Rethinking the Amateur Homemade Dome

Presenter(s): Neville Fraser

Affiliation(s): WSAAG

Session details: Sunday, 2024-03-31 00:30:00, STAR

Abstract

What constitutes the best physical environment for using and housing your telescope? Traditionally, this is a dome, but other housings are also commonly in use. Most of these alternatives lack the allure of a dome, however, with most amateur astronomers dreaming of having their own dome. Some succeed, either by purchasing expensive fibreglass assemblies or by going through the complex procedure of making a wooden or metal dome. In this presentation I explore the history of the 'home dome' and the development of an alternative construction concept for making them, one which is easily scalable from 1.2m to over 3m, and achievable with simple wood- or metal-working tools. I also look at a process for inexpensively automating this dome using three different computer controlled systems. Finally, I will look at the viability of domes and their alternatives in different situations.

Biography

A retired Primary School Principal Neville Fraser has a long involvement with amateur astronomy. He previously presented a paper in 2012 on School Based Planetaria, having at the time the largest planetarium in Sydney. Now retired with his third dome observatory, the 3m dome of the presentation, Neville assists with science mentoring in the ACT MSATT program based at Mt Stromlo.