Anyone have experience of a Pulsar Observatory

I value both of your replies.

I like the decking idea - because it is likely to be less offensive to the other half because:

1) It's more natural and aesthetic to a small garden environment.
If the decking extended a little beyond the boundary of the observatory structure then on can add some garden features to it - I don,t know for sure but something like potted shrubs (I know I could also do that with concrete).

2) Having a concrete base for the entire observatory structure
would be harder to clear up should we ever decide to sale the house.
A full concrete foundation might make the structure more "permanent" and I'd like to avoid any potential planning permission traps.

But if there's functional benefit from a concrete base over wood then my pendulum of decision would swing back the other way.

3) Maybe easier to isolate floor vibration to pier than two concrete regions?

Michael - do you have any special flooring / covering over the concrete. I read somewhere that concrete absorbs water and that can bring dampness into the observatory.

Mark C.

I have a raised timber floor in the observatory.

You have valid points above.

I used concrete as I was also getting a concrete clab poured for a shed.
The observatory is positioned in a location which would not be ideal for a patio but is perfect for an observatory.
If I were moving house, I would remove the observatory, move the shed over to where the observatory is and put down decking over the original location of the shed.

In other situations, the decking would be easier to work with.

Michael.

You have probably had all your answers from here but I am also a member of a yahoo group - Observatories · Homemade Astronomical Observatories - it has over 2,000 members - they may provide other bits too - tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatories - just a thought.

Linda Lunan
www.astronomersofthefuture.net