Portable Observatories/Observation Tents

[issdaol (Phil)]

Quick Update:

we have drawn up a complete 3D CAD design now and the rough dimensions are 4m x 3m. Observation window is at one end opposite the entry. Estimated pack away size is 900mm x 900mm x 150mm

[issdaol (Phil)]

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Hi phill,

Ide have to say im not a stranger to big scopes I run a 10" Newt. I believe that the amount of people doing 7 day plus trips are not common and hence unless its just for yourself to design a big telescope tent then the amount of people willing to fork out large amounts of cash would baulk even if it was a far better product.

Its just my thoughts because ide love to see a good quality telescope enclosure for somewhere around 400 dollars and if i wanted somewhere to sleep a small tent would work perfectly for that.

Brendan

Hi Brendan,

I started out on this as an exercise just for myself as I wanted a multi-function/multi-use tent that could house all my gear comfortably and a couple of other observers as inevitably you always get others wanting to look through your scope.

In my estimation you will never get a high quality tent around $400 unless it is very small and made in china or similar places o/seas.

In this case I am talking about full Oz Design and Manufactured tent with high quality local materials (canvas etc).

Cheers

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I spoke to a tent manufacturer here in Perth to modify a design, cost was $2000.00 ouch

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

issidol. I thought that is what you where getting at, but I also thought that with you taking it to a manufactuer, they would most likely want to use the design as well. Alls good

first light.

Mate i have no issues and am not offended Yes they are small but im not using a small short tube telescope either at close to 1.2m in length it only just clears out the top viewing port. I have never set my telescope tripod on any other hight than all the way down. lower to the ground, lower center of gravity less for the wind to hit my parachute!

I also have a 7 man tent that has a front annex and a intermediate room between the annex and main room, with a very very simple modification you could turn the annex into a observatory. Far cheaper than getting a design made as malcom said your looking at some good cahoonas to get it done.

As for rain, I dunno about you but if there is good rain forcast to where im going.... I wont go my equipment is too expensive to be destroyed like that because anything can happen even if you have the best and most expensive tent in a decent storm flying debris could puncture your tent and hey presto oooohhhh poooballs.! They arnt made for rain maybe a little sun shower but not rain.

[firstlight (Tony)]

My example was the 2010 Queensland Astrofest. The event extends over 10 days and I don't think anyone expected 75mm in one day/night , but even 10mm can seriously fill the covers if they don't have some sort of centre support.

I am considering using a tent like this for a dark sky site, until I have the means to erect a more permanent observatory... the dew sometimes get pretty heavy, let alone any shower activity.

$2k is out of my league, but $800 might get it over the line as a portable observatory, cover, and "warm room/control room". And all insect free for when the weather is more pleasant, but the bites aren't

[Davros (Lauren)]

Just imagine setting that first big sucker up on the imaging field at Astrofest you would be pelted with eyepieces. Thats one big observing tent. I prefer the bicycle storage style one that was there this year for eletronics with a trusty tarp covering the scope.

[issdaol (Phil)]

As long as I was pelted with some denk's, pentax's and televues that'd be fine :-) :-)

[firstlight (Tony)]

Originally Posted by Davros

Just imagine setting that first big sucker up on the imaging field at Astrofest you would be pelted with eyepieces. Thats one big observing tent. I prefer the bicycle storage style one that was there this year for eletronics with a trusty tarp covering the scope.

Did you see how much space Anne-Louise and I took up this year? We both set up a portable toilet near each other, draped a tarp over both of them to create an entrance hall between us, the we both had scopes; my imaging rig, the 10" dob and the eq5 for camera mount. I thinke we consumed a large portion of the field as it was

We will likely be doing the same again even if we travel the path of the observatory tent. The tent is intended to be the dark site observatory.

I'm with Phil, I can accept donations of eyepieces

[thunderchildobs]

Something else to think about with the "loo" type tents is that they are useful for keeping dew and rain off computers, they are pretty useless at blocking stray light for your computer. Computers in the tents still need to be red light safe. If your red filter is knocked over, the tents glow like a xmas tree. The tents really need a large tarp over them if you what to attempt to use a computer without a red filter.