Domes?

[garymck]

Hi,
after having unsettled living arrangements for years I'm soon moving to Geelong and will have space to finally set up a permanent observatory.

In the past I've had a roll off roof, and whilst I've enjoyed being out under the stars, I've always had issues with heaps of dew and city light pollution. I would really love a dome to house my CPC1100 and assorted bits that hang off it. It will primarily be used for imaging. It will be used "remotely" ie in the backyard whilst I'm in the lounge by the fire on using a laptop!

I can't afford a new dome, and there hasn't been a used one on the classifieds for a while - at least in Victoria... So It looks like I might have to try to build one. I think a 2 meter dome atop a 2 x 4 meter shed looks about right size wise. I'd put the dome at one end and have a small work space at the other end.

I've searched online, but can't seem to find any real plans for a dome that look easy for mildly challenged DIYer. Has anyone spotted any or have any ideas for a relatively simple dome build?

Additionally what would the cheapest options be to automate rotation? - Don't need an automated slit as I'm only going to be 10 meters away anyway!

cheers
Gary

[Tandum]

Gary,
I built a foam dome in the backyard. The dome plans are here -> http://eoni.com/~garlitzj/geodome.htm

And I got pictures etc of my build on line here -> http://starshed.net/

You can simply scale Joes plans to whatever size you want, I scaled down to under 2meters. Some render the foam with concrete, I used acrylic render on mine and others have built them out of plywood and then fiberglassed them.

I automated it using the lesvedome ascom driver (http://www.dppobservatory.net/DomeAutomation/DomeDriver.php) and some help from friends :)

[el_draco]

Hi Gary,
Im thinking about adapting this design to a 5/8th dome. The beauty of it is that every angle is 22.5 degrees. Pretty simple

http://www.geo-dome.co.uk/article.asp?uname=trap_dome


Rom

[garymck]

Thanks guys for the replies, I hadfn't seen those links. The foam dome seems like it may be a possibility....Now for some planning and design work!

cheers
Gary

[bloodhound31]

If it's only 2m perhaps look at the red nose foundation (SIDS). You could buy one of those giant red noses they sell, adapt it and you would be supporting a worthy cause.

[Tandum]

Ring around for prices on foam Gary, it varies wildly.
I ended up paying 1/4 of the first quote.

[garymck]

Hi Robin,

what sort of foam did you use? The open celled insulation type seems easy to get, but the high density stuff that seems popular in the USA seems much harder to get...

cheers
Gary

[ChrisM]

Hi Gary,

Also have a read of this publication for some ideas: http://www.homedome.com/downloads.htm (see the "At Home in a Dome" publication towards the bottom of that web page.)

I used the Desert Domes calculator to get dimensions for a 3V dome. Simply type in your required dome radius, and you instantly get all the dimensions you need. http://www.desertdomes.com/domecalc.html

My dome is made from 9 mm plywood and liquid nails. The thread is here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=36222&page=4

Good luck,
Chris

[Terry B]

Maybe this would be close enough to look at and a reasonably cheap option.
http://www.astrobuysell.com/au/propview.php?view=2316

I noted the add earler today. Too far for me.

[naskies]

Very interesting! I'm tempted to try my hand at building a very small (1.5 m) automated dome for my EQ6/RC8 in the back yard.

Did you automate the shutter in yours, Robin, or was it just for dome rotation only?



Interesting... a molded acrylic/plexiglas dome would be a nice starting point. I wonder how much they cost? I've only found a few sources online for mass production; nothing off-the-shelf so far. I assume custom jobs from local plastic fabricators would be expensive.

[Tandum]

Just the normal polystyrene stuff. 2" thick err 50 mm? Once it got stuck to the ring it was pretty strong. I used Taubmans armawall acrylic render followed by armawall top coat. The local paint shop got the render in for me and I got the top coat off ebay cheap. I believe dulux and others make a similar product. If I were doing it again I'd rethink the walls. The bottom ring needs a step down to stop water coming in under the metal sheeting. It took a lot of bitumen paint inside to stop it.



Just the dome. I have a motor for the shutter but being wood it's quite heavy and never fitted it. If I did motorise it I'd make a new aluminium door and have it run on a aluminium track captured with wheels above and below the track.

I found going over to check out Allan Goulds Sirius Dome very helpful in planning the shutter and slot sizing.

Mine is 1.81meters inside ring to ring. The 12" newt on an eq8 just squeezes in. I drive it via VNC from a laptop inside. I only squeeze myself in there to turn it on and focus it.

[TimberLand]

Nice idea with the dome and the links to the design, I have just got approval from the financial adviser to start planning and building an observatory, this is something I've been meaning to do for quiet a while now. I have decided to go with the dome over the roll off roof for the wind and dew reduction factor, but building the dome part always pushed my back to the roll off roof.

[garymck]

after having a look at Robin's dome I'm sure that is the way to go. I move late September, so the build will start October. Robin, yours looks to be just the right size for me, so I hope when I get started that you won't mind me pestering you with questions! Once I get started I'll need all the help I can get :-)

cheers all, and thank you for your input.
Gary

[Tandum]

Not a problem Gary. What goes around come around, I pestered the hell out of SteveB (kinetic) during my build :)

I should add that most of the detail is in the blog, been a lot of beer under the bridge since then :)

[Tandum]

Here's the build thread for mine.-> http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=67486

I hope you get it sorted in under a year :rofl: