Observatory - white or green?

[rubecula]

Not exactly a DIY observatory, but I've been advised to get a white Pulsar observatory here in the UK because:
a)the gel coat on the fibreglass lasts longer
the observatory stays cooler in the summer

However, I think that a green one would blend in much better in the garden as it has to be in quite a prominent position. I am wondering if anyone has a green observatory and whether they find the summer heat an issue?

Thanks

Robin

[laser_jock99]

My obsy has a green roof and some dark green metal side panels (to try & help blend into the landscape). I have to say it can warm up inside on a sunny day........but slide the roof open at night and it cools down rather quickly. With a dome the cooling might be slower due to the narrow aperture?

[carastro]

Cor, look at that panorama, you lucky devil.

Carole 

[Fish]

Mine is a grey roof and very light grey walls.

http://stargazerslounge.com/gallery/image/24236-the-pig-is-home/

It gets quite warm inside , I should imagine that no matter what the colour it will get warm\hot in the summer but by the time you get to observe in the summer its quite cool. Ok I can imagine that the white may be a couple of deg. Cooler but I would not think it will make much diffo. When I was thinking of a dome I eventually decided on the green because it made the boss happy :-).

[steppenwolf]

An observatory dome should be white !!

My white Pulsar dome is very good at keeping itself cool and, of course, a white finish is the best way to reflect all that solar energy! However, I understand to some extent why some people might want a green version but I'm not that convinced that it will blend in that well and at the end of the day, an observatory is a thing of beauty. I disguise mine with flowers to keep the 'boss' happy

[Druid]

Green ones look a bit too much like a bottle bank. Having said that, if it were a choice between no observatory and a green one ... 

[Peter Drew]

Lazer_Jock's skyline looks remakably like ours when without snow, I had to do a double take at first glance! 

[Earl]

Mines Silver im spechul !

[wxsatuser]

My obsy is black, lucky I know where it is as it cannot be seen in the dark.

[rubecula]

Thanks all for your input, I've changed the order to green!! 

Robin

[Astrobug]

About the temperature in the summer. If you insulate the roof it will make a huge difference.

Last summer it was never above 20C. Actually it was cooler in the obs then in the living room

[Steve 1962]

I've got a green one - and apart from all the jokes about oil tanks and recycling bins, it's great.

I've had no real problems with heat in the summer, but I would be interested to hear how people have insulated their domes.

Steve

[Astrobug]

I've got a green one - and apart from all the jokes about oil tanks and recycling bins, it's great.

I've had no real problems with heat in the summer, but I would be interested to hear how people have insulated their domes.

Steve

This is a topic i'm looking for while.

[jnb]

Surely to blend in a sliding roof would be better as it would look more like a shed and so appropriate to a garden

[oldnut]

I am thinking of camouflage  paint outside and purple inside

[jnb]

Or perhaps this

[JamesF]

I am thinking of camouflage  paint outside

I've never found anywhere that sells it.  I keep asking and they tell me it's on the shelves with the stripey paint, but I can't find that either.

James

[dobbie]

Hi James, it's next to the tarten paint

[kirkster501]

Your obs is superb laserjock.  Congratulations!  Is it a home-brew one or did you buy it?  Where did you get the roofing and ridge strip from please? 

[laser_jock99]

Your obs is superb laserjock.  Congratulations!  Is it a home-brew one or did you buy it?  Where did you get the roofing and ridge strip from please?

Thanks- it's an entirely DIY build, photo album of the build progress here.

The roofing materials are from Wickes, though other places sell the same thing.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Roofing/Bitumen-Corrugated-Sheets+Trims/c/1000253#

[kirkster501]

Thanks- it's an entirely DIY build, photo album of the build progress here.

The roofing materials are from Wickes, though other places sell the same thing.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Roofing/Bitumen-Corrugated-Sheets+Trims/c/1000253#

Brilliant - thanks.  Will look into it.

[mikeDnight]

White reflects heat. My own observatory is clad in white tongue and groove plastic covering 3/4" marine ply walls. On the hottest summer days the observatory is cool inside. The roof is also clad in the same material, which as an unplanned consequence reflects the heat, keeping the inside at night time temperatures.

Mike.

[damnut]

Great thread,

My option would be green for your location or as swmbo would say, almond honey cream!!!

[MCinAZ]

I like the notion of insulating the roof as suggested by astrobug. I've adopted the strategy of minimizing stored heat, thus no paneling on the inner walls, but adding some fiberglas bats between the rafters would be simple and inexpensive. Worth a shot. Perhaps it will keep the interior temperature from reaching 50 C in May and June.

mikeDnight: Isn't it common practice to put the telescope inside the observatory?

[mikeDnight]

I like the notion of insulating the roof as suggested by astrobug. I've adopted the strategy of minimizing stored heat, thus no paneling on the inner walls, but adding some fiberglas bats between the rafters would be simple and inexpensive. Worth a shot. Perhaps it will keep the interior temperature from reaching 50 C in May and June.

mikeDnight: Isn't it common practice to put the telescope inside the observatory?

You are quite right, it is common practice to put the telescope in the observatory. Were a bit slow on the uptake up north!

Is this better?