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The new building for the 16 inch Newtonian will begin groundwork in the morning at Cascade Mountain. A 12x24 foot concrete pad will be poured and pier formed. The pier will consist of a large substructure below the floor level and a 12 inch diameter column rising to 32 inches above the floor for placement of the large German Equatorial mount. Initially, a 12x12 foot section of the pad will be used for the actual building at one end with plans to add another 12x12 foot control facility later in the year once the layout needs are determined. Construction of the building should begin by early next week. The building will feature a conventional "roll-back" roof on the observing room.
The 16" scope will be used to observe/image and report several specific objects including NEO's, asteroids, and comets as a nightly routine, but also variable star and planetary studies as the need arises.
We are proud to have two new facilities in the works, and hope to double our contribution to photometric and astrometric data to Harvard, JPL and other data collection facilities each morning.Click on any thumbnail image below for a full size image (640x480)
April 1, 2003
Grounds looking south
over ridge.
Looking east.
Update - April 2, 2003 The 12" diameter concrete pier is nearly complete with several thousand pounds of substructure. The 12x24 pad is ready to pour in the morning.
Looking South
12" pier form
Another view looking East with one the of observatory supervisors inspecting the work.
There are still several trees that will have to come down to gain good views in all directions. The location was placed slightly down a gradual slope from the ridge to locate it some distance from the ridge road.
Update - April 3, 2003
Getting ready to fill the pier form
Watching the azimuth alignment
Last minute check on level
Update - April 16, 2003 The frame and outside walls are now complete for the 12x12 observing room section. No window has been installed as yet. The 12x12 office will be built later in the year on the WEST end where the door currently is. The roof trusses can be seen in the background laying on the concrete slab. I hope to have the roll-back roof installed by next week. The roof will roll back to the East (left in the two exterior photos).
Looking in the door. Mount and pier covered in center of room. OTA remvoved.
I plan to finish the interior myself and wire the building for electricity.
Update June 21, 2003
After a long delay work has resumed on the observatory. Dave Birmingham came on June 7 and helped greatly in getting the roof structure built.
Thanks Dave!The roof trusses have been installed on the rolling frame and the external roof support structure has been completed (6/21/2003). Only the roofing itself, gable ends, and soffits are left to complete the outside.
Our supervisors Ben and "Tiny"
Close up of the rail system with the iron "V" groove wheels w/roller bearings, and angle iron tracks.
Update June 29th
Almost near completion. A few minor things left to do such as installing the soffits, weatherproofing the gables, etc. I began to install the electrical wiring today and the main panel can be seen in the front. I will be running a 100 amp service, but probably will never use more than 30 amps at one time. Still a lot of cleaning up to do around the building.
The roof rolls as smooth as silk with no binding whatsoever. One man can easily open or close the structure due to the grooved steel wheels with tapered roller bearings riding on inverted angle iron. Roof is secured to the building when closed with large turnbuckles and threaded steel rods.
Click on any image below for a full size photo.
Front
A view of the steel "v" groove wheels and track.
One of the wheels taken from the inside where the grease fitting is accessible.
Side view with roof partially open.
Steel "V" groove wheel w/roller bearings. Each wheel has a capacity of 500 lbs. There are four of these on each side of the roof.
My original plan of the wheel support structure and iron rail.
Update Feb. 7th, 2004
A new massive German Equatorial mount from AB Engineering will hold the OTA. Click on the PDF file to see detailed views of the new mount. This mount will use a 15" gear on the RA axis, and the 11.5" Aeroquest gear on the Declination axis. Mount will be full GOTO and capable of semi-robotic remote operation.
B. Morgan Sherrod
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Crystal Clear Nights!
B. Morgan Sherrod - Staff, ASO
Arkansas Sky Observatory
Cascade Mountain
Copyright Arkansas Sky Observatory © 2003 [A.S.O.] All rights reserved. Revised:
