Mobile Observatories

bluescope · #1 30-08-2008, 05:39 PM

Check these little suckers out .... found them whilst checking Robofocus site !

RB (Andrew) · #2 30-08-2008, 05:51 PM

Yeah Steve, not bad hah !

If your 'neighbour' leaves the outside light on, just move to a new location.

AlexN · #3 30-08-2008, 05:54 PM

expensive much!!

great idea though.. I'd love one...

bluescope · #4 31-08-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

Yeah Steve, not bad hah !

If your 'neighbour' leaves the outside light on, just move to a new location.

I WISH

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

expensive much!!

great idea though.. I'd love one...

Those Americans have good toys ay ! Ofcourse don't forget the millions of them who are worse off than us Aussies, it's not all it's cracked up to be !

Ian Robinson · #5 31-08-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

Yeah Steve, not bad hah !

If your 'neighbour' leaves the outside light on, just move to a new location.

Cheaper to write the idiot next door a nasty letter threating legal action.

Kevnool (Kev) · #6 31-08-2008, 02:03 PM

They would be no good at a caravan park with all that light .........Be good though to see inside of it....cheers kev.

bluescope · #7 31-08-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

They would be no good at a caravan park with all that light .........Be good though to see inside of it....cheers kev.

I don't think the idea is to take them to a caravan park Kev

I'd like to see inside the second one !

gman (Grant) · #8 02-09-2008, 10:16 PM

Check out these 2 co-s in the states

Both cater for the mobile observatory but in different ways
If only I had the money

www.astrolifts.com
www.pier-tech.com

Matty P (Matt) · #9 02-09-2008, 10:28 PM

Not a bad idea at all but I cringe at the price of one.

I think I'd rather buy a new scope though.

h0ughy (David) · #10 03-09-2008, 07:35 AM

The second van is probably a small fortune but the first one you could possibly get away with for under 15grand. Purchase an older van and modify the roofline - you will be up for a Sirius dome set, and relocating the bed but i reckon you could get away with it. A few stabilizers and supports (I already have a peirtech like mount base) and should be sweet. Just have to pay for rego and regular maintenance after that point.

RB (Andrew) · #11 03-09-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Purchase an older van and modify the roofline - Move my old bed, computer gear and astro goodies in there and get numberplates that read 'The Dog House' .....

You've seriously looked into this I see Houghy.

AlexN · #12 03-09-2008, 01:11 PM

I dont know if Houghy has looked into it, or if its been looked into for him

bluescope · #13 03-09-2008, 01:34 PM

I guess the thing is that if you are seriously "city locked" and can't escape those dreaded lights a mobile situation could be a viable solution. Doesn't cost as much as a dark sky property ( I know because I've just done that ) and if you still have to work you can have the best of both worlds. A second hand caravan wouldn't be too much ( doesn't have to be flash ) and the modifications as Houghy says are possible if you're handy, you just have to have the will and the time to remodel it.

Then you have to make friends with someone in the bush so you can park it at their place

rmcpb (Rob) · #14 04-09-2008, 09:41 AM

The yanks sure like their toys don't they!!

h0ughy (David) · #15 05-09-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

The yanks sure like their toys don't they!!

they are not the only ones

h0ughy (David) · #16 05-09-2008, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

I dont know if Houghy has looked into it, or if its been looked into for him

I have looked into this - only I have no wherw to keep the van. I was going to use it as the "permanent observatory" that i could take to star parties. Maybe one day.