MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
   
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 27850
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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Hi folks. I was wondering if you all have any links that may be of interest to others wanting to build an observatory. If you would be so kind as to post them here, I'll organize them in a thread and make it sticky at the top of the forum. Thank you in advance!
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tcraig
sage
Reged: 02/19/05
Posts: 428
Loc: Northern Indiana
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I don't have detailed info as of yet but here is a pictorial of my observatory.
birch rd observatory
Tcraig
-------------------- LXD75-SN10
Etx-60
LPI
300D
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
   
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 4115
Loc: Ireland
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Mark --
Certainly the 7-ton pier thread on this very forum was one of my favorites.
Doc G has a nice page on design considerations (including a very good dome vs. roll-off-roof discussion):
The MAPUG archive has good info on both observatories and piers:
Of course, there's also Bill Arnett's list (which must be the most complete list of amateur observatories in existence):
Bill Arnett's "Japanese tea house" was quite an inspiration to me. This one might be subtitled "Just how good an observatory can look":
For those in colder climates, this one is a must read:
These last two might not be as generally applicable, but they were the closest to what I wanted to build and so very helpful for me:
-- Jeff
Edited by Jeff Young (09/25/05 12:07 PM)
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MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
   
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 27850
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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7 Ton Pier, Chapter 1
-------------------- Mark
"Never eat more than you can lift"
Miss Piggy
Edited by csa/montana (10/08/09 12:01 AM)
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MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
   
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 27850
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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7 Ton Pier, Chapter 2, Building the Observatory
-------------------- Mark
"Never eat more than you can lift"
Miss Piggy
Edited by csa/montana (10/08/09 12:02 AM)
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JAT Observatory
Got Cookies?
   
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 6787
Loc: Eastern PA
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I have a page that shows the start of construction and on going changes and upgrades to my purchased domed observatory. Maybe someone might find it useful. http://www.jatobservatory.org/construction.html
-------------------- -Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://www.jatobservatory.org
Currently a SV102A, WO 66mm & 10" LX200GPS OTA on a Paramount ME
(these OTAs subject to change without notice)
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Winni
member
Reged: 09/14/05
Posts: 36
Loc: Bavaria, Germany
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Hi!
I have a bunch of pictures from building my "starlight trap", have a look: http://hometown.aol.de/winfriedseeliger/page2.html
http://hometown.aol.de/winfriedseeliger/page3.html
The text is unfortunately in german, I will try someday to translate it in english...maybe 
greetings and cs from Bavaria Winni
-------------------- take it easy, but take it...because one day you`l going back to dust - and all you really possess `til this last day are your memories and experiences...
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scopes_r_us
super member
Reged: 01/14/05
Posts: 113
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How about some links to some mobile observatories?
Many of us have to travel to find dark skies.
Thanks
SRU
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JAT Observatory
Got Cookies?
   
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 6787
Loc: Eastern PA
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Don’t have anymore info on this but the picture in this link looks interesting: http://azstellarvision.com/mobile.html
Here is some info on Dan Waid’s contruction of his mobile observatory: http://www.waid-observatory.com/observatory.html
This one is just a mobile control room. It is nicely done. Very professional setup: http://members.aol.com/dbaker1047/SCO/mobile.htm
Info but the pictures don’t display: http://www.ontariorocks.ca/nseaa/mobile.html
Mobile Observatory service: http://www.wytec.org/mobile.htm
Not a lot of info but this puppy is the one I want!! I bet it is a bit pricey though: http://www.goto.co.jp/products/astrocar-e.html#top
Not a new idea, these guys did it back in 1963!: http://ao.osa.org/ViewMedia.cfm?id=72714&seq=0
Another mobile observatory service (education): http://www.geocities.com/intijalsu/turismo/tours0.html
This one only has a picture of an ambulance converted into a mobile observatory http://www.fortworthastro.com/primefocus/0206/page2.html
-------------------- -Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://www.jatobservatory.org
Currently a SV102A, WO 66mm & 10" LX200GPS OTA on a Paramount ME
(these OTAs subject to change without notice)
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photonovore
Moonatic
   
Reged: 12/24/04
Posts: 2502
Loc: tacoma wa
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The 'Roll-Around Roof' design: Images & construction details.
-------------------- Mardi
4" achromat, ETX-70.
Whitepeak Lunar Observatory Website
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Mike Lewis
sage
   
Reged: 01/20/05
Posts: 384
Loc: Near Mulliken, Michigan USA
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From right here on Cloudy Nights; http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1119 
Mike
-------------------- Mike
.......................
Meade 7" Mak
Home built 8" Dob
120mm Sywatcher refractor
76mm Borg
Home built 12.5" Truss, F/5.6 Zambuto
PST
Dunham Hill Observatory
"Most people never look up, what a shame...."
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Here is a link to our Webshots albums containing my observatory/greenhouse album. We put the space under the roll-off rails to good use; http://community.webshots.com/user/chargriff
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have recently completed an Observatory at home in the UK which may be of interest. I documented the whole build on my Astro Web-site:-
http://home.btconnect.com/astro-site/observatory_dome_project.htm
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Rick Needham
Vendor (ExploraDome)
   
Reged: 09/20/05
Posts: 1962
Loc: Fort Ann, NY
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Excellent job Steve and a fine looking observatory! I noticed the Pulsar Dome and base wall unit come as one piece units. Reminds me of how the StarDome units will look. Great job once again Steve and welcome to CN!
Rick
-------------------- Rick
Lat. 44.18 N
Long. 74.31 W
6" STAR HOC f/5 Newtonian 'Amanda'- Orion Astroview w/ dual axis drives
Celestron NexImage CCD Imager
10x50 binocs
(NSO)Northern Skies Observatory...I'm finally domed with the 8' diameter Explora-Dome!!!
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi Rick,
The 'one piece' units appealed to me from the start as there is no chance of a leak in bad weather and we do understand bad weather here in the UK! Once the base was completed, assembly of the dome was very straightforward.
Thanks for the welcome.
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angelos
journeyman
Reged: 07/08/05
Posts: 5
Loc: Athens, Greece
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Below you will find a site with plenty of links on amateur observatories:
http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html
Regards,
Angelos
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wbsjets
newbie
Reged: 07/26/05
Posts: 1
Loc: TX & OK
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Took us 36 months of nights and weekends.
www.lonestarobservtory.org
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
   
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12717
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Misspelled...
-------------------- Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
   
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2828
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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http://www.lonestarobservatory.org/
-------------------- group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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Mr.Wendell
newbie
Reged: 07/17/05
Posts: 1
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
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Post deleted by csa/montana
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