Observatory
Observing site in Muri, Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Small
observatory with a 2.5m diameter dome made in welded
steel bars, covered with aluminum plate. Although
handmade by myself, this structure is light and
functional, and presents no rain leaks or seepage over
these last 4 years. It is moved by hand. Observe the Armilary sphere (made by me) and the Sun Clock (made by Sérgio Doret), which compose the ensemble framed by the garden.
The
dome rests on a wooden arc-shaped structure, reinforced
by wooden rods on the bottom, forming an octagon. Eight
rubber wheels like those used on supermarket carts were
fixed to the vertices and rest on the concrete wall.To avoid lateral movement when turning around, 4 iron pieces were bolted to the wooden arc and a rubber wheel fixed to its end, which revolves with the permanent support of the dome inner wall.
It is very useful to have a small movable rack provided with holes to keep the oculars, lamp and lap-top.
The rack, supported by hooks, may be moved to other points on the dome inner wall.
Supporting
column made of a PVC pipe, partially filled with sand and
fixed to the floor on a concrete foundation. A small
ditch separates the column from the floor to avoid
vibration.The equatorial wedge is installed on the column.
PVC column
with sockets, different holders, hooks and equatorial
wedge
MEADE LX200 8" f/10 telescope assembled on the equatorial wedge, with piggyback mounted camera and sunshade..
The
Orion Short-Tube refractor with Olympus OM1 camera was
set on piggyback on MEADE LX200, by means of aluminum
rings tightly bolted to an aluminum bar equally fixed to
the main telescope. Fittings are of the dovetail type and
allow us to move the Orion/camera set forwards and
backwards for better balance, in a simple and very firm
way.Another aluminum
bar was fixed to the bottom portion of the LX200 to
install a movable counterweight made of steel washers and
bolt. The number of washers may be varied to obtain
weight balance.
MEADE LX200 Telescope with Orion Short-Tube (400mmf/5) Refractor assembled in piggyback. Observe the dovetail fixing system.
Photography
instruments:Olympus
OM1 and Nikon F2 Cameras
Olimpus 24mm f/3,5, 50mm f/1,4 and 135mm f/3,5 lenses.
Nikkor 300mm f/4,5 lens
Shooting cable
Angle view finder
H-Alpha and Broadband filters
SIBG ST4 Camera. Producing poor CCD images, this camera is excellent to guide the telescope during long exposures.
Hypersensitivity tank built in aluminum with capacity for films up to 4x5
Video camera coupling system for videophotography.
On the left, Orion Short-Tube in a Sky-View Deluxe equatorial assembling.
On
the right, Celestron C8 telescope with Thousand Oaks Type
II sun filter used for CANF public observations.
Sundial in detail..