Plastic Shed Observatories

Fig. 1--What the shed looks like in pieces. If you look at the pieces you will notice that they are formed with an air space. This creates structural strength and excellent insulating qualities. This picture shows the corner sections and the floor sections. The front of the observatory will face south roughly aligned on Polaris to the North.
 

Fig. 2--Assembling the floor is the only time you need a tool. The rest of the assembly is finished using easy snap clips and easy bolts. All of which are used by hand without tools. Note the floor bottom is reinforced and also creates space between the ground, and no space for critters.

Fig. 3--This is the view of what I call the computer cubby. It shows how the corner sections that form the basis of the structure. This is the only solid wall. The other sections are either walls/or doors depending on how you assemble them.

The corner sections snap into place using connectors similar to those in "knock down" furniture.

Fig. 4--All of the corner sections are in place and the computer cubby is finished. Now Im setting the pier in place. Since this was a "proof of concept", I did not put in a permanent pier. If you wanted a permanent pier, build it first and cut a hole in the floor.

The floor is on the ground (no leveling was required, because the pier can be leveled. Since the floor is so rigid very little vibration is transmitted. Also since the floor is in two sections No vibration is transmitted from the back of the observatory to the front.
 

Fig. 5--The Back half with the computer cubby Is finished. You can see that the front section allows almost total access to the sky.

Fig. 6--At this point I’m setting up the telescope. This is a 1981 C11. I’ve had it out on the farm for two years, but was really unable to use it effectively. The pier legs are steel and the pier is sand filled aluminum. The observatory will give it a home.
 

Fig. 7--This is view of the observatory from the left side. The doors are on the ground ready for assembly.

Fig. 8--This is the front view open to the southern sky. The doors are on the ground waiting for assembly. The white stake in the ground was used to rough align the North ‘ South placement of the structure.
 

Fig. 9--Finished. 4 hours later. This was primarily a one-person job. My wife helped load the materials in the van and aided me in moving the assembled floor. Note the Aerodynamic design that deflects strong winds. So far it has weathered 50 mile an hour straight line winds. I did use landscape spikes to hold the floor. The shed design has holes for their use. The hinges show the doors.
 

Fig. 10--The front view with the doors closed.

The shed is commercially available. It is called the Smart Shed by a company called Thinking Outside. At <http://www.thinking-outside.com/>. I purchased this shed at a Sam's Club store. I purchased the Deluxe model with two sections. They have a bigger one.

Sam's Club (Chandler, AZ) has the Deluxe model (11' x 7' x 6.5') available for $698. Its packing weight is 548 lbs.

Fig. 11--This is the view of the interior from the front door opening. The shed has built-in skylights that are weather proof. The shelves provide extra strength and storage. I have since installed more shelves in both sections. The computer shelf can be seen in the back.

Fig. 12--This is the view of the Southern horizon. The Easter and Western horizons are also unobstructed. The Northern sky is visible over the rear roof section, but it is partially obstructed by trees and buildings except for theview from the observatory. The roof of the front section is unbolted by hand using the four "Easybolts" and lifted up and placed on the back section roof. It weighs very little and slides into place over the back section.
 

Fig. 13--Star trails taken at First Light in a new observatory for the C11. This structure will hold up to an 11 inch SCT easily. I think a 12-inch LX200 would be the upper limit.

Fig. 14--Summer Milky Way on the first night. One of the reasons I try to spend as much time as possible on the farm.