Observatory Build Part 1

[@axelguillerand2284]

Vous floutez votre plaque d'immatriculation, c'est un bon réflex, mais pensez aussi à flouter le visage de votre petit-fils. Belle réalisation !

[@zaugitude]

How lucky that there were brake discs with the perfect sized hole! Looking forward to watching the rest of the project.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks, yeah that was a lucky fit! It’s all finished and working nicely now! Thanks for watching and clear skies 👍

[@IcemanAstro]

So awesome Simon! Glad your wife gave you the okay to build your observatory!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Isaac, yeah really pleased I got the green light😀 All stations go now! Clear skies!

[@stephencox3446]

Simon, this is a really good presentation to show others that you don't need to spend a fortune to achieve some thing that is fit for the purpose. This video gives people inspiration to have a go them self. Well done.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Stephen, glad you liked it! I liked how it turned out, I should have said that the two disc brakes only cost me £21 with postage!! Part two will be out soon! 🙂Thanks for watching and Clear Skies!

[@pnjunction5689]

Nice! You simply can't beat free child labour 🤣Brilliant idea to use the fitting brake disks for the pier! Can't wait to see how the build continues.

[@SimonsAstro]

Many thanks! Yeah the child labour worked great! Don’t know who had more fun, him or me😀 Glad you liked it, thanks for watching, Ive started filming part 2! Clear skies!

[@Astrobloke]

Brilliant work mate. Looks like a fantastic Obsy you are going to build there. Very good video showing all the stages mate and the pier looks great. Love the colour. Good luck and clear skies

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Glenn! I always said,,if I ever build an observatory, It’ll have bells and whistles mate! I’m already planning where the coffee machine is going 🤣

[@Astrobloke]

@@SimonsAstro perfect. I look forward to the Grand tour

[@SimonsAstro]

@@Astrobloke it’ll be my pleasure 😀

[@JoesAstrophoto]

Great video and congrats on the obsy build Simon! I actually used a disk brake for my adapter as well and it’s worked great. Really looking forward to the next part in the series.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Joe much appreciated! Yeah I saved a fortune, I bought one from Germany ready made £211, but they couldn’t ship it! So I went down the disk brake method, £21 for two! Clear skies!

[@nightscapejournals]

Very exciting, Simon. That pier looks beautifully built - what a great start. Corey is clearly a legend - I could have done with him during my build!! 💪

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Paul! Yeah I went a bit mad on the pier, maybe one day I’ll put an EQ8 or CEM 120 on it😀! Corey is a legend, he is cheap labour 🤣 Clear skies!

[@scuevas6392]

That Pier came out Beautiful. Well done.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much mate👍

[@TheAstrocast]

Bahahaha absolutely love Coreys cameo, well done pop!!! Excellent work. I'm looking to do a similar sized build in my front yard. Have you finished? I'll sub so i can find the rest of the vids!

[@SimonsAstro]

@@TheAstrocast Hey thanks so much mate👍 Yes I’ve finished a while ago! If you check the description, click on more, then right at the bottom you’ll find links to all six videos 😀 Corey appears again in other vids!! Good luck with your build, there are links in description to gear that I used in my build, any questions, just ask 👍 Thanks for watching and clear skies!

[@paulomribeirojr]

My first reaction was: "Oh no, he forgot to consider the magnetic declination. So I went to check and it's less than a degree... everything is ok

[@SimonsAstro]

Lol, Thanks Paul👍

[@benc7102]

G’day Simon Pier looks fantastic Just wondering if you have disc rotor details or link to where you purchased Cheers

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey thanks Ben, if you DM me on my Instagram simonsastro_simonwallace71 I’ll send you a screen shot of all the details! 👍

[@alejandrohuerta988]

I had a good chuckle when I saw those nuts at the ends of the rods. As if anything reasonable will be able to pull those rods out of that concrete!

[@SimonsAstro]

Can’t take any chances🤣! Apologies for late reply!! Thanks for watching

[@tostativerdk]

Very useful and thanks for documenting your project! :)

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much for watching Per, you’re welcome, glad you liked it😀 Clear skies!

[@Wulfrune]

Footnote: No plastic shovels were harmed during the filming of this video.

[@SimonsAstro]

Lol, thanks, Corey loved it😀

[@MemoriesRR]

Best part grandson helping. He will view those pictures when he is in his eights.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks, yeah great memories for sure👍

[@peterdmatthews7427]

Hi Simon, great work on getting started. Did you take into consideration magnetic declination? Most mobile phone apps don't account for this, hence the reason builders and surveyors use proper surveyors compasses. I set my observatory in Australia to exact polar alignment and profiled it (sir set out) before I started.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hi Peter, sorry for the late reply! To be honest, I didn’t worry about magnetic declination or anything like that, but I did check it with my wife’s phone as well, and as luck would have it, the mount was pointing almost exactly at Polaris! Thanks for watching and clear skies👍

[@SteveJohnson-r1d]

Good job simon. What model motor were the brake discs for?

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much, the brake disc’s were for a Landrover Discovery! Clear skies!

[@cigarnationwarriors]

So happy for you. Well done, mate. 🔭👍👍

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much 😀👍

[@CosmuzzAstro]

Hey Simon. So happy to see you start your build mate. Thats a nice chunky thing. Love how the mount fits snug on the disk. How long did it take Corey to dig the hole? I see you had the important job of supervisor Haha!!! Looking great so far can't wait to see the rest of the build.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hi Ben, Thanks, Lol, Corey is in training mate, only took him 2 days to dig the hole!! Its coming along nicely, part 2 will be out in a couple of weeks! You know how it is! That pier would hold an EQ8 nicely🤣Doubt i'll ever get that approved by the wife though!😃 Can't push it!! Clear skies Ben!

[@lukomatico]

Cracking job mate!! - That's going to be able to hold a dumptruck on top, never mind a telescope haha :-D Really enjoying seeing this progress!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Luke! Yeah I may have went a bit mad😀 Clear skies!

[@frankguyton9596]

What model car are those brake rotors for I’ll be building a pier soon.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hi Frank, they are from a land rover Discovery, Euro Car Parts, £21 for a pair👍 Good luck with your pier!

[@frankguyton9596]

@@SimonsAstro I googled Land Rover Discovery rotor it shows from autozone a 70mm hole not the 65mm you show also the edge of the rotor is not solid like what you show in the video.

[@Kroller9]

What an coincidence! I am just building a pier by myself and used disc brakes as well. Perfect fit! Seems to be the same size for the CGEM DX

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey that’s great👍 They worked out cheaper as well just £21 for 2 where as the one I ordered from Germany cost £211, glad now the order was cancelled! Thanks for watching and subscribing 👍 Clear skies!

[@mikelockwood2104]

well done.....that is professionally done

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Mike, much appreciated 👍

[@mikelockwood2104]

@@SimonsAstro yes sir

[@robertoler3795]

nice work well done

[@SimonsAstro]

Many thanks Robert 👍

[@pompeymonkey3271]

Very neat job!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much, much appreciated 👍

[@LogansAstro]

How exciting. Wow that looks very cool. What a clever idea to use disc brakes - looks very pro. Definitely looking forward to seeing Obsy build Part 2. Just not sure about the use of child labour though 🤣

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey thanks Logan, yeah I’m getting excited about the build! I’ve worked out where the coffee machine is going 🤣 As for child labour, that’s all I could afford 🤣 (He loved it really)!

[@AstroRef68]

Perfect ideas

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much👍

[@nickambrose8606]

Very nice !

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Nick👍

[@davidemancini7853]

Hi Simon, fantastic job, i was wonder how high are your walls and how high is the pier with out the mount?

[@SimonsAstro]

High David, thanks for watching 👍 The walls are 1.8 m on the sides and 2.1m on the ends, the pier is Approx 1.1m before the mount! Hope that helps, clear skies!

[@davidemancini7853]

Yes, thx a lot mate

[@davidemancini7853]

How deep is the concrete pad? I am thinking to do mine 250mm, do you think is too much?

[@davidemancini7853]

200mm in the ground ground and 50mm off the ground

[@SimonsAstro]

@@davidemancini7853 My concrete pier foundation is 600x 600x 600 and it’s completely separated from the concrete floor of the observatory, so the pier doesn’t pick up any vibration’s from the floor. Concrete is an excellent conductor of sound and vibrations, especially if the concrete has steel reinforcing inside it. The cameras are extremely sensitive and any vibrations transmitted through the concrete, will be detected by the camera! Good luck with your build!

[@mariofulviocaramanico2906]

Helpfull video. Thank you for sharing your experience. Mario

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Mario, much appreciated 👍

[@OlliesSpace]

Hey Simon wow you obviously know what you're doing with this!! If ever I do something like this I know who's video to follow. 👍. BTW very good use of the Grandson. Look forward to following the build.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Ollie, appreciate it mate, I have been a builder for 35 years! Thanks what grandchildren are for isn’t it🤣

[@franksemi_modular]

Haha that's what I always said; nothing wrong with child labor as long it's free 😅 Great project 👍👍

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey thanks for watching! Yeah the kids love it really, give them a hole to dig! & it’s free!😀 Clear skies!

[@sevenskiesastro]

Nice work Simon. Great to see grandad and grandson working together. Clear skies.

[@SimonsAstro]

Many thanks! Yeah don’t know who had the most fun😀 Clear skies!

[@tullyfisher]

Successful negotiations with the "government"! Very lucky man & happy kid. ;)) Really cool and interesting video, Simon! I would love to do the same... Looking forward seeing more about your project! cs

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Tully, yeah I wore the wife down in the end😀 my grandson loved helping! Hope you get to build one, one day! I’ve got a way to go, but I’ll get there! Thanks for watching

[@tullyfisher]

@@SimonsAstro ;) 👍🏼 So, you've got the pier, the base. That's really cool..and the rest will come with time. Keep us updated, please.

[@skywatcherca]

EXCELLENT! Thank you for this video. Looking forward to progress videos. Thanks once again.

[@SimonsAstro]

You’re welcome, thank you Jonathan 👍

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Excellent Simon! Look forward to see the progress / end result!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Dave, still got a way to go, but I’ll get there!

[@Abaris42]

Hi Simon awesome video! Found it very useful, I am planning a permanent pier build for my observatory.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey Luke, thanks mate! Glad it was useful! I hope your pier goes well. I’m working on part 5 now😀 It’s nearly done! Clear skies!

[@woody5109]

Good stuff Simon, grandkids make everything better.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks, They sure do! Been filming part 3 today , Corey makes an appearance! Should be out in a week or two👍Clear skies!

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Great job there Simon it seems to be the season for observatory building this year, you'll love it when it's built as you can be up & running in minutes, I'm looking forward to part 2 of the build.

[@SimonsAstro]

Many thanks, yeah there are a few building observatories now! I didn’t want to be left out🤣 I’m keen to get the rest done now! Thanks, clear skies!

[@frosthastrophotography]

Nice video! I will surely follow your progress!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much! I’m following you😀

[@billblanshan3021]

That was a brilliant idea using disc brakes for your pier, I'm going to have to do the same on my end one of these days

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Bill, it did work a treat👍

[@10esseeTony]

Ingenious way to skirt the problem!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks very much👍

[@thelovin71]

That’s awesome Simon. That’s probably the best home grown pier I’ve seen someone build.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hey thanks Tom, that’s much appreciated mate! To be fair ive run my own building company for 35 years!😀 So I should really known what I’m doing! But this is my first pier! Glad you like it👍 Clear skies!

[@Tony-Elliott]

Great video Simon, very nice pier build, looking forward to seeing the next stage, seems most of the astro channels I watch are building home observatories this summer

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Anthony, yeah it seems that way! Must be the next stage of evolution 😀 Clear skies!

[@avt_astro206]

Wow, Simon, Observatory is So cool!!

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Avanteesh, I’m looking forward to getting it done now😀

[@AstroBoater]

Also prove you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a very solid mount! Great to see a happy kid with his grandpa 👍

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Mark, so true, the adapter I bought from Germany (which I never received) was £211, the two brake disks cost me £21 !! Corey loved every minute, so did I😀 Clear skies!

[@nbw555]

Well done mate it will be awesome, built one myself a few years ago it's a massive help.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Neil, yeah really looking forward to getting it done now😀 Clear skies!

[@astrojourneyuk]

Great video! How did I miss this! Enjoy the observatory.

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Astrojourneyuk! Glad you liked it! Part 2&3 are out now and I’m working on part 4😀 Clear skies👍🍫

[@astrojourneyuk]

That very likely is going to be the most study pier I’ve ever seen. I love the little helper too. Brilliant!

[@SimonsAstro]

@@astrojourneyuk Thanks mate👍

[@Mistr_A]

The use of the brake discs is genius! looking forward to the rest of the build mate

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Nik, yeah much cheaper as well! Clear skies👍

[@alangriffiths1432]

What is the size off the cardboard tube thanks

[@SimonsAstro]

@@alangriffiths1432 hi, it’s 11” 275mm Thanks for watching 👍

[@alangriffiths1432]

Thanks

[@alangriffiths1432]

Did you cut down the tube, or did you leave the tube the same size thanks

[@SimonsAstro]

@@alangriffiths1432 I actually cut about a foot off, I think it was around 1500 long and I cut it to 1200mm give or take an inch🤣

[@alangriffiths1432]

@SimonsAstro Thanks I will be asking more questions if you don't mind because I like your obviously the best

[@andyheseltine2248]

Can't wait for the next video..

[@SimonsAstro]

Thanks Andy, much appreciated! I’m working on it👍