Backyard platform

[txcwboy]

Ive been wanting to build a sturdy elevated platform in my smallish backyard to put my scope on. Maybe have a built in mount for my 8"SCT. Anyone done anything like that ? I would like it to be 4 or 5 feet in the air and 7 or 8 feet sq. So I can manuver around it and show people .

Dave

[Nighthound]

Do you mean a pier mount that is a concrete pillar that is independent from a deck-type structure? Click through this site to see the different steps. Their are a lot of these out there, this is just one example.

http://astro.lecza.com/Pier/imagepages/imageindex.html

Build it the height you need, add your deck around it and you'll have a solid scope that won't be effected by people walking around it. Great idea, if I had darker skies I'd have one or possibly a Sky Pod or shed observatory.

[txduggan]

I'll second Steve's suggestion....

Astronomy platforms should not touch the tripod or pillars that are holding your optics.

So, any platform would have a "hole" in it where the pillar/pier would pop up, or 3 holes if using a tripod.

Why 4'-5' in the air? Do you have a tree line you're trying to see over?

-TomD

[txcwboy]

My backyard is sloped and if I was up in the air I would have a lower line to the horizon.No big trees in my neighborhood but a few chimneys in the way.