AN OBSERVATORY FOR THE GARDEN

Many thanks for that great bit of information......I'll put it to use

 

Maybe you should get some advice from some of the more computer savvy members. When I said that 'I' did it I was really referring to Tom who did it for me.

He said it was so easy to do and only charged me a chilli plant

He has organised so that I don't need to do anything but click on the software for the piece of hardware I use and it opens OK. I don't need to open the VM software first.

Maybe @clueless1 or @fat controller can give you more info on how to do it.

 

VM software can be quite handy for things like this, and I see no reason why a batch file couldn't be written to make it a one click affair - however, my experience with VM is very limited, so I will have to defer to @clueless1 on this one

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

Sorry about that, Fern Some peoples experience of downloading Windows 10 has been good but mine on my main Desktop PC with Windows 7 was/is not good, and then with my brand new laptop bought especially for controlling the CCD camera on my telescope I had to initially download Windows 8.1 to get an operating system on it. Then I downloaded Windows 10 onto it and it took 36 hours to do so, and then it froze completely to the point where I took it to a specialist who wiped Windows 10 off the Laptop and left me with the Windows 8.1. When I asked him if he was using W10 himself he just grinned shook his head and said "Not for at least a couple of years as it's got too many teething trouble...........but it's good for business!!".

 

Okay, here's a report on the Observatory after it's installation. As I said it was raining on the day and the concrete base the Observatory was going on was wet even though I'd brushed off what water I could and used a mop to try to dry it even further. The consequence of that was that we couldn't use any sealant on the base to make it water proof so that water couldn't seep inside.
Well, I used an electric heater in an attempt to dry out the inside floor, which was originally the concrete base, and it worked. So taking a gamble, as the weather had also dried out, I used a Water Proofing Paint on the inside and the outside in the hope that it had dried sufficiently for it to work...........it hasn't While the sealant has worked in places there is still sufficient seepage of water inside the Observatory from overnight rain which was lying on the outside area of the concrete base to stop me laying the rubber flooring and also putting in the electrical power. So at the moment I feel like King Canute trying to stop the water and until I get a reasonable period [four or 5 days] of dry weather allowing me to dry out the inside of the Observatory and the outside of the concrete base then I can't reapply the sealant.
Patience, Patience, Patience.

 

Okay, here's pics of Thursday when Dave and Trevor turned up from Norfolk to deliver and install the Observatory. The day started off with steady rain, [well, of course it would] but by 1040 am when Dave and Trevor had arrived it has stopped.....but the "damage" was done.
Bringing the parts of the Observatory into the garden:

 

Then it started to rain lightly

 

Then it dried out for a while:

 

Watching Dave and Trevor working as they did made it look easy to put the Dome together...........but it wasn't. Dave had spent the previous day putting all the fittings on to the roof and the walls to make things go smoother and also cut down on installation time, and considering the weather it was a good move.

 

The Black Box is the motor drive that turns the Dome roof as the telescope tracks a Star.





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Fixing part of the pulley system for the roof shutter.

 

That hole is not for the the door but for an accessory bay which is an extra item you can order. It will give me space for all the bits and pieces you need while observing, like a mug of hot tea, or the occasional glass of the Golden Amber.


Notice that Dave, the bearded one. is carrying a set of ear defenders [for Trevor] while wearing ear plugs himself. I found out why a few moments later




Dave started to drill the holes for the securing bolts that fit through the wide, thick
internal flange that runs all the way around the inside of the Observatory. The noise was unbelievable as the whole completed walls started to vibrate and act as a drum which I thought would be heard a mile away!!

 

The drilling is nearly done and I wish I'd worn ear plugs!! Dave started to align all the walls properly and tighten things up before the final drilling.





Dave is "nudging" the observatory walls so that they're centrally sited on the concrete base.



Drilling again!!



You wouldn't believe the noise because the Observatory walls were acting like a Drum!!