Oz domes x3

[nytecam]

Hi - I was intregued by a shot from Oz on the latest BBC Click program [below] showing three different astro-domes ...

1 - left = conventional 'up and over' shutter

2 - right = clamshell = Liverpool Telescope?

3 - centre = aperture spiralled across dome - how does it work ?   TIA            

[callump]

Number 2 could be an Astro-Haven dome:

http://astrohaven.com/

Number 3 looks interesting... 

Callum

[Gina]

The Astro-Haven dome looks interesting but their web site simply says "Call for pricing" so I guess that means "I can't afford it"   I wonder how weather-proof they are - looks like a complicated structure the seal effectively.

Anyone have any info on them?

[NickK]

I suspect that the centre one has the smallest open aperture.

The aperture movement looks to have two axis movement - rotation of the outer and probably an inner equatorial movement. The altitude Y-axis movement for example would require both inner and outer shell axis to coordinate movement but the aperture remains circular and the diameter of the scope..

[NickK]

To add to my previous posts - I think it's a two skin version of this: http://www.tmt.org/gallery/renderings

In the TMT the dome has two parts, however this version is lighter weight so having two shells probably means you don't need to have a runner attached to the dome skin. So the inner has a EQ path, attached to the outer but the outer shell then has a rotational path.