Building a Roll-Off Roof or Dome Observatory

This updated and expanded second edition expands on "Building a Roll-Off Roof Observatory" to cover all aspects of designing an observatory, beginning with that all-important decision: roll-off or dome? Then it goes on to planning the site, requirements for viewing, conforming to by-laws and orientation of the structure. The chapters outline step-by-step construction of a typical building and complete, professional, detailed diagrams, found on the Springer Extras website, are available for each phase of construction.

Although also including the latest on new equipment and tools for building roll-off roof observatories, the second edition of this book has now been expanded to include building a domed observatory, the choice of professionals. It offers better weather protection, more privacy and ease of operation (particularly in setup). There are many prefabricated domes available, but they eventually degrade in the sun, snow and rain, lasting a maximum of about twenty years. Even poly-domes and fiber-glass domes now sold by some dealers will degrade in the sun, sag and look and fit poorly as time goes on. The author's domed observatory, built to high standards from an earlier version of plans in this book, has lasted thirty years with no sign of wear. Almost every amateur astronomer who has taken the pursuit to another level aspires to owning a fixed, permanent housing for his telescope, permitting its rapid and comfortable use and avoiding hours of set-up time for each observing session. A roll-off roof observatory is the simplest and by far the most popular observatory design for today's practical astronomers - but some may want to choose the more complex option of building an observatory dome instead. This guide offers complete information whichever path you choose.