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.

[arthurking83]

All the best with it Baz!

[AsignObservatory]

All the best with it Baz!

Ta mate!

[Paul G]

Nice one Baz. Great to see it progressing!

[AsignObservatory]

Thanks Paul!

[crazymorton]

sounds awesome, you should try http://www.kickstarter.com/ for some funding. good luck.

[AsignObservatory]

sounds awesome, you should try http://www.kickstarter.com/ for some funding. good luck.

I 've been told about this before. I checked it out a while ago and unfortunately I don't qualify. I'm not in the USA and it's not an art project.

Thanks though.

Baz.

[Duane Pipe]

I would love to help out with the welding Barry but I don't think you would pay for my traveling expenses
Its looking good

[ameerat42]

Good to hear, Baz. I'm sure you'll have a heaps of APers trouping thru when it's (assuming it'll be public??) open.
Am.

[AsignObservatory]

I would love to help out with the welding Barry but I don't think you would pay for my traveling expenses
Its looking good

Welding's all done mate, you can breathe easy!

Good to hear, Baz. I'm sure you'll have a heaps of APers trouping thru when it's (assuming it'll be public??) open.
Am.

Not exactly open to the general public - that opens up all kinds of liabilities etc. It will be more, "by invitation" sort of thing. Contact me, arrange a viewing and we'll do it that way. A bit more private and controllable, "just friends" sort of thing.

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.

[ricktas]

Looking good.

[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.

[ameerat42]

Baz, arguably "first light" for this (stage of the) observatory.
Ongoing (I found these synonyms for the usual congratulations)
"complimentations on achievement, best wishes, compliments, felicitations, 'hear-hear', good going, good wishes, good work, greetings, hail"

Am.

[AsignObservatory]

Onya Am. Thanks mate!

Baz.

[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.

[peterking]

Awesome!
Gotta admit that if I won Lotto I'd be camped on that lawn and helping where I could.
Can't wait till you finish and we get to see some image from it.

[AsignObservatory]

Awesome!
Gotta admit that if I won Lotto I'd be camped on that lawn and helping where I could.
Can't wait till you finish and we get to see some image from it.

Here's hoping you win lotto Peter!


I just had a reporter and photographer from the Canberra Times come and do an interview with me on the new observatory. The story and photos will run in this coming Monday's paper.

Cheers and blessings,

Baz.

[AsignObservatory]

Article in the Canberra Times this morning. Page three.

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