I bet he’s the only person to see those oversights, great shed. Very professional interview. I’d push for automatic roof, its nice to see in the morning 😊
Thanks for the kind words! Kevin has a great set up. He's still opening and closing his roof manually but, fortunately, he doesn't have far to go to do it. :)
That was awesome!! I remember seeing the "dog shed" in Internet posts, and I had a chance to meet Kevin at the Almost Heaven Star Party many years ago, when he powered his imaging setup with his Toyota Prius. Really cool guy, and amazing setup. Thanks so much for all the awesome info!
I really appreciate how he gave full, specific details, even with the differences between the roller systems of backyard observatory vs system plans. And for Linda letting him give them. Really excellent!
Michael, I'm glad you found it helpful! It was great of Kevin to allow us in to see his observatory. I'm hoping to do more of these later in 2021 when we can all congregate again.
Great video Linda, it’s good to see how others have built their observatories from different parts of the world! I’ve recently finished building mine here in the south east UK. Slightly smaller, only one rig! Thanks for sharing this, just subbed to your channel😀 Clear skies!
Thanks so much Linda. Really some useful information in there. It gives me hope that my hole in the sky might be a candidate for an observatory and a candidate for some pruning. Keep up the great work as I continue to enjoy the content you produce.
Great video, I love it! I started the same way… with a C8. Now I still have that old C8, plus an Edge and a wide field refractor. Recently I also bought a C11 in parts,… just as a project which I hope to use for for planetary and other small object. I did have a small shed about more than 20 years ago, at my parents house but still need to build one now. This video is inspiring and does make me think about it again. ;-)
Well that is a jim dandy SkyShed - a little bit modified with a cute name, but that is the proprietary garage door rollers locking the roof onto the shed but providing for a smooth rolling transition but, nice job Kev. Well done interviewer for prying out the truth.
Question for Kevin: why not bump up one of C11 to a C14 for even better planetary imaging (or smaller galaxies)? The big problem with a C14 is you can't really put up it up and take it down so easily. But if it's permanent, then that's not an issue. The mount looks large enough for a C14.
I checked with Kevin and here was his response, "I wouldn't go to the C14 for deep sky, but if I could swap my fork-mount planetary C11 for a fork-mount C14 I would. But Celestron stopped making those many years ago, so switching to a C14 would mean a new mount. Way more work and money than I'm willing to go to, especially with the planets buried in the southern skies for years to come. For deep sky I'm planning to go to a 12" f4 carbon-fiber Newtonian as soon as CF tubes are available again. That will let me upgrade to a camera with a huge IMX455 chip, which will give me an FOV of 1.5 degrees or so."
I am wondering about the feasibility of a swing out arm support rather than permanent rails and post supports for the roof. It would take up a lot less space, but add a lot of complexity to the build.
I’ve never seen one done like that. It does seem like a lot of complication and potential failure points to add. If the footprint for the building plus supports for the roof are a major factor then a dome might make more sense, at least if a single pier would be sufficient.
Cool video Linda! Very nice observatory! Kevin has some very nice equipment too. You do a great job with interviews and video editing. Do you do that for a living? Clear skies, looking forward to seeing your images! Mike
Thanks, Mike! No, I don't do that for a living. I'm a software type. I just enjoy making the videos...doing them helps me learn the material better and if it helps others along the way then even better!
Other than reflectix in the roof, he didn't have any insulation in there. Of the admittedly small number of observatories I've visited, none have opted for insulation.
That's essentially what he did but he put it on the inside roof wall with a bumper on the outside wall. I'd have not even noticed there was an issue if he hadn't pointed it out but mechanical stuff is not my forte.
I bet he’s the only person to see those oversights, great shed. Very professional interview. I’d push for automatic roof, its nice to see in the morning 😊
Thanks for the kind words! Kevin has a great set up. He's still opening and closing his roof manually but, fortunately, he doesn't have far to go to do it. :)
That was awesome!! I remember seeing the "dog shed" in Internet posts, and I had a chance to meet Kevin at the Almost Heaven Star Party many years ago, when he powered his imaging setup with his Toyota Prius. Really cool guy, and amazing setup. Thanks so much for all the awesome info!
I really appreciate how he gave full, specific details, even with the differences between the roller systems of backyard observatory vs system plans. And for Linda letting him give them. Really excellent!
Michael, I'm glad you found it helpful! It was great of Kevin to allow us in to see his observatory. I'm hoping to do more of these later in 2021 when we can all congregate again.
Awesome setup, observatory looks fine.
Very valuable tour and details. Thank you so much for making this video 😊
Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful!
Great setup Kevin has there.
He sure does. And he produces some amazing images with it!
Great video Linda, it’s good to see how others have built their observatories from different parts of the world! I’ve recently finished building mine here in the south east UK. Slightly smaller, only one rig! Thanks for sharing this, just subbed to your channel😀 Clear skies!
Great job Linda and Kevin! I'm a NOVAC member just now seeing this.
Thanks, George! Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic interview and chalk full of excellent questions and answers! The audio was fine. I heard every word. Cheers!
Thanks! I'm glad the audio was salvageable. I thought I was going to have to ask Kevin to for another go 'round.
Thanks so much Linda. Really some useful information in there. It gives me hope that my hole in the sky might be a candidate for an observatory and a candidate for some pruning. Keep up the great work as I continue to enjoy the content you produce.
Thanks, David! Glad it was helpful!
A heads up from Garnett Leary my favorite site and now yours great job and look forward to more from you.
Cool interview
Thank you Linda and Kevin!
You're welcome, Jeff! I had a blast visiting Kevin and he was a terrific host!
@@LindasAstronomyAdventures Linda, my jaw dropped seeing the cool hardware. v/r
He does have some nice gear!
Great video, I love it! I started the same way… with a C8. Now I still have that old C8, plus an Edge and a wide field refractor. Recently I also bought a C11 in parts,… just as a project which I hope to use for for planetary and other small object. I did have a small shed about more than 20 years ago, at my parents house but still need to build one now. This video is inspiring and does make me think about it again. ;-)
Thanks, Arnaldo! Let us know if you do decide to build an observatory!
@@LindasAstronomyAdventures I will let you know ;-)
Thx for posting this video Linda, good overview. I guess most of dream on having one in our backyards.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it's my dream as well...maybe we'll get there eventually!
Linda, I can't wait to watch this! AIC starts n 15 minute! Trials and tribulations!!!!😀
LOL! It will be here after :) See you at TAIC!
@@LindasAstronomyAdventures okay!
Well that is a jim dandy SkyShed - a little bit modified with a cute name, but that is the proprietary garage door rollers locking the roof onto the shed but providing for a smooth rolling transition but, nice job Kev. Well done interviewer for prying out the truth.
Thanks!
Great video .. thanks for the tour ... and many clear skies to all.. Steve George Area 3751 Observatory, Otisco Lake, NY
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Question for Kevin: why not bump up one of C11 to a C14 for even better planetary imaging (or smaller galaxies)? The big problem with a C14 is you can't really put up it up and take it down so easily. But if it's permanent, then that's not an issue. The mount looks large enough for a C14.
I'll check with Kevin.
I checked with Kevin and here was his response, "I wouldn't go to the C14 for deep sky, but if I could swap my fork-mount planetary C11 for a fork-mount C14 I would. But Celestron stopped making those many years ago, so switching to a C14 would mean a new mount. Way more work and money than I'm willing to go to, especially with the planets buried in the southern skies for years to come. For deep sky I'm planning to go to a 12" f4 carbon-fiber Newtonian as soon as CF tubes are available again. That will let me upgrade to a camera with a huge IMX455 chip, which will give me an FOV of 1.5 degrees or so."
Cool! Thanks for the tour. Awesome to share.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great interview. Nice guy.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
I am wondering about the feasibility of a swing out arm support rather than permanent rails and post supports for the roof. It would take up a lot less space, but add a lot of complexity to the build.
I’ve never seen one done like that. It does seem like a lot of complication and potential failure points to add. If the footprint for the building plus supports for the roof are a major factor then a dome might make more sense, at least if a single pier would be sufficient.
Thinking about the skyshed design as well. Wondering what size he went with to have enough room for two piers?
So sorry for the long delay in responding. It's 8 x 12 (feet).
Cool video Linda! Very nice observatory! Kevin has some very nice equipment too. You do a great job with interviews and video editing. Do you do that for a living? Clear skies, looking forward to seeing your images! Mike
Thanks, Mike! No, I don't do that for a living. I'm a software type. I just enjoy making the videos...doing them helps me learn the material better and if it helps others along the way then even better!
I wonder if he did the pillars of creation with similar results to the hubble image of them.
I don't think Kevin can see that far south from his location but if he can, I'm sure he would do a fantastic job on it. His work is always amazing!
You don't neede the music! Just let it be!
what about insulation
Other than reflectix in the roof, he didn't have any insulation in there. Of the admittedly small number of observatories I've visited, none have opted for insulation.
He could put up a 2x4 on the outer wall to fill the gap
That's essentially what he did but he put it on the inside roof wall with a bumper on the outside wall. I'd have not even noticed there was an issue if he hadn't pointed it out but mechanical stuff is not my forte.
Linda's man made setup.