From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: December 11, 2009 11:16:40 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] dollies...


Hi Ray, 

A pier like you had before your Observatory would be the next step! Piers can be mounted on these dollies I believe. The dollies only $194 USD + postage too!  I`ve looked at the possibility of a roll top shed observatory-even the possibility of mounting a dome on top of a shed seems my cheapest option;

http://www.siriusobservatories.com/product_range.htm

Sirius Oservatories seem to offer the cheapest option for a dome- alone @ $4000 here in Australia;http://www.siriusobservatories.com/product_range.htm

The mob you`ve used for your Obbo never got back to me so I guess the shipping to Australia was prohibitive!

This suggestion sent me I believe on a page by Milton last year is the best-cheapest alternative I`ve seen for a roll top Obbo & it`s in NSW although 600 km away; http://www.david-higgins.com/Astronomy/construction.htm

I`m encountering some opposition though as to a shed in the garden where I want it-even the aesthetics of a fully blown observatory are being questioned! If I could afford it & I can`t at present...


Mark.

On 12/12/2009, at 4:51 AM, Ray Byrne wrote:

Hi Mark,


I had a wheely Dolly made by and engineer friend years ago when I had an LX200 10" which I too kept in my garage. It was quite good better than humping out all the stuff seperately but it really isn't a patch on a permenant installation. Honest mate make some sort of obbo you won't regret it. Run-off roof, run-off shed, dome they really make a difference.


Take a look at the cloudynights observatory forum they've done everything you care to think of.


Maybe have it in your mental "wish-list" I got my dome by taking my pension early, all I need now is a clear night (haven't literally had one since September).


ATB


Ray UK





On 11 Dec 2009, at 17:31, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Milton & others,
I`m dreaming about one of these for next year..http://jimsmobile.com/buy_wheeley_bars.htm#Universal
One of the Medium Sized Universal Wheeley Bars, down the page a bit
would enable me to wheel my mount/scope in & out of the garage at
will. This & perhaps a paver pad for the scope would be goals for next
year! I`m a bit stuck here if I want to take a trip away or if it
rains really seriously. The number of basically, strangers being
invited in & out of the place by other family members has me very
nervous about leaving the scope unattended even for a day. These same
family members are inclined to go out at the drop of a hat & leave my
gear unsupervised. The Telegizmous scope cover is working well in
ordinary conditions as to keeping the scope (a C9.25 on a CG-5 mount)
dry. I have another tarp wrapped around the tripod base if it rains at
all. With the dolly I`d have the added option of bringing the scope
inside the garage & by setting up markers for polar alignment I could
perhaps have it ready again with a minimum of adjustments. These
dollies will allow you to bolt the scope down again where you had it
before. I`m very cagey about my polar alignment now-once achieved I`d
like to preserve it!

Mark.