Kevin Boucher's Backyard Observatory (Observatory Tours #5)

Рет қаралды 11,667

Күн бұрын

My friend Kevin Boucher is a wealth of knowledge on astrophotography and was kind enough to let me tour his backyard observatory in Central Massachusetts. This is the fifth part of a series where I interview people who have designed their own observatories: • Observatory Tours
Kevin's observatory is based on the Skyshed plans you can buy here: skyshed.com/ If you are planning to build a shed-style observatory, I think these plans are well worth getting. Even if you don't follow them exactly, there are lots of great construction photos and tips you will find useful.
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Contents
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0:00 Origins
1:44 Skyshed Plans
2:07 Why Kevin changed from wood to metal beams
5:54 Roll-off vs. Dome
6:36 No motor?
8:33 Outro

Пікірлер: 27

@thecakeredux 2 ай бұрын

"It's a hobby that you'll never get tired off", he said after 26 years of doing it. I believe it, wholeheartedly.

@belteberga 2 ай бұрын

So nice to be able to see your setup, Kevin. Thank you, Nico, for this series of visits.

@astroshooter1960 2 ай бұрын

Built my observatory 18 years ago and is still going strong. It is the most valuable piece of equipment I own.

@jesuschrist2284 2 ай бұрын

One finger to roll roof back is pretty neat

@my-pixels 2 ай бұрын

The broom handle! Sometimes the most simple solutions are the best! Great setup Kevin and an entertaining video Nico 👍

@DUBBLARON 2 ай бұрын

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

@ronm6585 2 ай бұрын

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

@Sidecontrol1234 2 ай бұрын

Very cool setup.

@bakerfx4968 2 ай бұрын

Very sweet observatory! It glides so smoothly lol Crazy that he fell and hit his head, but it inspired a sweet idea out of safety and ease!

@Oldhogleg 2 ай бұрын

Lol, used garage door tracks and rollers, good idea! 👍

@drunk_astronomy 2 ай бұрын

Astro photos take blood, sweat and tears to take. Mostly blood in this case.

@huf67 2 ай бұрын

...and money 💰💰💸💸

@MrGp3po 2 ай бұрын

Very cool observatory. Being a snowbird, I have two observatories. One is a courtyard with limited but workable views of the sky. The other is a 12x12 foot concrete pad with a Primaluce pier in the middle and tall solid fence on two sides to block wind and lights. I haven’t been able to justify building a rolloff building since we may move in a year or two and I have a huge shop for storage thirty feet away. Set up there only takes 10 minutes since the mount is left covered and aligned.

@Twobarpsi 2 ай бұрын

Excellent video!

@ozicryptoG 2 ай бұрын

Nice. I really like that. Mine is much larger and uses a tri-beam with two separate openings. But it's very similar. Mine is a manually pulled roof with rope and is tied down open and latched and locked when closed. I too use an air-conditioned system that run panels and batteries to power its dehumidifier 24/7. These are not a perfect solution but I have no problems with that. Astrophotography is not a perfect thing ... we strive. Well done, sir.

@Microtonal_Cats Ай бұрын

1:39, are those little metal round things 3rd axis counterweights? Very cool.

@ttp_007 2 ай бұрын

Great video! Thanks Nico! BTW, I see the word Outro of the video content. Do you speak Portuguese?

@astrodug 2 ай бұрын

I had Skyshed build my 8x10 observatory 19 years ago. My roof is just starting to get stiff when opening and closing due to the external supports twisting. I'll probably replace them with wood.

@Astronurd Ай бұрын

Would have liked a bit more information on his actual equipment set up. Nevertheless good video Nico.

@-Jeremiah- 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic find for us Nico. But I’m not gunna lie, when I saw the thumbnail I thought you had opened the wallet for your observatory. (I wasn’t paying close enough attention) Cheers

@mikehardy8247 2 ай бұрын

No automation? I'm a nigtowl, so I'll be awake if it rains. I would asume an observatory gives a sense of casual security. More than one serious amateur has mentioned their gear being rsined on. I forget now. Do you have automation Niko? If I built an observatory, I have all the aluminum etc. to do the rail system on hand. My car has never seen the inside of my "garage "😂

@TheCosmicGuy0111 2 ай бұрын

Nice

@AmatureAstronomer 2 ай бұрын

Nice.

@Youtuber-ku4nk 2 ай бұрын

To have an observatory is the top goal, but IMO to automate everything is exactly not the direction I want to go. I want hands-on with my equipment and mostly look through eyepieces with my own eyes. Looking at a computer screen, for me, isn’t what this hobby is about.