Colour of observatory walls ??

[Tamtarn]

Is it best to paint inside observatory walls a light or dark colour ??

D&B

[sheeny (Al)]

I painted mine black. My theory was the darker the better. Any stray light is aborbed as much as possible rather than affecting night vision.

Al.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Hi Barb and David, Some say it should be painted a dark non reflective colour. I have seen them painted with a deep flat blue. I don't really think it matters to much as long as it doesn't reflect huge amounts of light. You may recall mine is still the natural ply wood and at this stage haven't suffered from any problems with reflections. The darker the colour the smaller it will seem. Sirrus Observatories only paint the roof black for obvious reasons when viewing through a slit opening.

[Terry B]

Mine is the colour of the back of colourbond. No lining or paint.
Can't see how it matters really.
It is useful to have lighter coloured wall if you wan't to make flat frames by aiming the scope at the wall. I have a piece of gyprock on 1 wall that the scope can aim at easily. I then use an old flash and aim it at the back wall. This reflects around nicely and gives me good flat frames.

[bloodhound31]

Depends if it's for function or show.


Thinking along the lines of flocking in a tube giving you better contrast, I reckon the least reflective, dark colour you can. No light bouncing around inside and getting into your scope or the rest of your imaging train.

I just painted the white edges of my dome slot matt black. It looks neat and now the streetlights don't bounce in to the dome.

Baz.

[Alchemy (Clive)]

i went a mid gray, it still feels inviting even in the day..... not like a dungeon.

if its bright enough to reflect starlight it still wont affect your night vision, and if like me you have a computer in there , thats a moot point.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by Terry B

Mine is the colour of the back of colourbond. No lining or paint.

Mine is the same in the outside/open half. Works quite well I once had a black shelf thinking it would be a good idea to start having everything black - bad idea, couldn't see anything on it even with lights!

If using a dark colour on the walls I would have the bottom 10cm or so a light colour and areas like around the door a similar border of lighter colour, just so you can move around the area without bumping things.

If you were to be doing mostly visual work I think I'd actually stick with a lighter colour like the gray of colourbond, as it only takes a small light to provide dim illumination to easily find your way around and know where eyepieces etc are. Having no ambient light at all can be frustrating I find.

Roger.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

A sexy deep red/wine colour in gloss worked for me, gives it a sort of classy......atmosphere. Show counts a bit, pleasant to be in and well, show off to visitors

[rider]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

Is it best to paint inside observatory walls a light or dark colour ??

D&B

Stealthfighters are not black, they are a very dark pinky-plum colour. This is because it makes them less noticeable against the night sky. Perhaps this could work for an observatory.

rider

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

The interior of my dome is matte black, the walls are colourbond grey/white. Apparently the walls used to be lined with marine ply, but were not painted.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

just don't ask Jen what colour they should be


geoff

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

just don't ask Jen what colour they should be


geoff

let me take a guess

[kinetic (Steve)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

i went a mid gray, it still feels inviting even in the day..... not like a dungeon.

if its bright enough to reflect starlight it still wont affect your night vision, and if like me you have a computer in there , thats a moot point.

I'm the same as Clive...mine are mid grey.
See the Avatar...

Lights work inside when you want to work by fluoro...black walls
would kill any work-light.
Grey is dark enough to kill any internal red-light when under use.
Sort of a compromise...and grey paint was cheap in a 4lt tin

Steve

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

I'd be happy with any colour if I had an Observatory.
But Mat black sounds like it would be the best....

One day I hope....

[Tamtarn]

Thanks all for the input re colours.

Have painted the walls a dark blue\green, will post pics soon.

[Paul Haese]

Just used black formply, it has a low sheen to it and that seems fine.

[Barrykgerdes]

Interesting thoughts. I had an observatory in the back yard for 8 years. till I sold the dome. I can't remember the exact colour of the inside walls as I never really looked at them. I think they were an off grey/green, the standard under colour of colorbond sheets. The dome was painted inside with a flat black. When I was in the observatory I was too busy looking through the eyepiece and besides it was too dark to see the walls.

Baz

[Tamtarn]

If it stops raining down here I'll open the roof and take those pics.

[Tamtarn]

Finally some pics of the obs lined and painted.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Oh yeah, thats very sexy. Clean, slinky, neat, hi tech looking. Who said looks dont count ? .