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DIY Dome controller

Last post by rpineau « Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:37 pm
Replies: 5
by rpineau » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:46 pm

First post

I just wanted to post this in case someone want to use it (or part of it ) :

Some function are still a work in progress (like the support for...

Last post

As Kathy and other have said, it's better to let the session control application do the math for you than trying to get the dome controller to do it....

5 Replies

9459 Views

Last post by rpineau
Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:37 pm
Nexdome

Last post by KathyNS « Sat Nov 27, 2021 5:39 pm
Replies: 4
by northforkman » Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:27 pm

First post

Hello...
I am a new member and was wondering if anyone has had experience with the purchase, setup and usage of a Nexdome backyard observatory. I am...

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Welcome, northforkman!

I don't have a Nexdome, but I have used an Exploradome for a few years. I am very happy with it. It needed some modification,...

4 Replies

5349 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Sat Nov 27, 2021 5:39 pm
Finally My OB Build begins

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy « Sun Oct 17, 2021 5:44 am
Replies: 11
by Gulf Coast Guy » Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:34 am

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I retired back in Sept., We movedinto the new house in March, Got the pad poured and yhe pier up in May. I'll have to wait till Aug (21st)to get the...

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Shed is stationary ... BUT there is still room on the pad for an 8' dome way down the road. It has become clear that a climate controled room is a...

11 Replies

10988 Views

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy
Sun Oct 17, 2021 5:44 am
Mini observatory project for the holidays

Last post by Michael131313 « Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:09 pm
Replies: 6
by SkyHiker » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:18 am

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Observatory or a glorified storage box, that's up to the beholder. I just need to store my mount + OTA shielded from theft and weather to save myself...

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Nice and simple solution. I like it. Thanks.

6 Replies

6127 Views

Last post by Michael131313
Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:09 pm
Bay for 8 foot round ExploraDome building

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Mon Oct 11, 2021 11:44 pm
Replies: 4
by John Fitzgerald » Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:27 pm

First post

I just finished building and installing a custom 38 inch wide bay for my little round building. Pictures provided if anyone is interested.

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My pictures are somehow out of chronological order, but you get the gist of it. I have them numbered in order of construction.

4 Replies

4065 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Mon Oct 11, 2021 11:44 pm
Unique approach to an observatory

Last post by kt4hx « Thu Sep 16, 2021 4:23 pm
Replies: 14
by Lowjiber » Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:06 pm

First post

As my Granny would say, I've been to three hog-killings and two county fairs, but I've never seen anything like this.

Clear Skies & Stay Safe

Last post

I have seen designs with a flip off roof, but never one that short in stature.

Clearly observatories for visual and AP are built very...

14 Replies

9009 Views

Last post by kt4hx
Thu Sep 16, 2021 4:23 pm
Post pics of your observatory

Last post by helicon « Sat Sep 11, 2021 2:02 pm
Replies: 33
by KathyNS » Fri May 24, 2019 11:34 am
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2
First post

I'll start. I built this observatory six years ago. When we moved less than two years later, I wasn't about to leave it behind, so I had a crew jack...

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Pretty cool Mike!
33 Replies

28992 Views

Last post by helicon
Sat Sep 11, 2021 2:02 pm
New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific

Last post by pakarinen « Fri Aug 13, 2021 4:03 pm
Replies: 15
by AntennaGuy » Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:24 am

First post

There's a new astronomy tent offered by Explore Scientific.
See
Their video about setting it up and folding it back down is pretty entertaining:...

Last post

Do you have a link to the tent you have?

15 Replies

10587 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Fri Aug 13, 2021 4:03 pm
My permanent pier with my brake rotor pier mount

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy « Wed Jun 23, 2021 5:01 pm
Replies: 16
by Kerry C. » Fri May 21, 2021 1:57 am

First post

I finally finished my permanent pier and brake rotor pier mount. I have the electrical buried underground and up the pier... no more extension cords!...

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Nicely done.

16 Replies

10934 Views

Last post by Gulf Coast Guy
Wed Jun 23, 2021 5:01 pm
Bay for 8 foot round ExploraDome building

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:57 pm

by John Fitzgerald » Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:57 pm

The bays sold by the mfg are about $750 including shipping. Thinking I could build a decent wood framed one for much much less. We have a metal...

0 Replies

2506 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:57 pm
Dome Observatory

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Mon May 31, 2021 10:27 pm
Replies: 10
by helicon » Fri May 28, 2021 2:39 pm

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I'm in the market for a domed observatory for the backyard. My plan is to keep my AR152 in the obsy on its Twilight II mount. Considering it is a 6...

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I didn't go through a dealer. I ordered it direct. They are very nice to deal with. With the 8 foot round building, the price for the 8 foot deluxe...

10 Replies

6984 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Mon May 31, 2021 10:27 pm
One small step

Last post by pakarinen « Fri May 28, 2021 2:48 pm
Replies: 1
by OzEclipse » Fri May 28, 2021 1:18 pm

First post

Today I drove 150km to Bathurst, NSW where I met a man with a suspiciously Scottish accent who claimed he lived a further 100km north of Bathurst....

Last post

Most excellent! Lovely piece of hardware!

1 Replies

2696 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Fri May 28, 2021 2:48 pm
Open for Spring

Last post by helicon « Sat Feb 27, 2021 2:54 pm
Replies: 1
by jrkirkham » Sat Feb 27, 2021 3:45 am

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This isn't exactly an observing report, but perhaps similar. The weather in Illinois finally warmed and I opened the observatory POD for spring. I...

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Cool obsy upgrades Rob.

1 Replies

2993 Views

Last post by helicon
Sat Feb 27, 2021 2:54 pm
Retirement and observatory/dark sky home purchase

Last post by MistrBadgr « Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:50 pm
Replies: 30
by OzEclipse » Wed Aug 19, 2020 1:15 pm
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2
First post

I have just 1.5 weeks left to retirement day.

Last weekend I pulled the trigger and put down a deposit on my retirement home 160km from my present...

Last post

Congratulations, Joe, on all of it!!! :)
30 Replies

17730 Views

Last post by MistrBadgr
Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:50 pm
New Obsy Design Help

Last post by pakarinen « Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:42 pm
Replies: 12
by JayTee » Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:43 am

First post

First off, Happy New Year or See ya 2020!

I'm in the process of designing my Obsy for my new house. Here's what I know:
I don't want a roll OFF roof...

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I've read some threads where people have used extruded polystyrene panels (blue, pink, green) as the core of wall panels, like these commercial...

12 Replies

8525 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:42 pm
Concrete pier - Moved!

Last post by seigell « Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:11 pm
Replies: 7
by DMouse » Wed Oct 21, 2020 12:11 am

First post

Hi, I recently discovered my shed had moved enough to push against the concrete pier. This was causing the mounts alignment to keep going out of...

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The question being should I add more support or now that the shed is no longer pushing it, it will settle and should be fine?

Don't work to lever...

7 Replies

5307 Views

Last post by seigell
Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:11 pm
Maybe you need a art print for your observatory?

Last post by messier 111 « Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:45 pm
Replies: 1
by Chich » Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:02 pm

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Found this while surfing this morning. Urania, the muse of astronomy (anonymous Italian artist, 1885)

Last post

very interesting to see that his turban has the same shape as the sphere.
very nice sketch.
thank you .

1 Replies

2885 Views

Last post by messier 111
Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:45 pm
Exploradome retention modification

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:38 pm
Replies: 5
by KathyNS » Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:45 pm

First post

My Exploradome came with plastic ring segments that go under the dome skirt to keep the dome from lifting in strong winds. The dome is actually quite...

Last post

Maybe hot tubs are much more popular around here. Most people seem to be unaware of observatories.

5 Replies

4779 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:38 pm
a dream that came true with a 2.2 meter NexDome observatory.

Last post by pakarinen « Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:30 pm
Replies: 8
by turonrambar » Sat Oct 03, 2020 12:35 am

First post

Dear SS Forum members,

I've been very busy the last couple weeks getting a concrete pad poured and
putting together a new 2.2 meter NexDome....

Last post

Which FlexSeal did you use - spray, tape, or goop?

8 Replies

6381 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:30 pm
First Light for Skyshed POD XL3

Last post by dagadget « Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:01 pm
Replies: 5
by jrkirkham » Thu Apr 02, 2020 12:36 pm

First post

Since my POD is up and running I decided to break it in last night. I had a couple of strikes against me: 1) There was a bright moon. 2) It is in the...

Last post

box1.jpg Working on my base for my sky shed pod. I am inclosing the bottom section with Plywood to keep from losing Shell Marl fill then leveling it...

5 Replies

6069 Views

Last post by dagadget
Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:01 pm
Where O Where Should I Place My Dome?

Last post by Valen « Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:19 pm
Replies: 24
by jrkirkham » Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:54 pm
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2
First post

Now that I have my Pod ordered I want to double check with those of you who have observatories. I have often bounced ideas off the forum and that has...

Last post

I built my HomeDome in the backyard. I do have some trees that could have hurt my viewing. So I built a room 12x12 Put my dome on top of that. Mount...
24 Replies

20199 Views

Last post by Valen
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:19 pm
Need Arduino / electrical help

Last post by KathyNS « Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:01 pm
Replies: 28
by KathyNS » Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:17 am
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2
First post

I have an Arduino with a 4-relay shield mounted on it. One of the shield relays turns on 12 volt power to an off-board relay, which in turn switches...

Last post

That looks like the exact relay shield that I have. It does warn that the Arduino's USB port should be insulated with electrical tape. I did have an...
28 Replies

15383 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:01 pm
Concrete sealer

Last post by pakarinen « Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:29 pm
Replies: 2
by I Am Marsha » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:30 pm

First post

I live in Maine where there's plenty of snow and ice in the winter. What would be the best sealer to put on my concrete pad where my pod observatory...

Last post

Radonseal?

2 Replies

1818 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:29 pm
New Home for my Pier

Last post by OhNo « Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:23 am
Replies: 15
by OhNo » Tue Jun 30, 2020 2:46 am

First post

Thursday I found a Used SkyShed within driving distance 550 km one way. The seller took some additional pics and sent 'em to me, I reviewed them and...

Last post

Since the pictures above were taken I did one more thing, I mounted the Zenith Table. I have no intentions of using it, but if it was stored it would...

15 Replies

4716 Views

Last post by OhNo
Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:23 am
Brush seal recommendations

Last post by OhNo « Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:32 pm
Replies: 8
by KathyNS » Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:59 pm

First post

I am thinking about adding a brush seal to the bottom of my 8' Exploradome. I figure the logical place to attach it to is the bottom of the rotating...

Last post

Hmmm. The if you can get to the retainer ring mounting bolts, loosening them off, stuffing the brush between the dome and the ring, then...

8 Replies

2955 Views

Last post by OhNo
Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:32 pm

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