I'm thinking of housing my Celestron 6" refractor in a home observatory dome.  Temperature extremes here range from 100 to -35F.  Has anyone experience to share regarding how your telescope has fared under varying conditions in a dome?  What about temperature buildup in summer when you're away on vacation?  Thanks!

I am currently eyeing out the Sky Shed POD........It is not only the most economical one on the market that I am aware of ($1500.00) for starters , but it is roto cast polyethelene , which is UV inhibited and of double wall constuction that IMO would be benificial in insulating properties..As opposed to single wall fiberglass that is more prone to UV & cracking! And the POD is a lot less money!......These are available in different colors and of couse I believe the plain White would be best as far as not attracting the heat that a darker color would.   Even at that you would want the unit to be vented to release heat & conensation!....I do believe that the POD has a small vent in one of the Dome halves but a small maybe thermostatically controlled fan at the vent would probably be recommended to aid in the heat despersion as well as condensation buildup!......Dave

Thanks for the info and good ideas.  I'm just starting to look into this, so any ideas are welcome at this point!

WinterSolstice

I ran across another one "Exploradome" In this you can purchase "just the dome" and build your own 8x8 or 10x10 roofless shed and mount the dome on top!  They start at $850.00 for just the dome.....Theres a bunch of add ons if desired , I.E. Cuved side wall pieces , wheels and track for dome rotation , motors & gearing , etc................Dave

You have to be mindful of crowding yourself out of those small domes with something like a 6" refractor.

You have to figure 4 feet plus of tube, Viewing anywhere near the horizon is going to need about 8 feet or so of dome diameter inside at a minimum.

johnm:

You have to be mindful of crowding yourself out of those small domes with something like a 6" refractor.

more so if you decide to do any astrophotography.  you'll end up with at least a computer and monitor and another 4" of camera perhaps.  oh - and a comfy chair.

i'm thinking about going with a homebrew roll-off-roof design.  i can start with any sized portable building, or just built the whole thing myself.  domes are pretty in your yard, but they are impracticle to build. 

i've looked at several designs, and the roll-off-roof seems to be the cheapest and the easiest to DIY.  the only disadvantage is that it will let stray light in from all directions, but this can be blocked with black canvas shields.  i was thinking about putting something like a flagpole at each corner for 3 shields (the roof acts as one probably toward the north.)  i can simply lower the one in the direction i'm observing.

good luck, a permanant observatory is something i've wanted to build for a long time.  i'm just waiting to move out of the city before i waste the time.  i always travel to dark sites anyway.

 Domes are difficult to build and expensive to buy when you calculate present day shipping costs.

I'm extremely fortunate to live under 7th magnitude skies and have a roll off housing an equatorially mounted newt. There's some pictures of it in the Amateur Observatories threads. Maybe one of the moderators can catch this thread and put it where it should be.

A very workable alternative to a dome is what's called a "Birdcage". A building with vertical sides and a shallow pitch roof with the peak built back off center. The opening usually from what is floor level and up across the roof to provide zenith access. The entire building rotates as a dome. I'm hoping to at least get the pier in place and a deck built around it this coming summer for another observatory.

7th mag skies John!    Where are you!? I want to go!........Actually I have 40 acres in Northern Arizona on the south western edge of the Coconino Plateau..This is a black area on the light pollution map but I dont know the mag....I want to go but I need to sell this place in So. Cal. and right now I can't give it away!.........But when the time comes , I think that not just one , but two observatories will be in order!.....Maybe even start an Observers Retreat!.........Camping , Bar B Ques , Oh! the dreams I have.......Dave

NELM isn't everything. Unsteady seeing can wreck HP viewing. I'm midway down a valley surrounded on 3 sides with 13000+ rock. Weather coming over the mountains can ruin planetary observations more often then not. For LP observations, it doesn't bother as much. 

John and Dave, I'm keen to leave the washed-out skies of the city someday too.  If you start up an observatory "city", can I get in on it?  Keep me posted please.

I once read somewhere that the most important accessory in your box is your viewing partners!.....Comradery in this hobby is the greatest thing!....So , absolutely!.....All would be welcome at the Double Dome Observatory under the great dark skies of Northern Arizona!......But....There will be a sign at the gate reading "No arrogance , Power tripping , or Those who think they are above the rest of us!" This to me makes bad company! Dave

Probably 99.99% of amateurs world wide have to deal with light polluted skies to some extent. Even where I live there are a few irritating lights I can see at night, no way around it anymore.

Everyone just has to work around it. There's a lot of great observing done under less than ideal sky. 

Hi,

I know this is about 5 months late, but I have recently put up my Skyshed Pod and I love it.  I bouht one with 3 bays.  I have my computer in one bay, my filters and eyepieces in the second bay, and extraneous stuff like binoculars in the third.  Each bay has a roll out desktop.  I have it wired for electricty with the scope mounted on a 6" pier that I also bought from Skyshed.  It is so easy to just stroll out, open the dome, turn on the scope and computer and start looking.

I installed one solar powered vent fan and so far (realizing it is only May) it keeps it below 90 degrees in the middle of the day.  I may put in a second vent fan if needed.  I installed the Pod on a deck covered with plywood covered with Tile.  I have had several really hard rains.  After the first one I had a small leak right above my laptop.  I had a seal that wasn't quite sealed.  By the way, laptops dry out and still work.  No leak problems since.

 Florida guy

Hey , Better late than never Florida guy!   Thanks for the post . The info is good to know . Keep us posted in the future on this .      Dave 

When that  "Retreat"  is ready;  sign me up!!!!   I live in NH, ok skies....can just see the Milky way on a clear night.  I really want to build an observatory but money is the biggest concern right now.

Dee