Recommendations on Best Personal Observatory for Amatuers

I am looking for recommendations on the best Personal Observatories that can
be purchased from vendors.

They can be kits that you build up or fully built up on site.

I curently own a POD (Personal Observatory Dome) that came as a kit and I
assembled it. I am not happy with it because:

1. It leaks - Trying to stop the leaks is an on-going never ending battle.
The vendor makes a tarp that fits over the dome to fix the problem but then
you have to tie it down and take it off every time you want to observe.

2. You cannot observe past about 50 degrees because the dome gets in the
way. The vendor makes a zenith table that will alleviate this problem but it
requires lifting the dome off and on tracks and sliding it away from the
center of the observatory. A real pain in the butt in the dark and hard to
do if you are not physically able..

3. It's too small. You can cram a 14" inside but with ancillary equipment
such as a laptop and observing chair good luck getting a second person in at
the same time.

Don't get me wrong, the POD is a useable amateur observatory that is easy to
open up and get observing in a few minutes. If it could see the zenith and
not leak without modifications it would be pretty perfect.

I am thinking of having a roll off roof observatory built to replace the
POD. The same vendor that makes the POD makes one of these but I am not good
at construction. The POD was the most construction I ever want to attempt.

I looked at the clamshell dome that another vendor makes but price is
astronomical.

Does anyone have any suggestions or input on other vendors of amateur
observatories or contractors who specialize in custom "sheds"?

"Bernard Isker" wrote in message
...

I am looking for recommendations on the best Personal Observatories that can
be purchased from vendors.

They can be kits that you build up or fully built up on site.

I curently own a POD (Personal Observatory Dome) that came as a kit and I
assembled it. I am not happy with it because:

1. It leaks - Trying to stop the leaks is an on-going never ending battle.
The vendor makes a tarp that fits over the dome to fix the problem but then
you have to tie it down and take it off every time you want to observe.

2. You cannot observe past about 50 degrees because the dome gets in the
way. The vendor makes a zenith table that will alleviate this problem but it
requires lifting the dome off and on tracks and sliding it away from the
center of the observatory. A real pain in the butt in the dark and hard to
do if you are not physically able..

3. It's too small. You can cram a 14" inside but with ancillary equipment
such as a laptop and observing chair good luck getting a second person in at
the same time.

Don't get me wrong, the POD is a useable amateur observatory that is easy to
open up and get observing in a few minutes. If it could see the zenith and
not leak without modifications it would be pretty perfect.

I am thinking of having a roll off roof observatory built to replace the
POD. The same vendor that makes the POD makes one of these but I am not good
at construction. The POD was the most construction I ever want to attempt.

I looked at the clamshell dome that another vendor makes but price is
astronomical.

Does anyone have any suggestions or input on other vendors of amateur
observatories or contractors who specialize in custom "sheds"?

================================================== =
Unfortunately you get what you pay for and the physically disabled have
to pay more than most for specialised equipment, an electric wheelchair
is typically $2000 just to enable independent mobility.
You have a hole in the roof, you are guaranteed to get a leak. A tarpaulin
is a cheap solution because a tarp is a temporary roof.
As to your 50 degree limitation, the sky turns. Look at the stars you are
interested in at an earlier or later time, it is only a limitation if you
are
stationed at the poles where you'll meet a snowstorm in place of just
clouds. Amateur astronomy is a hobby for the wealthy and the patient
and is mostly photography.

-- This message is brought to you from the keyboard of
Lord Androcles, Zeroth Earl of Medway.
When the fools chicken farmer Wilson and Van de faggot present an argument I
cannot laugh at I'll retire from usenet.

On Feb 18, 1:44*pm, "Bernard Isker" wrote:
I am looking for recommendations on the best Personal Observatories that can
be purchased from vendors.

They can be kits that you build up or fully built up on site.

I curently own a POD (Personal Observatory Dome) that came as a kit and I
assembled it. I am not happy with it because:

1. It leaks - Trying to stop the leaks is an on-going never ending battle..
The vendor makes a tarp that fits over the dome to fix the problem but then
you have to tie it down and take it off every time you want to observe.

Then you are forced to compare the inconvenience of a tarp with the
inconvenience of having to store a scope inside your house, and then
setting it up and breaking it down for each session. You might be
able to attach a tarp permanently to the dome itself. Think about how
the top on a convertible works.

2. You cannot observe past about 50 degrees because the dome gets in the
way. The vendor makes a zenith table that will alleviate this problem but it
requires lifting the dome off and on tracks and sliding it away from the
center of the observatory. A real pain in the butt in the dark and hard to
do if you are not physically able..

The zenith is usually not all-important.

On Feb 18, 7:08*pm, "Lord Androcles, Zeroth Earl of Medway"
wrote:

edit

Amateur astronomy is a hobby for the wealthy

No it isn't. An outlay of less than $100 can get one started, and if
one spends a few hundred more one can keep busy for many decades.

and the patient

Possibly true.

and is mostly photography.

So your definition of "amateur astronomy" is "amateur
astrophotography," correct?

Amateur Astronomy is not an expensive hobby if you compare it to golfing,
hunting or most other other sports.

Once you do an outlay of ~ $1K for a good telescope, $0.5K for a good DSLR,
and $0.5k for good eyepieces you are good to go for a long time. There are
no greens fees to set up you scope. You can spend a lot less if you are
willing to reduce aperture or forgo astrophotography.

Of course some folks like to splurge on equipment and accessories and can
run up a $20K bill without trying if they have the money. This is not
necessary to enjoy a good night under the stars.




wrote in message
...
On Feb 18, 7:08 pm, "Lord Androcles, Zeroth Earl of Medway"
wrote:

edit

Amateur astronomy is a hobby for the wealthy

No it isn't. An outlay of less than $100 can get one started, and if
one spends a few hundred more one can keep busy for many decades.

and the patient

Possibly true.

and is mostly photography.

So your definition of "amateur astronomy" is "amateur
astrophotography," correct?

"Bernard Isker" wrote in message
...

Amateur Astronomy is not an expensive hobby if you compare it to golfing,
hunting or most other other sports.

Once you do an outlay of ~ $1K for a good telescope, $0.5K for a good DSLR,
and $0.5k for good eyepieces you are good to go for a long time. There are
no greens fees to set up you scope. You can spend a lot less if you are
willing to reduce aperture or forgo astrophotography.

Of course some folks like to splurge on equipment and accessories and can
run up a $20K bill without trying if they have the money. This is not
necessary to enjoy a good night under the stars.
=================================================

My mistake, I hadn't realised you wanted a recommendation for a
Personal Observatory Dome on the fifteenth tee. I suggest a large umbrella
instead (one that doesn't leak), other members are likely to complain about
unnatural objects.

-- This message is brought to you from the keyboard of
Lord Androcles, Zeroth Earl of Medway.
When the fools chicken farmer Wilson and Van de faggot present an argument I
cannot laugh at I'll retire from usenet.

"Bernard Isker" writes:

I am looking for recommendations on the best Personal Observatories that can
be purchased from vendors.

I have no idea but the following mini-review may be of some use:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2826

pej
--
Per Erik Jorde