First Observatory?

Just beginning astronomy. Anyone have any experience in getting or setting up a SkyShed?

Details are available at:
www.iankingimaging.com/show_products.php?category=125

John

They look expensive especially for the size when compared to other domes plus you have to add on shipping.
You could build a very big roll off roof shed for that sort of dosh.
I bought the roll off roof shed plans from Sky hed in Canada and got an 6 x 8 foot shed built locally which works a dream.

A nice observatory which does have some good advantages.
The 180 degree view solves dome rotation issues, but shielding from the wind would be a major consideration for me regarding a dome and I wonder how much cover would you have, a more conventional dome would also be more able to keep out nagging street lights.
It does seem a little small to me, they say 2.4 meters, thats about 8 feet and from experience with my own dome which is about 9feet 8inches, thats barely big enough for me.
I have a 12" SCT + dewshield in mine and it fits in with a nice bit of comfort space, it would be interesting to see one of these domes up close with a big scope in it to see how much breathing room you have in it, an observatory thats too small where you have to negotiate around the dewshield and duck under counterweights is almost as bad as not having one at all.

Over all, a good dome but just that tad bit too small imho..

Many thanks for the reply.
Can you point me to where I might get the plans you refer to?

Are you just beginning astronomy or just beginning observatory based astronomy mate??

If you have literally just begun the hobby of astronomy and gotten your first scope then I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself going to the massive expenditure of a Dome or Skyshed.

Say you have a small SCT or Refractor or even a small Dob as your first scope and you buy or build an observatory to suit. You may find that within the first year or two in the hobby that you have succumbed to apeture fever and decide you want a big 12 or 16in Dob and the shed/Dome bought/built for the smaller scope is redundant.

Most people wait till they have found their niche in the hobby, whether it be visual Deepsky with large apeture dobs, Astrophotography with smaller SCT's or refractors and the large Equatorial mounts and ancilliary equipment. ie. Once they realised and settled on what direction they wanted to take in the hobby, got the equipment they wanted and knew that this was the gear that they would be using for the next few years, then and only then did they buy/build an observatory to suit.

IMO of course.