THE PRACTICAL ASTRONOMER
One form of dome is what can be called the wedding-
cake pattern. The walls can be permanent, so that the
upper part rotates on a rail; the viewing portion of the roof
can be hinged, so that it is simply swung back (this is
easier than completely removing it). A true dome looks
much more decorative, though the hemispherical section
is much more difficult to make.
Certainly there is a great deal to be said for observing
from inside a dome rather than in the open air, but there
are a few points to be borne in mind. First, take care
about the siting; make sure that you remain as clear as
possible from inconvenient trees and nearby lights.
Secondly, make sure that you cannot be obstructed. An
observatory which is not anchored down comes into the
category of a portable building, and is not subject to
planning permission, which is important to remember if
you happen to have an awkward local council. Finally,
ensure that everything is secure. Today, when law and
order has broken down so completely, it is essential to take
all possible precautions – something which was much less
pressing 20 years ago, and which we hope will again be
less pressing 20 years hence.▲Auckland Observatory,
New Zealand. This contains
a 51-cm (20-inch) reflector,
and is a fine example▼Jerry Gunn’s computer-
controlled 20-cm (8-inch)
Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescope in a simple box
enclosure. The observatory
and telescope are operated
remotely by the observer
by phone line from 48 km
(30 miles) away in HannaThe Mountain Skies
Observatory built by
Curtis MacDonald, near
Laramie, Wyoming, USA.
It houses a 31-cm (12.5-inch)
Newtonian reflector with
a 12-cm (5-inch) refractor
on the same mounting.City, Illinois, USA. The
observatory lid opens by
remote control, and a CCD
camera attached to the
telescope sends images back
to Gunn in his basement in
Peoria. He uses the system
to monitor the brightness
changes in variable stars.The dome has a wooden
framework covered with
Masonite and painted
with exterior latex.
This photograph was
taken by moonlight with
Comet Hale-Bopp in the
background.of an amateur-built and
amateur-run observatory
which produces work of
full professional standard.H Atl of Univ Phil'03stp 7/4/03 6:21 pm Page 269