AlienFirstClass
(professor emeritus)
07/05/09 02:51 PM
Re: First night in a Home Dome

Quote:

Well here it is. The first report of my experience with my new to me 6HD-T Home Dome.

I picked this dome up used in May and have spent alot of time cleaning, repairing and replacing cables, pulleys and other maintenance. Lot's of defered maintenance!

I had the firmware updated by Technical Innovations to Ver.4 of Digital Dome Works and now have a great old Dell Computer running Digital Dome Works ver.5.2, Windows XP and The Sky 6 Professional.

Last but not least I bought an older C-8 and dovetail to mount on my CGE, since my 6" f/12 D&G will not fit in this dome.

Everything came together and I had my first chance last night to use the dome, scope and software.

As I reassembled the dome and leveled it on my concrete pad it became obvious that there wouldn't be much room in the dome. I had said from the first that I would be looking for a Stella Cam or the like and try to use this setup for some form of imaging. Once I put the CGE in there my thoughts were confirmed. There is not alot of room in here.

It was a very uncomfortable night due to lack of space but the dome performed well the mount is a proven performer and the C-8? Well it is a piece of junk. The optics seem good or better but the image shift is unbelievable! I got rooked on this purchase but I'll get it dialed in.

The final vote is that the Home Dome 6HD-T is a great observatory for imaging or remote operation but don't plan on any star parties for the public in there.




Could you post more pictures of the inside of the dome?

In particular the cables, motors, rollers...all the things that combine to allow automation.

Thanks



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