New observatory: ScopeDome 3M

[SkyViking]

Hi All,

As you may know we moved house late last year and as a result I have been without a permanent setup for a while now. However, after a lot of deliberation and planning I'm now close to being back in action, after having embarked on what will be my 3rd observatory build :eyepop::lol:

The new location has excellent 180 degree panoramic views from NW to SE, and in S-SW direction there are only a couple of trees and the house blocking the lower ~25 degrees of sky, so effectively I will be able to image through the night across the entire sky (yay, I can finally take some really long exposures... :D)

Thanks to the elevated location is it also a bit more windy though, so I figured a proper dome was in order. Enter the ScopeDome 3M v3.0 with full automation :cool:
I must say I'm highly impressed with the quality and build of this dome. And the documentation and support from the Australian distributor (http://www.scopedome.com.au) (Steven Mohr) has been most excellent! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Everything was a breeze to assemble and fitted together perfectly. The most difficult and laborious part of my build was actually the support platform itself, including the posts in the ground and the pier etc.

I've attached a few photos of the progress. Current state is that the dome itself is assembled but I still need to install the motors and electronics, and of course the scope!

Stay tuned for more updates...

Regards,
Rolf

[spiezzy]

That looks Awsome Rolf congrads on your new Obs and house well done those skies look very promising
cheers Pete :eyepop::thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Exciting Rolf! I'd love to be taking steps towards a dome :)

[multiweb]

That clam shell looks great Rolf. Didn't you use to be in the south Island?

[strongmanmike]

Wow the location looks great Rolf what a view! With that automated you should be finally able to top 200hrs on something :D

Are we gunna see a 16" guitar string Serrurier Truss...?

Steve Mohr is a great guy huh! :)

Mike

[rogerg]

Location location location! I hope the telescope appreciates the view it has :)

I can understand the exposure concerns though, no place for a RoR. Even with the dome I wonder how often it will be impacted when facing that great open horizon down the hill.

Looks great :thumbsup:

[Spookyer]

Well done mate. Good luck with it.

[ZeroID]

Wow ! Way up there in the Titirangi highlands. Looking awesome. :thumbsup:

Was trying to figure out where you exactly were from the panoramic view you've got but I can't see the Skytower.
Was the move mainly to get a better sky view ?

[strongmanmike]

Hey, Rolf, that first photo looks like one of your secondary support structures :D

Mike

[TR]

Fantastic location. It really looks nice.

Terry

[RobF]

Very beautiful part of the world Rolf. Looks like you have a dream spot night and day now!
Hope you can finally get some decent total exposure on your imaging runs now too :P :)

[marc4darkskies]

Congrats Rolf!! Looks like a great location!

[SkyViking]

Thank you very much Pete, the skies here are pretty good even though Auckland CBD is just some 25kms away. I can see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds easily, and have a great view to the West where the sky is darkest (towards Tasman Sea).


Thanks Colin, it only took me 3 observatories to get to a dome...:lol:


Thank you Marc, no North Island always since I came to NZ.


Thanks Mike, yeah Steven has been absolutely awesome (is he on the forum btw?).
I'm very much looking forward to install all the automation and start playing with it :D Need to get a cloud sensor too I think.

No plans to upgrade the scope at this stage - but I'm glad the dome shutter allows 1m aperture ;)


Thanks Roger, it's certainly great to be able to enjoy the view both day and night :)
We do get some strong winds up here when a front comes through, but then it is usually cloudy at the same time. The clear nights are mostly quite calm fortunately.


Thank you Brett! :)


Thank you Brent, the move was not specifically for the view alone but it certainly helped in convincing us we had made the right choice :) Skytower is about 25km NE of us.


I can see what you mean, lol. What can I say, it's in my DNA :P


Thanks a lot Terry, and I'm sure the scope is going to be happy here :)


Thanks Rob, yeah no more quick snaps now! :lol:


Thank you Marcus, we're very happy and building the obs is exciting for sure!

[RickS]

Wow! Very cool :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

great location and i am in awe of the dome - i would however be a tad concerned with dust and crud being blown up from underneath though the gaps in the boards, only through the exposure of the lower half of the structure or have you filled that in with boards?

[SkyViking]

Thank you Rick, looking forward to imaging again soon! :)


Thanks very much David, I'm planning to lay some rubber mats on the entire floor. It's completely still and quiet inside the obs though so all looks promising :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

You've come a long way since your web cam days Rolf :)...heck you still managed some special things even with that gear...so look out World :thumbsup:

Mike

[ZeroID]

The Hubble is going to announce retirement plans once this is all going ... ;)

[glend]

Looks wonderful Rolf! My obs is elevated on posts as well, albeit nothing as nice as yours. One great benefit of an off the ground obs is reduced moisture in the obs and circulation underneath helps that. I use the large format indoor/outdoor carpet tiles on my timber floor, they are 1x1m and rubber backed so can be cut to fit. The rubber backing insures they don't move.