New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
- AntennaGuy
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New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
See https://explorescientific.com/products/ ... atory-tent
Their video about setting it up and folding it back down is pretty entertaining:
Your thoughts?
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
Definitely interesting, something worth considering. Would have like to have seen the roof on it.AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:24 am There's a new astronomy tent offered by Explore Scientific.
Your thoughts?
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
A bit of a strange set up and I have a feeling that with it being a popup tent it will not be very sturdy.
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
From the web sitechris_g wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:50 amDefinitely interesting, something worth considering. Would have like to have seen the roof on it.AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:24 am There's a new astronomy tent offered by Explore Scientific.
Your thoughts?
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
Our prime concern is the "Heavy Bombardment" of Mosquitos that we get shortly after Sundown. Then the Heavy Dew that occurs as the Temps Fall. Without a Roof, all of your Gear and Computers are quickly Drenched. So, the Table and PC and boxes of gear go inside, with reasonable room left for yourself and a full-size folding party chair. Being a Hunting Blind, the 3x non-door walls have zippered fold-down pass-through Windows (with Zippered/Velcro'd Bug Screening - dark/camouflaged to hide the Hunters - which also does well to darken the glow of Laptop or Red Flashlight). This is PERFECT for passing through Cables and Hand Controllers (and even to see the Laptop Screen while manually Focusing and/or Aligning the Scope). And, being on all 3x sides, I've frequently setup 2x Imaging Rigs on opposite sides, each cabled into the enclosed / roofed "Operator's Room".
As with the "Observing Walls" in the video, the Blind is Floorless (I bring a 6'x6' poly tarp - I've also seen 6'x6' and 10'x10' Camper Patio Rugs). Floorless is "Good" because I also bring along a 2nd Pop-up-Blind which I can quickly "Pop-OVER" the Imaging Rig / Scope / Tripod if surprised by a quick shower or ground-fog.
While it is Good that Explore Scientific (or any other Astronomy Gear Company) is showing interest in Observing Tents, I think that this specific one is likely to FLOP.
- Without Roof over at least the Observer Area there is too little Structure to face even the most modest Breeze
- The Tent Fly ("Roof Tarp") is both Too Little and Too Late to be used as a Roof - it can't readily be setup over just half of the combined structure
- The Tent Fly Stay Ropes are going to be Trip Hazards in the Dark - I can't believe that any Astronomy Gear Company doesn't include a dozen little Dim Red LED "Blinkies" by default with each Tent
- also: critique of the video:
- Far too much time and effort on the "gimmick" of "One-Handed assembly"
- Emphasis on the "Observer's Room" but no Props to actually show any Utility of that room - eg: bringing in a quick Chair and Table - like the Mount brought in for the other room
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
seem to be nice .
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
I've done a lot of research on pop-up changing tents, camping tents, hunting blinds, ice fishing shelters, and so on. A consistent theme is they can be a royal PITA to fold back up. That may or may not be a problem. And from what I can see in the video, I might question the durability.
For under $50, you can buy a Walmart tent with slide-in poles and cut out a section of roof. OTOH, I think the
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
do you have a link for the tent ? at walmart .pakarinen wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:08 pm The 5x5 section would fit nicely on my deck.
I've done a lot of research on pop-up changing tents, camping tents, hunting blinds, ice fishing shelters, and so on. A consistent theme is they can be a royal PITA to fold back up. That may or may not be a problem. And from what I can see in the video, I might question the durability.
For under $50, you can buy a Walmart tent with slide-in poles and cut out a section of roof. OTOH, I think the ES is worth a second look, depending how much you want to spend. I'd also like to see them list the usual camping tent specs (as applicable). Thanks for the tip!
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
I was also looking at this one:
https://www.omegon.eu/instruments/omego ... r_1_select
http://store.smartastronomy.com/poobte.html
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
Folding Up is literally a One-Handed Operation (well maybe a little help from the 2nd Hand makes it easier). It's a simple twist of the wrist and a tug (assuming you can remember which way to position your wrist when you grip and twist). The Hoops of Spring Steel do the "Folding" (Coil in on themselves). The Walls are Rip-Stop Nylon and medium-grade YKK-clone Zippers (Mettle Shuttle / Plastic Teeth) and Field-grade Velcro. The one that I have does have a pair of Fiberglass Poles that Insert across the Roof Diagonals to provide additional Rigidity, and Peg-down Loops at the bottom corners. Staked down, mine has withstood 30-35mph Gusts and quick Torrential Downpours.pakarinen wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:08 pm I've done a lot of research on pop-up changing tents, camping tents, hunting blinds, ice fishing shelters, and so on. A consistent theme is they can be a royal PITA to fold back up. That may or may not be a problem. And from what I can see in the video, I might question the durability.
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
But these are both very interesting - I had not thought of a tent like structure. Great Idea!
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
https://www.kendrickastro.com/observatory.html
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
The demo gives the worst possible impression of stability. While the website shows tiedowns for lateral stability, after this demo I would really like to see someone put it up in a breeze outside, using the tiedowns, and show that it does not blow over.
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
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Re: New astronomy tent from Explore Scientific
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
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