Hi All,

Things seem to have been a bit static for a few weeks as a result of the weather during this second half of the summer (so called!). Mike had made a few visits to do odd jobs which could be done by one person and also had got the main wheels for the dome working and lubricated. We decided that we should just take the chance to get down to SCRI whenever a likely day turned up and on Friday morning (21st August) Mike phoned me with the idea of getting the dome in place. His idea was to set a few planks of wood across the base and lift the two dome sections onto them to be joined. This worked although the moderate breeze threatened to blow away one of the parts before we had them secured together. Next we fitted the wheels and then the test was to withdraw the planks of wood and lower the wheels and guides onto the aluminium rim. IT WORKED!! - and with a gentle push, the dome rotated! It was a cleaner session for the workers as we didn't have to use so much black sealant as on previous visits so our hair, arms and clothing were not (for a change) covered in this black sticky mess! I feel that we now have an observatory - not yet complete but it looks the part.

The next job will be to fit the opening section to the dome. After that we should seal any gaps we see and find out how waterproof it is before installing the telescope. I can now look forward to the time we can use the observatory which, with a bit of luck (weather and waterproof quality of the dome) shouldn't be too long,

With Best Wishes,

Ken

Mike and Ken went back and the observatory wall is now fixed in place and sealed.

Hi All,

Well, we are back at it again! Mike obtained a loan of a resonably powerful drill and Phil, Mike and myself went down to the SCRI site on Saturday 25th July in the morning with the observatory walls. We marked out a suitable circle then assembled the wall sections which turned out to be remarkably and surprisingly circular without too much pushing and pulling. Mike then went on a drilling spree but after about eight 10mm holes, the battery of the drill started to object. We retired to Mike's house to recharge (batteries and ourselves), the batteries from the mains supply and ourselves with soup and sandwiches supplied by Shiela (thanks!). The afternoon session saw a few more holes drilled (until the battery ran out again) and we left the wall secured by sufficient bolts to the concrete. The job is well under way and the next session will see the holes drilled to the required depth and the wall sealed and secured. It is really important that the wall is firmly fixed and is the critical part of the construction. There may be further problems which will arise but the road ahead now looks clear and we would hope to have the observatory in place by August. There will be a period of testing for water resistance before installing the telescope,

With Best Wishes,

Ken

Hi All,

Went out to SCRI yesterday to have a look at our new observatory base. They have done a fine job laying the concrete and have been quite generous. I think the depth of concrete must be seven or eight inches! I have attached three photos of work in progress (only the last image has been loaded onto the website). For those who haven't yet been to the SCRI site, the photo of the final base (photo on the right) is looking south. You will see that we have a clear southern horizon with very little in the way of stray light as any houses are quite far away,

With Best Wishes,

Ken

Hi All,

I had a call from Gladys Wright this morning (Wednesday) to say that the area for the observatory base had been dug out. I felt that we should get the stones, delivered on Monday, into the hole as quickly as possible as the cement people were to deliver concrete 'at the end of this week'. Mike and I went to SCRI before lunch and after some puffing and blowing (and occasional rests!) (and lunch at Mike's) we completed the shifting of the two tons of stones and the 'hole' has now a fairly level bottom ready for the concrete. The 'concrete man' (if you see what I mean) said that he would get the site prepared tomorrow morning and the concrete should be poured tomorrow or Friday. So that's the progress so far - things have gone very rapidly since our meeting with Gladys and Graham last Thursday!

With Best Wishes,

Ken