My Observatory tent

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carastro Great Britain
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My Observatory tent

#1

Post by carastro »


Astrovetteman asked about my camping observatory which he spotted in my Astroimaging video.

So I thought I'd start a separate thread rather than fill up my video thread.

I absolutely love this tent, it really keeps the wind and frost off, the space inside is a little restrictive, but if you offset your mount you can fit in a table and chair, so it also keeps me protected.

When it is shut up for the night (when at astro camps, or when it is raining), I still put my telescope over on, but this provides even more protection.

However I had to do a number of modifications because some of the design was really sub-standard for the job they were supposed to do.

This is the place I bought it:
http://astrograph.net/Observatory-Tent-3m-x-14m

Lets look at the tent first:

Image

The first thing you will notice is that soppy little cover on the top. Held on by velcro!!!! I knew that a downpour of rain and it would leak terribly, so the first thing I did was add a 10" pelmet all round the edge of the roof and also added clips to not only hold the roof down, but it makes it much easier to put the roof on in the dark and wind as you can do one clip at a time and feel you way round in the dark to the next clip.

Image

Image
Last edited by carastro on Tue Feb 11, 2020 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
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Re: My Observatory tent

#2

Post by Dragonsfire »


Nice and roomy :) Wind breaks are important especially for the hands lol.
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Re: My Observatory tent

#3

Post by carastro »


Table and chair inside:
Image

The first time I used it, the poles that form the dome, perforated the tiny pocket which is just made out of the same fabric as the tent and pierced right through the side of the tent. Not at all strong enough to do the job.

So the next thing I did was cut up an old rucksack and used the material to form a pad with a slot on top of it for the poles, no way are the poles going to go through this.

Image

Seen from the outside:
Image

This has worked well and the stiffness of the slot means less chance of the poles tipping over before the 2nd roof pole goes on and I can tie them together.
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
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Re: My Observatory tent

#4

Post by carastro »


I've not finished with modifications yet I'm afraid.

After a while the lightweight nylon zips started to fail with the strain put on them in a curve and started to break/pull apart, and one windy camp i went to I ended up with 3 of the doorways open because I couldn't close the zips which rather defeats the object. (There are 4 doors).

I had to scratch my head a bit over this one, and in the end decided to stitch up 3 of the doors permanently (leaving a small gap to thread through the camping site power cable, and then converted the 4th doorway to a square one by adding some of the material I had left over from the roof mod, then I added 3 open ended, straight, heavy duty zips from Ebay.
Camping obsy zips.jpg
Here it is in action:
Image
Last edited by carastro on Tue Feb 11, 2020 5:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
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Re: My Observatory tent

#5

Post by Dragonsfire »


I found beezwax works well on zips to lubricate them, not sure if their plastic zips though since nowadays everything is cheaply made.
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Re: My Observatory tent

#6

Post by carastro »


Sadly that's not the end of the mods.

The bits that the tent pegs to the ground and holds the circular tent rods started to split. At first I added webbing for the tent pegs, but then the bit where the tent rods goes in so I got some-one to make me some replacement ones with a 3D printer.

Original:
Pegging parts.jpg
I'm going to have to hunt for the 3D photo, I think there is one on my Phone.

Be right back.
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
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Re: My Observatory tent

#7

Post by carastro »


I found beezwax works well on zips to lubricate them, not sure if their plastic zips though since nowadays everything is cheaply made.
They were and are plastic zips, the zips worked fine when they weren't trying to go round a Bend.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
Scopes: Skywatcher ED80, Skywatcher ED120, William Optics ZS71, Samyang 135MM F2 lens,
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Re: My Observatory tent

#8

Post by pakarinen »


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Re: My Observatory tent

#9

Post by carastro »


Finally found the After photo of the tent pegging foot with the 3D printed attachment.
Obsy tent peg.JPG
Carole
Last edited by carastro on Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
Scopes: Skywatcher ED80, Skywatcher ED120, William Optics ZS71, Samyang 135MM F2 lens,
Cameras: Atik460EX, Atik428EX, Canon 1100D
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Re: My Observatory tent

#10

Post by carastro »


Is yours the same as the Omegon?

https://www.omegon.eu/instruments/omego ... ry/p,12278
It's the same company I think, but this is an earlier version, which doesn't have the domed roof.

I used to have one like that previously and the only way to hold the roof up was to use the telescope in the middle to hold it up (with suitable padding) but it still developed puddles as it wasn't evenly raised. But that would be an option.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
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Re: My Observatory tent

#11

Post by carastro »


I am hoping that's the end of the mods, but I fear the next thing to go will be the tent rods which have already split a little and I have taped them up. I have no idea where to buy new ones as they are much thinner than the regular tent rods.

I guess I should suss it out and have some standing by.

Anyway, I hope this thread is useful.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
Scopes: Skywatcher ED80, Skywatcher ED120, William Optics ZS71, Samyang 135MM F2 lens,
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Re: My Observatory tent

#12

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Kendrick-Astrro in Canada used to sell a very nice tent with observatory.
I have though before of making one based on their design.

Nice modifications to yours, I hope it continues to serve you well.
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Re: My Observatory tent

#13

Post by carastro »


The Kendrick tents are very good, but expensive, and rather large as there is a sleeping area attached.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
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Re: My Observatory tent

#14

Post by STEVE333 »


Nice thread Carole. You have a "pioneer spirit" to put up with and resolve all these issues. Your love for astrophotography is impressive.

You make me feel like a wimp sleeping in my own bed every night. However, I'll be leaving the outings to star parties and dark sites to you. I'll have to rely on NB filters to create my "dark site".

Thanks for sharing your ongoing adventure with us.

Cheers,
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Re: My Observatory tent

#15

Post by carastro »


Nice thread Carole. You have a "pioneer spirit" to put up with and resolve all these issues. Your love for astrophotography is impressive.

You make me feel like a wimp sleeping in my own bed every night. However, I'll be leaving the outings to star parties and dark sites to you. I'll have to rely on NB filters to create my "dark site".

Thanks for sharing your ongoing adventure with us.
Thanks Steve,

Well when you live in Bortle 8 with a dirty great tree in the way of Orion, for half the night you have a desperate urge to get to dark skies.

I can only go between March and October/November depending on the weather. A group of us go once a month when it's a New Moon (weather permitting), I feel really restricted in the winter months.

I have a van converted into a basic campervan, so I don't camp in tents any longer, (I used to) but the van had it's annual check yesterday (UK compulsory test for vehicles over 3 years), and whilst it passed I have been warned it's going to need some expensive welding work on it in a few months time. So am going to have to have a serious re-think on what to do after that.

I don't mind the camping it's the effort of getting there and all the packing and unpacking and pitching etc etc that is the tiring bit.

The camaraderie is great doing Astronomy with like minded people.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
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Re: My Observatory tent

#16

Post by DeanD »


Thanks for this Carole, it looks like quite a journey to get the tent working. Well done, and lucky you are a whizz with a sewing machine! It sounds a bit like the farmer's axe though: "Best axe I ever had, it has only had 3 new handles and 2 new heads..."

I have to wonder though about the manufacture of it, and whether there is any warranty- with overall design faults, and poor quality materials for something which isn't all that cheap...

It is interesting that your astro-camping is at the same time of year as ours in South Australia: but for different reasons: in the summer it is too hot, so our winter is the way to go! As you say, the camaraderie is great, and it is great to have darker skies: SE London wouldn't be the best for viewing (my son live in East London, so I know all about the sky there). :)

Just for interest, where do you go for your Astro-camping?

All the best, and keep up the good work.

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Re: My Observatory tent

#17

Post by Astrovetteman »


Hey Carole, THANKS so much for going into such detail with your "tent" Observatory!!! I'm going to look into one of these......if I can wheel my rig into it....that's going to be the only problem!!
Thank You SOOOO Much!!
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Re: My Observatory tent

#18

Post by pakarinen »


carastro wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:11 pm Well when you live in Bortle 8 with a dirty great tree in the way of Orion, for half the night you have a desperate urge to get to dark skies.
You're describing my backyard (garden). :lol:
I have a van converted into a basic campervan, so I don't camp in tents any longer, (I used to) [...] I don't mind the camping it's the effort of getting there and all the packing and unpacking and pitching etc etc that is the tiring bit.
Excellent! I've been daydreaming about buying a plain cargo van and just putting a cot in the back. Much easier than packing the tent, etc., loading the car, unloading the car, and so on. Plus there's nothing worse than a damp tent and sleeping bag after a rain.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
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Re: My Observatory tent

#19

Post by carastro »


..if I can wheel my rig into it....that's going to be the only problem!!
there is a little lip at the doorway, but if you put something like a square of carpet over the lip it would squash down sufficiently to allow something to be rolled over it without damaging the tent doorway. The entrance you need to duck under but I am sure it would work.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
Scopes: Skywatcher ED80, Skywatcher ED120, William Optics ZS71, Samyang 135MM F2 lens,
Cameras: Atik460EX, Atik428EX, Canon 1100D
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Re: My Observatory tent

#20

Post by carastro »


Just for interest, where do you go for your Astro-camping?
Thanks for your comments.

We travel down to East Sussex for our camping weekends, just below Bewl Water where it is Bortle 4.

Carole
Mount: HEQ5 + Polemaster
Guiding: SW Finderguider and QHY5
Scopes: Skywatcher ED80, Skywatcher ED120, William Optics ZS71, Samyang 135MM F2 lens,
Cameras: Atik460EX, Atik428EX, Canon 1100D
Filters: Baader

https://sites.google.com/view/astrophot ... -pope/home
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