Just wondering if anyone has seen one of these models in the field.
I'd be interested to hear people peoples thoughts about this observatory. It looks quite well construcred from the photo's.
Cheers
Hi Ric, I can vouch for astrodomes as I have in the past have worked on them.
Go into Photo's and look at 2.9 meter domes you will see yours truly helping to construct the domes at MacArthur University in 1999.
I'm the guy in the dark cap.
All models of the domes have been shipped all over the world,and as far as I know have a good reputation in the astronomical world.
Cheers
It certainly does look well made. I assume from the design that to enter you'd have to walk around the dome to find the opening. Depending on your setup location, that might be an issue.
It certainly does look well made. I assume from the design that to enter you'd have to walk around the dome to find the opening. Depending on your setup location, that might be an issue.
I have never in all the years being involved with astrodomes,*Col is a friend of mine* had anyone mention that as a debit on this style of dome.
In a pitch black situation, you can still see where you are going and so finding where the door is,is no problem.
I am sure you will remember what position you left the door in.
Most people have a path too their observatory so that is were you would park the the door of the dome for the day.
I wasn't thinking so much as for finding it, but access. If you've got the dome in the corner of the yard and the entrance has been rotated to near a fence/wall, I thought it might be a bit more difficult to get to - however I haven't seen one in real life, so it's only me attempting to visual it - could be a non-issue.
I'm working through the list of candidates for my own home observatory to be built in the next couple of years, and had come across these on the web, as well as having heard one experience from an owner in Perth. Has anyone here any experience with a motorised one of these, and would be willing to comment on how well the setup works?
regards,
Andrew.
Hi All,
I have had one for about 11 years now. Its a 4.5 meter and motorized.
The thing has lasted so long, and is now re located in my new home, so its been assembled twice, and everything fits like a glove.
Really strong, and solid. weighs a bit, and smooth to run.
Colin from Astrodomes has really put together a working dome. I haven't needed to replace anything yet (Actually just one remote control). Yes, it even has a wireless remote for the shutter, which is good if it starts to rain before you have a chance to get to the dome.
Always cool, because the dome colour is white, so reflects heat.
Only real complaint I have, is that there should have been more black paint sprayed inside. It was thin in some areas, and good in others, so in the daylight, some light comes through. No difference in the dark, but that's about all I can find..
I highly recommend it, and it works with Maxdome II really easy, and mine is all computer controlled, and rotates where it needs to from "The Sky" software.
I have attached some images from my first assembly. I didn't take any on the second, as I didn't think I would need too, as its the same process as the first.
Yes, there is a small gap between the wall of the dome and the ring gear assembly mount. Its about20 to 30mm from memory.
You can get small bugs and that, but if you do the concrete slab properly, by ading a base step to the slab height, then you can make a wide lip or boundry and stop them from comming in. I didint do it this way, as it costs more to do the slab this way. So i just use surface spray along the rim edge (Inside), and this tends to kill 98% of bugs trying to come in. But, place a grease slick along the bottome ring, and you provide a wall that bugs dont like to walk on.
Surface spray works fine though.
What sort of cost for one of these....... one of the reasons I went away from astronomy for so long was the hassle of setting and packing up big scopes.
This may be a good answer
