ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

[AsignObservatory]

Wasn't really sure where to post this...all in the pursuit of astrophotography....


Finally!!!

Wowee, the plan is coming together! A while back I sent my design concept and dimensions to a building engineer. A couple of weeks ago I received the engineer drawings for the structural support. The drawings look fantastic, hi-tech and very professional. And get this, the awesome guy did it for free! Last week I started buying steel and cutting, drilling, welding and assembling.

The very next day, I got a message from a company called Diversified Computing and Consulting. They have very generously donated $500 to get the observatory started and have pledged $500 every month for the next six months! Wow! I am blown away and was really lost for words. Such generosity is rare and I am sure that future patrons of this resource will be very grateful. I know I am!

I also got a $100 donation from a troop-commander of mine from my army days, two astronomy mates, a church friend, plus a pledge at tax time from my insurance broker! There’s a long way to go, but all this certainly helps! At any rate, it gets it all moving and that’s often the hardest part.

This week I have bought the bearers and cut them to size, cut the support studs and cut and drilled all the joining brackets. The welder is coming tomorrow to weld all the brackets on then I can start bolting it and erecting it!! WOOOHHOOO!!

To keep up with progress, Here's a link to the project.

[chicagojohn]

Good luck, mate. I am totally in love with the idea, and I cannot wait to see images from ASIGN Observatory II.

...a veritable Jodrell Bank, and this from a septic tank yank

ps... is the moon upside down from there??

[AsignObservatory]

Good luck, mate. I am totally in love with the idea, and I cannot wait to see images from ASIGN Observatory II.

...a veritable Jodrell Bank, and this from a septic tank yank

ps... is the moon upside down from there??

LOL. Thanks mate. No, the moon is the right way up here...it is the NH that has it all wrong.

Baz.

[Waterwings]

Congrats on the progress and the donations, Barry!

[Bushhed]

Looks and sounds like an awesome project. Much success to in reaching your goal. Can't wait to see the results of the build and cool space photos

[AsignObservatory]

Thanks guys! This one is going to be so much better than the last one!

Baz.

[AsignObservatory]

Slowly getting little bits done at a time now. I only get about an hour of daylight after work at the moment, so it's frantic activity the moment I get out of the car.

Progress so far.

[AsignObservatory]

WOOHOO! The Bearers are up! It took a few hours today and into the night, but the hardest part (heaviest) is done!

Progress report here.

[chicagojohn]

So is that what they call the "milky way"; our galaxy? Cool shot in any case, and I can't wait to see more.

[yellalablady]

Just seeing this, Baz. It's so good to see a plan coming together.

[Lovin-Our-Life]

Congrats to you and it's great to see all the support you are getting.

[AsignObservatory]

Ta gang. I'll keep you posted.

Baz.

[Skippy]

Ta gang. I'll keep you posted.

You better, even if I can't see all the details.

[AsignObservatory]

You better, even if I can't see all the details.

Not sure what you mean by this? Can't see the details on my site?

[AsignObservatory]

It doesn't look like much, but I got a heap done today on the observatory. Tomorrow all the studs go up. I thought I would jump in the photo and stand still for 30 seconds tonight to give a sense of scale. (I'm 6'2)

[AsignObservatory]

This weekend was a marathon of time available for building. By doing some extra cash work after hours and with help from some awesome people and generous givers, I managed to get together enough funding to buy the wall-framing.

Click here for construction update.

Below: Studs in place - with some minor plumbing (vertical alignment) to be done on each before they are screwed to the flexi-track top and bottom.

[AsignObservatory]

Article in the Canberra Times this morning. Page three.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-...805-23o7v.html

[AsignObservatory]

[AsignObservatory]

[Leonie]

Baz that is fantastic, so pleased you got the funding too, what a difference that makes

[AsignObservatory]

Baz that is fantastic, so pleased you got the funding too, what a difference that makes

Thanks Leonie. The donations have helped a lot. Even the smallest donation bought me a box of bolts. I've been getting some handyman and photography work after hours from time to time too, so that extra cash is pushing it along nicely.

Baz.

[chicagojohn]

Great! Thanks for the update.

[AsignObservatory]

Floor support ring on and floor joists assembled!


The Southern Cross watches over the construction of ASIGN Observatory II.

[Waterwings]

Appreciate the update, and it looks to be shaping-up now. Congrats!

[AsignObservatory]

Ta Greg!

Here's this afternoon's progress. External walls on! Latest update http://www.asignobservatoryii.com/ob...nstruction.htm

[Edvins]

Hi Baz...just now checking out your thread.

Pretty amazing build...really cool.

Be looking forward to seeing the photos you get of what's "out there"

[AsignObservatory]

Ta mate!

Here you go then.

[AsignObservatory]

Here's a video of the dome rolling.

[AsignObservatory]

One small task at a time. Today my goal today was to build a door frame and door to fit it, out of steel.

Done.

[chicagojohn]

It is a lot of fun and very interesting to see this project progressing step-by-step. I'm looking to future installments, and especially to seeing the first images from outer space!!