Trailer Mounted Observatories

Hi,

I am planning on building a trailer mounted observatory.

The mount will be located on a retractable pier isolated from the
trailer.

The telescope will be a 8"-11" Celestron with fork mount.

The roof of the trailer will be a roll off to allow access to the sky.

Any suggestions, pictures, examples or pictures would be appreciated
of any previous attempts that others have tried.

Thanks in advance,

TMT

While reading in the bathroom on 30 May 2004 22:19:46 -0700, I saw
that (Too_Many_Tools) had written:

Any suggestions, pictures, examples or pictures would be appreciated
of any previous attempts that others have tried.

Seems like a lot of unnecessary engineering and expense to solve a
rather simple problem. Essentially, you want a portable observatory,
an objective that can be attained by buying a Kendrick Shelter Dome
tent (http://www.kendrick-ai.com/astro/observatory.html). I plan to
get one of these babies in time for Stellafane, myself.

You obviously think your trailer idea has advantages over a tent,
though, and I'd be interested to hear what they are.

--------------
Beady's Corollary to Occam's Razor: "The likeliest explanation of any phenomenon is almost always the most boring one imaginable."


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While reading in the bathroom on 30 May 2004 22:19:46 -0700, I saw
that (Too_Many_Tools) had written:

Any suggestions, pictures, examples or pictures would be appreciated
of any previous attempts that others have tried.

Seems like a lot of unnecessary engineering and expense to solve a
rather simple problem. Essentially, you want a portable observatory,
an objective that can be attained by buying a Kendrick Shelter Dome
tent (http://www.kendrick-ai.com/astro/observatory.html). I plan to
get one of these babies in time for Stellafane, myself.

You obviously think your trailer idea has advantages over a tent,
though, and I'd be interested to hear what they are.

--------------
Beady's Corollary to Occam's Razor: "The likeliest explanation of any phenomenon is almost always the most boring one imaginable."


-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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Good question...

Portable observatories come in different types.

I want one that I can drive to a site, roll back the roof, drop a
pier, fire up the electronics and observe. The problem I have with
observatories derived from tents is you have to erect them and load
the equipment in them before you can use them. This effort takes a
considerable amount of time. When you are done, you get to unload the
equipment, pack the telescope and roll up the tent before you can
go...again alot of time not spent observing.

I do understand what you mean about the upfront work to make a trailer
work the way I want it to. From the design work I have done so far, I
think it will work out well.

One thing that has surprised me is the lack of response I have had to
my requests about hearing about other trailer mounted observatories.
No discussion, no links, no pictures...any reason why?

TMT



John Beaderstadt wrote in message . ..
While reading in the bathroom on 30 May 2004 22:19:46 -0700, I saw
that (Too_Many_Tools) had written:

Any suggestions, pictures, examples or pictures would be appreciated
of any previous attempts that others have tried.

Seems like a lot of unnecessary engineering and expense to solve a
rather simple problem. Essentially, you want a portable observatory,
an objective that can be attained by buying a Kendrick Shelter Dome
tent (http://www.kendrick-ai.com/astro/observatory.html). I plan to
get one of these babies in time for Stellafane, myself.

You obviously think your trailer idea has advantages over a tent,
though, and I'd be interested to hear what they are.

--------------
Beady's Corollary to Occam's Razor: "The likeliest explanation of any phenomenon is almost always the most boring one imaginable."


-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

In article ,
Too_Many_Tools wrote:

Good question...

Portable observatories come in different types.

I want one that I can drive to a site, roll back the roof, drop a
pier, fire up the electronics and observe. The problem I have with
observatories derived from tents is you have to erect them and load
the equipment in them before you can use them. This effort takes a
considerable amount of time. When you are done, you get to unload the
equipment, pack the telescope and roll up the tent before you can
go...again alot of time not spent observing.

I do understand what you mean about the upfront work to make a trailer
work the way I want it to. From the design work I have done so far, I
think it will work out well.

One thing that has surprised me is the lack of response I have had to
my requests about hearing about other trailer mounted observatories.
No discussion, no links, no pictures...any reason why?

TMT


A Google search reveals:

http://www.mapug.com/AstroDesigns/MA...llOffObsry.htm
Closest maybe to what you're describing

http://www.homedome.com/athome.pdf
on page 3 - but it's just a dome on a flat trailer.

http://www.homedome.com/thumb2.htm
a camping trailer with a dome at the front end.

http://www.homedome.com/thumb61.htm
something similar

http://www.taas.org/events/astroday/photo1.html
2nd picture down; 18" Dob mounted on a trailer pulled by a Harley
Davidson

http://rivastro.org/ras_history_roots.html
bottom of the page; 15" Dob on a trailer

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/RDS/RTMC84.html
near the bottom of the page; trailer mounted astrophotography system
(from 1984)

http://web.mit.edu/annualreports/pres02/03.05.html
radio telecope mounted on a trailer (probably not what you had in mind)
:-)

http://astro.umsystem.edu/atm/ARCHIV.../msg00713.html
No pictures, but some discussion on doing it.


Hobenaro

While reading in the bathroom on 2 Jun 2004 20:30:45 -0700, I saw that
(Too_Many_Tools) had written:

The problem I have with
observatories derived from tents is you have to erect them and load
the equipment in them before you can use them.

I guess it's a matter of style. Sounds like you're looking to house a
fairly elaborate setup. Myself, I have a goto telescope (Meade
ETX-125), table and chair. I can set up and align the telescope in
five minutes; the rest is just a few minutes more. The Kendrick tent
appears to be (I have the instructions already) a one-piece item that
simply unfolds; the setup looks to be pretty quick. My entire kit
(even after I get the tent) can be physically carried in a single trip
(not that I'd want to, but it can be done).

--------------
Beady's Corollary to Occam's Razor: "The likeliest explanation of any phenomenon is almost always the most boring one imaginable."


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This trailer might make a good base for a portable observatory, at least
that was my thought when I saw it...

http://www.northlandloghomes.com/trailer.htm

-Guy


Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Hi,

I am planning on building a trailer mounted observatory.

The mount will be located on a retractable pier isolated from the
trailer.

The telescope will be a 8"-11" Celestron with fork mount.

The roof of the trailer will be a roll off to allow access to the sky.

Any suggestions, pictures, examples or pictures would be appreciated
of any previous attempts that others have tried.

Thanks in advance,

TMT