My Outdoor Pier: Going Permanent!
Expanding My Observatory: Building an Outdoor Pier!
After snagging a second-hand EQ6 mount and a Skywatcher Evostar 120/1000 refractor, I decided it was time to set up a new pier right outside my observatory. The main idea behind this new setup is to allow for visual observing while the main observatory runs its automated imaging sessions. It’ll also be perfect for solar observing! A huge shout-out to my dad, who handled all the construction while I was away!
Time to dig the foundations!
Rebar in place:
Going up, up, and away…
The pier’s all done! Now, we wait for it to cure:
Plastering complete:
Paint’s on, and the mount is perched on its temporary wooden plate:
First light with the Evostar 120/1000 in ‘solar observing’ mode:
And here it is with the APO 80/480 triplet and ZenithStar 66mm side-by-side, ready for DSLR astrophotography:
To keep all this precious gear dry year-round, I also set up some new shelves inside the observatory:
UPDATE 11/02/2016: A BBQ cover now keeps the mount safe from the elements…
New electrical box:
