![]() ![]() The real surprise, however, was how practical the tiny building turned out to be. Waters documented his "cheap wooden Telescope-house." A pier destined for my main observatory was temporarily mounted in my backyard, and a small roll-off-roof shelter for it seemed like an easy project - one that would quell my growing desire to get started actually building something.ĭoghouse construction consumed three weekends and a few evenings in between. I was well into planning a much larger home observatory when I came across a 1921 book called Astronomical Photography for Amateurs. Like many of my best ideas, credit for this one belongs elsewhere. Waters, this photograph inspired the doghouse's design and construction. Taken from a 1921 astrophotography book by H. Small, cheap, easy to build, and remarkably well suited to modern Schmidt- and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes, the doghouse has generated so many inquiries that we've decided to document its construction in some detail. But our readers have shown a disproportionate amount of interest in my tiny "doghouse" home observatory, which was first mentioned in a single paragraph in our December 1999 issue. ![]() We've presented a wide range of observatory styles in Sky & Telescope over the years (and several appear on ). The chance to observe at a moment's notice - when weather and freedom from personal commitments are in sync - makes a home observatory in your backyard especially attractive. Much of this growth, I believe, is rooted in today's hectic lifestyles. You too can quickly build a basic telescope shelter.īackyard observatories have always been a part of amateur astronomy, but they seem to have had a surge in popularity during the last decade. Already a subscriber? Simply log in or create an account below.Dennis di Cicco's 'doghouse' observatory progressed from an idea to a working observatory in less than three weeks during the fall of 1982. #BACKYARD OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE#Subscribers have full access to our equipment review archive and many other great online benefits. To continue reading this review you need to be an Astronomy magazine subscriber. Three of these newcomers offer different approaches to housing your scope. Domes in the average amateur's price range became more available in recent years. ![]() The roll-off roof allows rapid climatic adjustment, but less light and wind protection than a dome. ![]() A dome provides better wind and light protection, yet it traps daytime heat. But the allure of a dome still beckons many amateurs. A simple "roll-off roof " observatory was also an alternative. Building a backyard observatory 25 years ago usually meant one of two things: Buy a dome or do it yourself from scratch. So, many amateur astronomers have looked to mimic the "big boys" over the years and put their telescopes in a more permanent installation - an observatory. If your telescope is too big or too complicated to set up easily, you might find it collecting dust instead of starlight. Reynolds This review, "Choose the dome that's right for you," appeared in the May 2008 issue of Astronomy magazine There's a saying in astronomy: The best telescope is the one you use. ![]()
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