AAA Observatory Upgrade

AIRDRIE ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION OBSERVATORY UPGRADE

September 20th 2009: - The New Dome Cunstruction is almost complete and ready to be shipped out to Airdrie for installation. The following photographs have kindly been supplied by Phillip Freeman Mobile Welders, Hamilton.
Pictures 1 & 7 both show construction of the dome base and upstand. This will increase the height over the existing dome and provide greater viewing down to horizon level.
Pictures 2 and 3 show the domes steel skeleton over which its shall have its internal wooden and external metal cladding.
Picture 4 & 8 both show the domes hatch which slides up and down a wheel / rail system operated from the inside via a pulley mechanism. The pulley wire can be seen running up the length of the hatch.
Picture 5 shows the mechanism for turning the dome 360º about itself. It is a mechanical wheel system, operated by the telescope operator. The wheel will be detachable whenever the observatory is not in use.
Picture 6 Shows the wooden cladding over which the metal cladding will be laid.
Pictures 9 & 10 & 14 all show the steel skeleton, the wooden cladding and the wheel mechanism and the dome base in one shot.
Pictute 11 shows the dome hatch and the cladding from the dome inside.
Picture 12 shows where the turning wheel mechanism connects to the chain drive system.
Picture 13 shows the domes turning system. Essentially the dome turning wheel connects to a chain drive which turns the dome which rests on a set of metal wheels.

As of writing, it is anticipated the fully constructed dome will arrive on site on Wednesday September 23 where it will be hoisted onto the library roof for fitting. Watch this space for further details.

September 16th 2009: - The Old Fibre-Glass Observatory dome has now been removed in preparation for the installation of the new dome. The new dome will be constructed of Oak & Metal and is expected on site week commencing Monday September 28th 2009. Please stay tuned to this page for further updates.

The following are a set of pictures taken of the ongoing Library re-roofing and observatory construction works. The pictures were all taken on Wednesday 16th September 2009:

At last, the long wait was over. Today, the contractor arrived on site at 9am with the new Copper and wood dome ready for it's final hoist up to Airdrie Public Observatory.
The hoist began around 10am and the pictures below show a sequence of pictures taken all the way through to 10:52am when the dome was finally in position.
Perhaps the oddest picture was to see the old fibre-glass dome over the top of the new dome as it was removed for it's new replacement.
The new dome fitted like a glove and will now be prepared and tested in anticipation of the return of the Cooke telescope around the middle of October.

The Cooke 6" refracting telescope has at long last been returned to the public observatory and has been placed in position underneath the new observatory dome. The telescope is awaiting the manufacture of a new extended plinth which will push the telescope approximately 500-600mm higher than its current position up into the larger observatory dome. It is anticipated that the plinth will be ready for installation for Mid-November 2009 and the Cooke will be taken down from the existing plinth and then remounted onto the new plinth. After re-installation, the telescope will be astronomically re-alligned.
Work to the telescope has included a new eyepiece holder which will accomodate new modern eyepieces, an inscribed plaque on the telescope, a leather bound holding tube, clockwork drive cleaned and oiled, painting the mount and eventually the new pillar, removal of an unecessary finder scope, a new safety cage for the drive weights, amongst others.
The date for the official re-opening of the observatory has been set for December 3rd 2009 where a selecton of special guests will be in attendance, including Professor John Brown (The Astronomer Royal for Scotland) who will re-open the observatory to the public.
Current works in the observatory include: New flooring, Internal plastering and painting, new furnishings, new lighting, new blackout blinds, New notice boards, etc. The internal works should be complete by the week ending 30 October 2009.