Field observatories/tents?

[Omaroo]

Hi all :)

I've just tried doing a search on this topic here and have come up with very little. I'm just wondering if anyone here has used or seen a tent-type field observatory that'd be tall enough to cover a 12" SCT on a collapsed tripod if required yet would allow full 360-degree rotation without snagging?

They seem reasonably popular in the USA but I can't find anyone who supplies them as such in Australia. I'm considering using our Coleman Insta-Set screen tent in lieu of anything better, but these need the screens folded right back out of the way to gain a view. The good thing is that they are a solid unit that can be rotated when required - as long as you cut a hole in the sewn-in bfloor to set the tripod in so that the rest can rotate. Height is good at 2.1m in the centre - which still gives you a good dec. angle. You can always move to the edge if you need to go higher. Having quite a decent silver-lined roof they'd keep dew down to a minimum too.

Any ideas anyone?

Cheers
Chris

[xstream]

Here's what we use Chris.
It's called an Oztrail has adjustable height, quick and easy to erect.
We also have removable walls for it as well which are an optional extra.
These are not a cheap gazebo be prepared to pay around the $250-300 mark without the walls.

[Striker]

I dont know anyone who does anything in Aus...here's the Kendrick tent

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=3478&kw=kendrick%20tent&st=2

[jjjnettie]

Those Kendrick tents are an ingenious idea. :thumbsup:
I've a bit of experience with industrial sewing and I reckon it wouldn't be too hard to convert a Kookaburra 3, 4 or 5 man dome tent into a usefull astrocessary.
Interesting idea.

[asimov]

Yes, I've often thought about converting my tent so it could be used for this purpose..

[rogerg]

I have noticed how much mozzies like laptop screens in the night. With this in mind I have recently been wondering about a tent simply for myself next to the telescope - to sit in with the laptop and have fly netting protecting me from the bugs. Can't imagine I'd be spending the money on it any time soon but it would be nice, that or a observing tent that has 2 compartments - one sealed from mozzies.

Roger.

[bojan]

Looks good but does not solve the wind problem....
There was a company in USA making the tent domes, very good..
But they went out of business, unfortunatelly.... and it seems no-one does the similar thing any more.:mad2:
When I find the picture I will post it, just for your info....

[Omaroo]

Bojan - I think I know the one you are referring to.... I saw a proper ad for it in an mag a while back.

Is this one it I wonder?

[bojan]

I found it.. on Randy Brewer's webpage.( http://www.randybrewer.net/)
It seems they (Sky Tent is the name of the company.... either they are not in business or they do not make those domes any more) made quite a few, because when searching on the web I found more people using this model.
Something like that would be the solution to our problems :)

[bojan]

It seems we posted this at the same time :-)
Yes, this is it.

[Omaroo]

Yep - same one. Nice.....!

[Omaroo]

OK - what about this? It's a Coleman Insta-Set shower/dunny tent we use for camping at spots for a few days or more. It just occured to me that the base is 1.5m x 1.5m and the door aperture is 1,750mm high - so it's plenty big enough to take the scope and cover it from dew and a quick shower. You can still sit on a stool behind it and it'd keep most of the wind off. It also doesn't affect the GPS. If my 12" stands right at the door, I can get some pretty decent altitude still.

It takes roughy 45 seconds to erect, including taking it out of its bag - which is great.

Thoughts?

[bojan]

Hmmm ..
That may be the right solution for my 10" dobsonian.....
Where to have a better look at it where to get one?
Bojan

[Omaroo]

I think that it may be perfect for a Dob.

Go to http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/Product,1188.aspx to see them on the Coleman site. Then - off to Ray's outdoors!

[h0ughy]

so the scope is in there, where do you fit?

[Omaroo]

hehe.. it's actually a little more roomy than it looks in the photo - but not by much. I'd prefer to be outside than in there, but if the weather looks dodgy or a great dew is about to settlem I'd live with the lack of room. You can still put a stool at the back and a small table. Let's just call it "cosy" :P

[bojan]

I am on my way to Nunawading this afternoon :-)
Thanks :-)

[Omaroo]

Pleasure bojan

If you could get to Sydney, my wife is opening a new Rays store in Campbelltown this week. She'd give you a "celestial" discount......... but then again, Nunawading is a tad closer :D

Anyway - let me know what you think of the structure. It's brilliant in my books. Very quick and easy to erect because the poles stay with the fabric, so you don't have to go threading anything.

Cheers
Chris

[bojan]

Chris, it definitelly looks the right thing but of course I have to see it first.
And, judging by the picture, it may be a good idea to add one more wing (or two) ~ 1m long, just to protect the dobsonian tube from side wind blows, when it is pointed to lower elevations. That should not be too hard :-)
Will let you know when I see the thing :-)

[bojan]

OK, the toilet... ups.... The telescope portable dome is at home.
Chris, you were right, the unit seems to be quite solid when properly anchored and it is very easy to setup.
Now to test it, I need a windy evening ... in Melbourne this is not a problem at all :-)

[Omaroo]

Good one bojan :)

I'm keen to see some photos of it with your Dob lurking inside....

Did you tell the store sales person what you were using it for? I'd love to have seen their reaction :rofl:

[Striker]

I think with a name like Omaroo your a perfect candidate to make your own brand Observatory tent...lol

Forget about all the big name brands tents...everyone will want a Omaroo....hehehe

[Omaroo]

"Oma-who?.......NOooooooooooo!!!! That's OmaROO!" :hi:

[jjjnettie]

http://www.geocities.com/mschwa01/buildit.htm
You can buy the plans to build your own portable dome here.

[ballaratdragons]

Ok, a couple of you have suggested tent dunnies, and 2,3,4 man tents,

So how do you see Zenith?

[Omaroo]

OK, OK..... we're working on it :P

The Coleman dunny tent is a reasonably rigid unit when erected, so turning it around to suit a change in longitude isn't a problem. The idea of using it (for me anyway) is so that I have somewhere I can quickly retreat to if a super-heavy dew is imminent or if it's going to start to spit rain. If the angles are suitable to be able to leave it in there, it's also pretty good at keeping the wind off.

Depending what type of scope mount you have (i.e. tripod vs. dob) I guess that you just have to suck and see. I get about 75 degrees out of mine before I have to move it outside. Zenith positioning will have to wait until I can figure a way to build a dedicated unit like the one jjjnettie has pointed out. Couldn't be hard....

[bojan]

Well... to see zenith with dobson is a bit of a problem anyway :P....
I have not really tried my tent yet but I will tonight, or over the next weekend....
But I feel it will be OK for me. Anyway, for $120 (father's day dicount applied) it is OK, even if appropriate for limited number of circumstances..
It will need a modification though... Anchoring the tent at the top-most point (and allowing it to rotate around this point) will be beneficial for slighly stronger winds.
jjjnettie (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=141)'s link is very interesting :) This seem to be a much better option, but the portability is somewhat the issue here.... If a total portability is wanted.
B

[jjjnettie]

I reckon we should all chip in and buy a copy of the dome plans and then you don't have to muck around working out your own design.
Anyone interested?

[jjjnettie]

Ok, so far there are two of us keen to share the cost of purchase of the plans.
Any other takers?

[spacezebra]

Hi jjj

Yes I would be interested, I am being bombarded by tennis court lights at the moment.

Cheers Petra

[bojan]

It is cozy... but adequate, for a moment . Proper anchoring at the top is necessary to stabilize the whole structure. Fortunatelly, there is a provision for something like that on the top joint, what will be needed is a steel tubing with some threading to fasten it to the joint... around which the 3 or 4 ropes could be tied.
But, when I have my hands on a permanent site, the design similar to what jjjnettie is proposing will be much better solution.. or something similar to SkyTent dome.

[jjjnettie]

Great Petra. I'll find out the price in $AU and let you know.

[spacezebra]

Hi JJJ

Thats great - looking forward to hearing from you.

Cheers Petra

[bojan]

About plans for more permanent tents... have a look at this site:

http://www.desertdomes.com/domecalc.html

It is not hard to continue from here.....

[spudrick]

Check this one out for simplicity speed and compact pack size
http://www.popoutside.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=63
If you are interest i can get a sample made in China
Below photo shows exactly same design for a Toilet/Shower tent i have had made for my work (camping equipment) it is only different in size this is 115x115x190cm with removable roof. Pretty similar to the Coleman size.
The frame is spring steel so it makes a circle when folded and same folding action as those twisty window shades

[Omaroo]

We have one of these too. 1150mm vs 1500 is quite a difference. The Coleman is substantially larger, but these just "flick out" into position and are ready to go.

[spudrick]

Hello, no i am not suggesting you use the 115cm unit i am just pointing out the pop-up style and the link to the Model sold in the UK. That model is 200x200x200 high which would be much better

[bojan]

Terry, when shopping for Coleman unit, I had a look at this one.. it is not good because it is not rigid enough and can not be anchored, for a bit more windy condition. I would not recommend any of those pop-up designs.
Bojan

[netwolf]

Hi Guys,

jjjnettie, i think we can make our own plan from what can be seen on the site.

Its a octogon shaped tent. 8 sides, the roof is 4 rectagles + 4 Triangles connected by forming a square at the Arc of the dome.

The base are 8 rectangles. A bit of canvas and stich on some nylon straps or tie downs and your done. Add some wheels.

I am sure someone here could draw up the plans for this in a cad program.

All you need are pipes like the ones used in the outdoor canvas pagola setups. And some joiners.
Perhaps a pagola setup from bunings could be retrofited into this solution.

Regards

[Omaroo]

The problem is going to be the odd angles that the joiners are going to be set at. Typically it's easy to get 180, 120 and 90 degree joiners in either 2,3 or 4-way versions.

Dummying up the structure in a cad program as a wireframe will let us know what the joiner angles must be. Does anyone have a cad package loaded and are able to run it?

[netwolf]

For the enterprising amongst us take note that if you have a small workshop you could easily put togethere some kits for pepople to purchase locally.
The desertdomes site bojan is awesome, more ideas the better.

Regards

[bojan]

Well, this is what I came up with some time ago....
It was supposed to be 3m diameter dome (frame made of steel pipes, cloth over the whole thing etc).
I am still considering it for my future permanent site....

[spudrick]

So i finally got my sample of a portable Dome made, it needs a few modifications, Better more rounded shape and a Silver outer coating. But it Pop-ups in 5 seconds and it can be packed down in 10 seconds to a flat 70cm round carry bag. As it has 4 adjustable (velcro tabs) windows moving it around should be kept to a minimum but if you had to move it then it is only 4 pushed in pegs and it weighs less than 3kgs - just pick it up and turn it.
I know this spring steel frame is not a solid structure and if the wind gets up it has 4 rope points to secure it, anyway it is for a fast easy shelter and it works.
In the photo the table is 70x70x70cm High for reference the shelter is 2mtrsx2mtrsx2mtrs High. The scope is a 12" GSO on a EQ Mount. I have the door and window open to see the inner.
More photos here:http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m153/spudrick_2006/?

[ballaratdragons]

Terry has come through with his sample of the Dome Observing Tent!

Terry turned up tonight at the SVAA with the sample and showed the other members how quick and easy it goes up and packs away.

it was fully erected in 6 seconds!!!!!!!!!! :eyepop:

and packed away again in 10 seconds!!!!

It has improvements over the American model available. The side opening flaps open lower for Dobs and on the production model the walls will be made of the silver 'light reflecting' material.

I was amazed at how spacious it was inside. Plenty of room for a BIG scope, a work table, chair and still room to walk around in there! And the whole things is carried in a tiny round bag.

Well done Terry. The sample was a success! :thumbsup:

Here are some pics of it being put up and demonstrated inside our SVAA Clubroom tonight.

Pic 1: Onlookers stunned at the simplicity.
Pic 2: Terry models inside the dome.

[h0ughy]

any other clearer photos, how much and when can we order one?

[snowyskiesau]

From Terry's earlier post:

http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m153/spudrick_2006/?

Looks good!

[h0ughy]

thanks Geoff

[Odlaw]

Still need a price and availability?

[Odlaw]

Please

[ballaratdragons]

Terry had that sample made up while he was in China on business. He hasn't got any prices as yet. It is a one-of.