Gonna build my own observatory

I've seen many examples here of fine DIY observatories and have decided that i'm gonna attempt to build my own. I am however not gonna undertake building a dome or a sliding roof Ob.

I am simply gonna lay a few paving slabs (i'm thinking 1 metre X 1 metre) in the middle of my back garden (as to maximize viewable sky). Basically i just want a steady platform for my scope and bins and enough room so that i can move around them. Also a nice sturdy deck chair of some sort will be purchased.

I shall name it Flatstone Observatory.

I WAS thinking of buying a domed septic tank and converting it..............but that just seems like too much hard work. I really aint a manual labour kind of guy.

What do you all think?

The reason i aint buying a dome or sliding roof Ob is for security reasons. If i have either of those in my garden, anyone who is in my garden at 4am and up to no good will assume there is expensive equipment inside and break in and steal my scope and anything else i may leave in there...........so that is not really a viable option.

Damn those dastardly people who are up to no good at 4am wandering through peoples back gardens.

The reason i aint buying a dome or sliding roof Ob is for security reasons. If i have either of those in my garden, anyone who is in my garden at 4am and up to no good will assume there is expensive equipment inside and break in and steal my scope and anything else i may leave in there...........so that is not really a viable option.

Damn those dastardly people who are up to no good at 4am wandering through peoples back gardens.

err...a dome, I can understand. But a roll-off-roof observatory can be disguised as a shed quite easily.

Hi Paul,
Here is the one I built with a help from a few friends cost 1500 Euro

webtreatz.com/content/view/54/66/

Thats true. Many roll off roof Obs do indeed look like ordinary shed (i guess that is basically what they are).

LOL....Last night i saw such things as glow in the dark dome Obs. WHY would anyone want a glow in the dark Ob? It's not like you are gonna lose the thing.

Nice one Carl. Now i know who to call if and when.

Actually i do have a small garden shed outside which i'm sure with not too much trouble can be converted so that the roof panels flip open or roll down from the apex on some kind of pully system. If i could do that..........it would be great. The whole shed came as a flat pack and had to be put together......so i'm sure the roof convertion would be a piece of cake to a person who knows how to do it.

It could probably be done for a couple of hundred euro. I dont care about such luxuries as heating and light. I could put a small table and chair inside decorate it with star charts and such things.

Now my mind is racing with ideas.

Here is another design from kevin Sweeney Great Astrophotographer
www.sweeneysite.com/mysetup.htm#My%20Homebuilt%20Observatory

Carl that roof design looks just the job for me (granted the roof on my shed is smaller). The support props attached to the side which take the weight of the roof panels look simple enough. I'm guessing they work by gravity (Just unlock them from the side and the roof slips open on tracks)?

I LIKE IT.