I Built an OBSERVATORY in my Backyard (SKYSHED POD)
I built an observatory in my backyard!
After many years of setting up my camera and telescope each night for astrophotography in the backyard, I finally have a permanent setup.
The observatory is a SkyShed POD XL5 (bit.ly/skyshedpod), a dome-style backyard observatory. The panels are all pre-made, but there is still an element of construction to the process.
I also built a 12' x 12' deck with a 4-foot concrete footing (with some help) as a foundation for the steel telescope pier (thanks Goose and Rob)!
This SkyShed POD was generously DONATED to me by the owner of the company, Wayne Parker. I was NOT compensated in any way, nor does he have any say in how I create content about the POD. (He's a pretty awesome guy, actually).
Gear Used to Make This Video:
Camera: amzn.to/3uQsGz6
Main Lens: amzn.to/2Oicd60
Wide-Angle Lens: amzn.to/3cW4eF9
Telephoto Lens: amzn.to/3vQ5653
Microphone: amzn.to/2MIRbgq
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Get 15% off: cuts.team/astrobackyard
Music:
I use Epidemic Sound for the music in my videos. Use this link to help support my channel: bit.ly/ASTROBACKYARDMUSIC
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Пікірлер: 718
We want Black Dog Observatory shirts!! I feel like a speak for everyone on this.
@AstroEscape
3 жыл бұрын
I am in agreeance with that!
@MCCRITTERS
3 жыл бұрын
Heck Yeah!
@AstroBackyard
3 жыл бұрын
YOU GOT IT: bit.ly/BlackDogOBS
@christophermills7558
3 жыл бұрын
@@AstroBackyard you sir are awesome.
@omb6488
3 жыл бұрын
@@AstroBackyard You’re not selling to Australia?! 😫
Your wife must love you very much if she allows you to put this thing in the garden. No matter how much technology you still acquire, you rarely find someone who shares your interests so much. Anyway have fun and enjoy your life.
I'm so happy for you Trevor!! "Black Dog Observatory" is such a fitting name! The Music was on fire btw! The guitar riffs and drum beats where amazing! Coming from one drummer to another!
@TrixMC
3 жыл бұрын
Didnt see the video but the name is awesome
Sounds like summer is gonna be a blast lol
Welcome to the club! We meet on thursdays. Bring craft beers. Six minimum. Also have you considered entering the Astrobackyard of the week? I think you have a chance.
@AstroBackyard
3 жыл бұрын
😂
@TrixMC
3 жыл бұрын
XD
@TrixMC
3 жыл бұрын
@@AstroBackyard hello!
@kbriley8349
3 жыл бұрын
very nice ..... but ....but ......... did you notice the ..... i cant hardly say it .....the pier?
@bejay80
3 жыл бұрын
bet his ants and rain aren't as bad as yours. How long before Trev puts a Nextdome on top?
That is really nice. Don't worry about it, most people driving by probably thought you were transporting a fancy dog house.
Welcome to the home observatory family Trevor. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. It’s a beaut. Clear skies.
Congrats, that's awesome. Wish my yard were big enough for one.
@AstroBackyard
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks buddy!
@yes-rn5sk
3 жыл бұрын
expand on your neighbors yard ez fix
@mikemcdonald2752
3 жыл бұрын
Cain's Cosmic Observatory?
@axford696969
3 жыл бұрын
Put a dome on top your garage Chuck!
I love this Trevor, I'm so happy for you! It reminds me of building a fort as a kid, but for grown-ups!! Onwards and upwards my friend, wishing you all the best :)
@andreww9252
3 жыл бұрын
Thats my kinda fort too
Trevor, You are going to love it! I have had the XL4 version here in Western Washington State. Since they first came out. The ability to just walk out and be observing in minutes is amazing. And you are correct Wayne and his crew are outstanding. Eventually you are going to want to add the dome slide off table so that you can get closer to zenith. I am very excited for you and Ash. Keep up the awesome videos.
@SkyShedPODTeam
3 жыл бұрын
Cool Mark! Thx & CS! Trevor has a PZT. He just hasn't built it yet. ;)
This is the coolest thing ever for a hobbyist or enthusiast. I think this is a new goal of mine for when I'm older.
@DaftTFD
3 жыл бұрын
Same
@meghjoshi7031
3 жыл бұрын
Same 🙌
Oh Rudy! You’ve been immortalized! Black Dog Observatory! Love it. Many clear skies for you, Ash and Rudy. Looking forward to more inspiring videos from your family. Best wishes. Dr B from Manitoba
Haha! That's what I felt like with my observatory, driving through Chicago suburbs! Everyone was looking at me wondering what it was. Life will be so much easier now. And the hobby will make turns you never anticipated! Congrats Trevor!
Good for you Trevor! The POD is so enjoyable to use. I've had mine for about 7 years and it's so much fun to go out and just start doing astronomy without having to set everything up. Not to mention just closing up the dome at the end of the night without having to drag everything back inside while half asleep.
@SkyShedPODTeam
3 жыл бұрын
Thx! CS!
Does Ash get one too or does she have to wait 10 years. Cool name too.
@TrixMC
3 жыл бұрын
Hello
@ngc1039
3 жыл бұрын
Maybe Ash gets the Ash-Dome.
@garycrumrine9538
3 жыл бұрын
@@ngc1039 Pink Skies
That is so cool,congratulations. Hang on to that great wife. This month I've been with my blessed wife for 46 years in our way to forever. Great name for it as well. Pets are the greatest blessings as well, just they don' stay around as long. Love them and be thankful for them.,😁👍💞👏
Congratulations Trevor! It's so funny to hear your story. My first observatory happened after coming in and out of the house 150 times at all hours of the night banging around. My wife said "You need an observatory" :)
You should have had Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" playing at the end of your video. Of course I'm a 70's chic. Anyway; that's utterly amazing Trevor. Every armature astronomer's dream is to have their very own observatory in their backyard. How cool!
Yay congrats!🎉 Makes my heart so happy, love hearing when any person’s dreams come true!
I always felt bad that you would drag all that equipment out every time you wanted to watch the sky. It looks amazing and of course the name is great. Good luck and happy hunting.
Welcom to the Skyshed Group. Cheers. CS.
Lovely video 💖 thank you for sharing 🙏😀 happy clear skies
Good Name Choice! Welcome to the POS family. I’ve had mine for 9 years now and it is likely the best purchase I ever made. You will quickly find you’ll want a POD Zenith Table for it. Looking forward to seeing how your observatory develops. Congrats Trevor!
@SkyShedPODTeam
3 жыл бұрын
Cool David! Thx! Trevor has a table. Hasn't added it yet. ;)
Living in the city in a subdivision, I made my roll off roof observatory out of a garden shed. That dome is nice, but it’s advertising that you have an expensive telescope in there. So there is a higher chance of a break in. Mine looks like I have a lawn more in there, plus the roll off takes the whole roof out of the way instead of just part of it. I didn’t think it was going to last, but it’s been up for 18 years and still holding up well.
Now having seen one of these Pods in action and up close it's far better to observe in I'm sure. Not just the blocking wind, light but cold blockage has got to be substantial as well. Throw up the lid. Boom. Sweet!
Seriously? Now it's going to rain for at LEAST the next 6 months...Great way to cure the drought! Congrats on a super addition!!!
Love the new observatory! Like how the dome rotates on wheels. I went to Flagstaff, AZ and the dome on the Lowell Observatory rotates on truck wheels and tires! Thanks for sharing. I like the Black Dog Observatory name. Rudy gets some credit after all of the cold nights he spent out with you checking out the skies! Thanks Ashley for being so supportive!
Hey Travor, Congratulations on finally getting your Observatory , we have a saying " Good things come to those who wait" Travor I watch you grow in this great hobby with Ashley and Rudy at your side. I'm looking forward to seeing great images coming from the " Blackdog " Osservatory 🇨🇦 God bless and clear skies 🌠
I have had my Sky shed Pod XL3 for about 6 months now, it's a game changer for me. I am in it every clear night, imaging. You will love it!
@SkyShedPODTeam
3 жыл бұрын
Cool John! Thanks! CS!
So happy for you. Can’t wait to see how this develops and that new mount !! Wow 🤩
I've built mine a couple month ago, it's a life changer! So glad you finally treated yourself with one! You'll definitely love it 👍
Wait..a what now... this is gonna be epic just the idea of it is brilliant especially coming from your channel cant wait to see the beauty's coming from this.
Nice name for the observatory. Glad you had a clear night in it. My luck has been when I get a new astronomy related toy I get weeks of cloudy nights. I call it the curse of the new telescope.
Congratulations Trevor on a cool Black Dog Observatory! Extremely happy to see this amazing journey!
Ooo I’m looking forward to this. Going to make my wife watch so she knows what mines going to look like.... if she lets me 🤙
Too cool. So happy for you and great to see how you and this channel have grown. And there is NOTHING better than to have a real cutie to share your hobbies with.
Fantastic Trever and Ashley! Have fun! CS!
5:22 that made our black dog a real swagger
Your one of my favorite you tubers I just started to take pictures of space object not to long ago. So thank you your a big inspirational all of us nerds!!!!🤓🤓🤓🤓
Wow congrats! That is going to be so awesome for cold nights. I just bought an old church in a small town and it's my dream to put an observatory dome on it.
Great observatory Trevor! Congrats. Very functional with the storage pods. Ashley is the best wife ever!!! Great to have someone to share your passion.
Awesome Trevor! And it was great seeing Ashley out there with her setup as well. It's not going to be long until she asks... "Honey, can I use the the rig in Black Dog tonight? I got this target I want to shoot." That will be a great moment! :)
Great stuff Trevor...I'm old and a huge fan of Glass Tiger...thanks for the throwback memory! Clear skies and congrats on the observatory!
Huge congrats Trevor on your observatory! Looking forward to seeing more videos when it's fully operational.
WOW! Can’t wait to hear more. Keep posting
Congratulations and well deserved too. Thanks for all you do for us.
Amazing! I can see you camping out in there wrapped up in a sleeping bag as the mount tracks, like a happy mole in his den.
Damn Trevor, you finally did it. Way to go man. Can't be any more happy for you. WAY TO GO. Naming it to honor Rudy brought tears to my eyes.
So cool! Can’t wait to see more.
Congratulations! Having an observatory is my dream! Clear skies!
Awesome Trevor!! Congrats man!! I've had my Roll off roof observatory now for 20+ years and love every night that I'm able to observe from it. A funny note, my wife calls it my dog house cause every new piece of gear I get that's where I end up. lol...
Congrats bud, can't wait to see all the great content that comes from this new setup!
Congratulations. Your excitement (over the observatory) will never deminish. Clear skies.
Congratulations! You are going to love it! I've had a pod for 2 years and my only regret is I didn't buy one years ago! Clear skies my friend! Ed in Hyde Park NY
@SkyShedPODTeam
3 жыл бұрын
Hey Ed! Thx! CS!
So happy for you Trevor!!! Kudos
That looks fantastic Trevor! Can’t wait to see some images taken from there!
Happy for you. It looks great.
Adult playhouse. At least it goes together like one. They should make it in different colors, or you could paint yours. Maybe using heat reflective paint.
@richardshagam8608
3 жыл бұрын
It does come in a range of colors
Cannot express to you enough how much I love the observatory name! Rudy is a superstar 🤩🐾
Congratulations on Black Dog Observatory. Looks like you're going to have a blast this summer...and Rudy too. All the best, clear skies.
You've earned it Trevor! Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! This summer is gonna be lit, and I look forward to it!
Congrats Trevor! Looks amazing!
Congrats my Friend!!! You are the best!!!! Big hug from Brazil.
Congrats on the observatory, Trevor!! Really excited for you!
Welcome to the home observatory club Trevor, I built a Pulsar Dome setup in the Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK last year, and it has transformed my astronomy. Similar name to mine, mine is Black Mountain Observatory. Have fun
Love every minute of your videos. Amazing work as always, Trevor! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Awesome. I purchased an used on Kijiji for a great price and cannot wait to get mine setup in the backyard. No more hauling gear. It'll be great for the cold clear Saskatchewan nights this winter
have been waiting for this video from you for a long time. Nicely done and congratulation!
Very happy for ya, and not at all surprised. With all the stray light from your neighbors, I wondered when this was coming. Bravo!
OMG, I am so jealous and not just about Ashley.... I just moved to PEI and I'm shocked at how dark the night sky is here. Love your channel and agree we need Black Dog T-shirts
i feel so happy for both of you guys..."God bless you" and all the best 😁😁😁
That's one SERIOUS mount you got there Trevor! Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!
Congrats! Looks awesome. Love the new mount too. Should be awesome.
Dude thats so cool. I've been following you're channel for a couple years. Love your work. Happy for you bro. You deserve it 👏
Awesome upgrades, congrats!!
I love your videos. That music was murder with earbuds though. The observatory is super cool!
Awesome Trevor! I used the SkyShed plans for my roll-off observatory. It is cool you are close enough to pick it up yourself - lucky to be in Canada. The POD is probably something I would go for in the future if I move since they are a bit easier to construct alone. Good luck with that mount, if I had that much money to spend on a mount - I would go with Software Bisque over the Astrophysics or the others. Hope get to hold onto it for a while. - Cheers
I can't wait until I can get to this point. Good job! You earned it man!
Yeah. Black dog!!!!! Bad ass! Love your sparkling eyes when you tell about this unit!!!! Greats from The Netherlands
That is so nice. My dream since long time. I've get back to the hobby after 30 year pause, and followed your videos to put me back on track with modern astrophoto technologies. Now I start to get good results cause of your nice advices with my Star Adventurer pro 2i and stock Canon t7 kit. I've just added autoguiding this week following once again your advices. Next Step will be the Rokinon 135mm F2 and a Redcat51. Thanks for your great work.
Awesome Trevor! Looks great.
Great name for the dome !! Love your dog !
So awesome!!
This looks so good :) so happy for you !!
Looks awesome and congratulations!!!
Wow, congratulations on getting the new observatory and MyT. You deserve it! Before you know it you’ll be up and running with the mount. Have fun!
Cool! Congrats Trevor!
Congrats! Its about frickin time!
Very best of luck with It Trevor and Ash ! date night will never be the same again ! even in the snow !! Clear Ski,s !!
Congrats Trevor! Looks incredible! You really inspire us all with these videos!
@wskbreezy
2 жыл бұрын
Yo I’m ur 1000th subscriber
Awesome. Congrats Trevor. Looking forward to seeing the beautiful images captured in the Black Dog Observatory!
Congratulations on the new dome and setup, and best wishes to you an Ashley as you enjoy it.
That’s awesome man I’ve been a casual watcher of yours for years so happy you for you!
That is awesome Trevor! I love your video production as well. You have come a long way!
Love the name Trevor - I have had my pod for a couple of years now and you are going to love the time it saves setting up and tearing down and I'm looking forward to seeing the output. Strongly suggest you get a PZT though it will make the Zenith problem go away. Clear skies- Martin
That is so cool. I never knew there were pods like that available. I'm a just a small time beginner with the night sky, but this is very good to know about living in Michigan.
Congratulations Trevor! Looking forward to what's to come from the Black Dog Observatory! 🌌
This should be the best backyard camping tent l've ever seen.
Congratulations Trevor. Goals aren’t met easily. Go Big Dog!
Love the name of your new Observatory!!! 😃👍🏼