very modest observatory about six years ago. Yes, it changes everything. Takes about 15 minutes to set up for imaging and less than 10 minutes to secure everything and lock it up when finished for the night. Mine is a roll-away style and is about 10' long and 4' wide. Family and friends kid me about it being an Out House. LOL But that's ok. at least I don't have to lug my Edge8, CGX/tripod back and forth to image. I am 69 now and it was beginning to really beat me up to do all the astro-gymnastics. Just click on my picture to the left and it will take you to it.

[@randymcturnan2520]

I have a C-14 and am looking for ideas to make a permanent home for it. Yours is the best one I've seen so far. It's work to set the big boys up and having to tear them down after observing. Great video. :)

[@anthonyparrett2779]

Do you have a rough coat estimate, if you don’t mind me asking?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

All in all when it was finish I’d say I have about 1100 to 1200 dollars in the whole thing

[@aw7425]

That’s super. Congrats to you. Clear skies

[@Astrobloke]

Great Job Trevor. You've made a nice little obsy there

[@AstroPilotchannel]

Thanks Glenn! I’m loving it, just saw your new build video and I must say what an amazing undertaking with your new obsy plans, great work, good luck and clear skies my friend!

[@Astrobloke]

@@AstroPilotchannel thank you mate you too

[@cigarnationwarriors]

Trevor, which 13.8 V Power Supply do you recommend? I’m running the StellaLyra 8” f/5 OTA on a SkyWatcher HEQ5 Pro Mount. Thanks.

[@freddylq67]

Great job 👍I should try to build my own.

[@bakerfx4968]

Congrats dude! I want to build one in the spring lol

[@robertgrenader858]

CONGRATULATIONS, what an awesome build.

[@robertoler3795]

well done with some cleverness

[@woody5109]

Nice little setup cowboy and Marry Christmas.

[@smite748]

I would advise against using a portable heater those things could explode destroying your VSO. Just some friendly advice. GREAT BUILD! Concrete work is the best I’ve ever seen!!

[@jimmazurek5589]

Excellent build. Congratulations

[@egar4767]

Awesome build!! Impressive!

[@anthonygraham6449]

Fellow pilot here. I was watching your RC6 video. I have one and I am about to get the 2600 duo. What adapter did you use on your 2600 to connect to the rc6? Thank you in advance.

[@AstroPilotchannel]

awesome!, with the GSO focuser there are no threads on the draw tube, so i just attached a couple spacer rings to the camera to slide into the drawtube like an eyepiece.

[@anthonygraham6449]

@@AstroPilotchannel thanks 48mm or 54

[@AstroPilotchannel]

@@anthonygraham6449 42mm actually

[@anthonygraham6449]

@@AstroPilotchannel ouch.

[@fazergazer]

The 8” Orion F/3.9 is 800 mm and a nexus 0.75 reducer coma corrector is a great combination and it’s almost F/3 with that reducer/coma corrector (Starizona).

[@robertgrenader858]

Oh yeah, about Pixinsight. Get all of RC Astro's tools.

[@fazergazer]

That point about checking voltage drop on the 12V is good to consider

[@SimonsAstro]

Nice job on your observatory👍 Clear skies!

[@fazergazer]

This is a great build. I’ll likely make mine based on your design. Around my parts folks end up isolating the wood verticals from the concrete using a metal plate and screw embedded in the concrete with marine epoxy. That way the ground water doesn’t wick. Great ideas there, I’ll follow along.🎉 the mats are a great addition. I’m guessing that pier is sunk through the slab. Can you talk about how you ran the wiring conduit?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

Thanks!, the pier is actually just on top of slab with rebar through the pad, since I had such a large base, there was no need to put the pier in the ground. It’s completely solid and after heavy rains and everything there has been no shift at all

[@fazergazer]

Dylan O’Donnell has to hang bags of silica gel to suck up excess moisture. Some folks in the southern US run dehumidifiers and dump the water as needed. Takes power though.

[@fazergazer]

Do you have plans for your roof modification you can share (maybe on Cloudy Nights?)🎉

[@3vynjh]

Any recommendations on guides on how to regrease and adjust the backlash on the mount? I have an EQ6r-pro and been wanting to do it as it's a little old.

[@woody5109]

Couldn’t join your live chat?

[@woody5109]

What state are you in, just thinking weather?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

Kentucky, and Merry Christmas!

[@gwthomas52]

Very nice. What is the height of your concrete pier, and the height of your pier mount? I'm considering doing something very similar. Do you park your scope pointing up, or have you changed your home position so that the scope is parallel to the ground?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

Thanks, the pier itself is 53 inches I believe, the plate top adds another 4 to 5 inches. I do have to park the scope sideways parallel to the ground for the roof to shut.

[@gwthomas52]

@@AstroPilotchannel Thank you. This info helps a great deal. Any suggestions, or beware of ... for me?

[@AstroPilotchannel]

@@gwthomas52 your welcome! Just be sure to have your rebar coming up about 3/4ths of the tube, the have your J-Boots finish thr the rest from the top, I’d leave at least 6 inches of thread at the top to give you some room to work with for the pier plate. Just take your time getting your pier plate measured and drilled the way you want it. Good luck and clear skies! Check out the built series for the observatory I have on my channel, iv got one cover the full build of the pier.

[@gwthomas52]

@@AstroPilotchannel Got it. Thank you very much.

[@djmaster1real]

Awesome!