Pier and Observatory Project

Putting in a Pier, or, how to dig a big hole in your yard and fill it with concrete

Shortly after placing an order for a Losmandy G11, while contemplating the "joys" of setting up more than 100 pounds of equipment to observe, I came to the conclusion arrived at by so many before me--I need a permanent pier installation. Better still, I need an observatory! But clearly, step one is to install a pier. To do that you need a big hole into which you pour a lot of concrete. The fact that a house is being built on the lot next door has facilitated this endeavor quite nicely--no doubt I will remind myself of this fact later, when my new neighboors decide to install security lighting! I persuaded the excavator to "pop" a hole in my yard (two scoops, really). Those guys really like driving those machines and digging holes, so when I came home that afternoon . . .

At the bottom of this hole I built a 3' by 3' box 1' deep. Here, looking down into the hole, one can just see the top of the 3' by 3' base for the sonotube/concrete column.

This 9 cubic foot block will form the base of a 24" diameter sonotube column of concrete about 30 inches high (from the top of the base). The concrete column will come to just below grade and will have j-bolts embedded in it. These bolts will then receive the steel pier and provide a system for leveling.

At this point (November 1) I am still waiting for concrete. By coupling my concrete delivery with the delivery planned for next door, I save the "light-load" charge. Winter approaches, but I am heartened by some signs of progress toward pouring concrete next door. However, I'm not in a panic since I don't have my Losmandy G11 yet, and I don't have a steel pier yet either! What I do have is a hole lotta good intentions, and a big hole in my yard!

Concrete poured on November 3rd!