Accessories Observatories Piers

Making Observing Comfortable

PIER-TECH : INDEX OF OBSERVATORIES

If you understand why Company Seven preaches "the best telescope is the one that gets used", then you will comprehend how an observatory that can house your telescope, all set up, Pole Aligned and ready to go, makes even the largest telescopes "the best telescope". Not only can an observatory make it more convenient to use or share a telescope quickly and more often, but it makes the experience more comfortable since even on the coldest nights the walls or dome of the observatory provide shelter from winds, and can shade the telescope and observer from nearby lights.

Pier-Tech, Inc. was established for the purpose of making fixed and portable Piers that can accept astronomical German Equatorial or Fork Mounts or other instruments. In time they expanded their production to develop astronomical observatories with slide-off roof, and most recently they expanded production to include observatory domes for use by professional and home astronomical observatories. Company Seven became aware of this developing company because of their increasing selection of roll-off roof observatories and telescope piers, and how these were so well integrated into a system that could be controlled locally or remotely.

Right:Tele-Station 2 observatory with roof open.

Even before Company Seven became a distributor and installer of these facilities, we recommended Pier-Tech Tele-Station series to our clients as being among the best choices of sliding roof arrangements because these observatories deliver excellent design, quality of construction, ease of assembly, and many choices to tailor them to the client's requirements:

1. inconspicuous, and can be finished to blend into landscaping or architectural layout
   
2. this open roof arrangement provides complete naked eye access to all areas overhead and down to the horizon
   
3. the open roof arrangement provides use of ultrawide angle imaging systems
   
4. can buy the complete sliding roof assembly for installation on top of your own structure, or buy a complete observatory with wall panels
   
5. with optional extending pier, telescope can slew from horizon to horizon
   
6. can be disassembled and relocated
   
7. slide-off roof is supported by space-saving extending track supports thereby eliminating the need for unsightly fixed protruding rails and support frame
   
8. all aluminum construction with aluminum panels making it 100% corrosion resistant and maintenance free
   
9. materials will not warp or sag over time
   
10. completely opening roof facilitates the acclimation of telescope or instruments, even faster than a Dome
    
11. roof panel finished in white to reject a high percentage of heat from the Sun
    
12. wall panels available in any one of twelve (12) color options; no painting or staining required, ever!
    
13. smaller models typically assembled in hours with simple hand tools
    
14. models with access door are provided with lock to discourage unauthorized entry
    
15. include anchor hardware to bolt structure onto a platform or onto a concrete foundation
    
16. optionally motorized roof panels can be controlled locally or remotely, or with optional software, or tied into a full ASCOM compatible Advanced Observatory Control Software and Hardware control system
    
17. optional motorized roof equipment powered by AC, or by battery, and this has a release mechanism so that roof can be opened or closed in event of motor failure
18. powered components (AC roof motor, lights, remote control equipment, cloud sensor, etc.) can operate from battery with inverter or from the optional Solar Panel Power System
19. Company Seven's team has learned by doing, and so we can help our customers with a few extra hints to make assembly go even faster or we can build it for you: form and build pier and structure foundation, install power and signal utilities, and finally observatory assembly and telescope installation!

Our team has learned much about building observatories (including those by Pier-Tech) by doing, and so we assist our customers with our own documentation in addition to that provided by Pier-Tech explaining foundation and utilities planning, suggested power and signal wiring, lighting arrangements. We know the extra hints that make assembly by you or your contractor go even faster and better, or we can build it for you. Observatory models include:

• Tele-Station 2: slide off roof with wall panels, manual or electric operation, aluminum roof in 5 overlapping panels for good waterproofness. This is a complete Observatory with wall support structure that accepts custom cladding to match your home. Choose any one of 12 colors for wall panels. Model choices include:

  6 ft high panels of either 7 x 7, 7 x 10, 7 x 14, 8 x 8, 9 x 9, 10 x 10, 10 x 15, 10 x 20 feet

  or

  19 ft high panels of either 8 x 16 or 9 x 18 feet

• Tele-Station 3: slide off roof as on the Tele-Station 2 but with short wall section designed for mounting to an existing structure. Manual or electric operation, aluminum roof overlapping panels for good waterproofness, short wall panel available in choice of color also accepts custom cladding to match your home. For example the overall height of 8 x 8 foot model is 2 ft 7-3/8 inches, the 10 x 10 model is 2 ft 6 inches tall.

  Model choices include width x depth of either: 7 x 7, 7 x 10, 7 x 14, 8 x 8, 8 x 16, 9 x 9, 9 x 18, 10 x 10, 10 x 15, 10 x 20 feet

• Preview: Tele-Station 5: announced in July 2008, this is a split roof, slide off arrangement sold as a complete Observatory with wall support structure that accepts custom cladding to match your home. For locations where space is limited to permit the travel of a single roof panel (Tele-Station 2 and 3 for example) this roof slides in two parts away from each other. The two aluminum roof segments each consist of five panels and overlapping for good waterproofness. Electric operation with manual backup.

  Model choices to be determined and announced here in the future.

• Preview: Tele-Station 6: announced in July 2008, this is a split roof, slide off arrangement. For locations where space is limited to permit the travel of a single roof panel ((Tele-Station 2 and 3 for example) ) this roof slides in two parts away from each other. Similar in concept to the Tele-Station 3 in that the Tele-Station 6 is made for installation onto the customers existing structure. The two aluminum roof segments each consist of five panels and overlapping for good waterproofness. Electric operation with manual backup.

  Model choices to be determined and announced here in the future.

• Star Traveler Trailer: mobile, towed trailer mounted slide off roof as on the Tele-Station 2 but with 71 inch (5 ft 9 inch / 180 cm) high wall section. The walls are topped with a sliding aluminum roof consisting of overlapping panels for good waterproofness, and slides open by either manual or electric operation. Stabilizers deploy to isolate the frame from the suspension, and this provides a stable platform. With optional Solar Panel Power System is self reliant. And with it can be configured to be operated remotely or locally. Good for the world traveler, astronomy outreach programs, use as a portable surveillance platform, portable weather monitoring, etc.

  Models are 71 inch high and 7 feet wide. Choices of length are: 7, 8, 9, or 10 feet

• Tele Enclosure: the first commercially available roll away observatory, is a protective enclosure constructed similarly to the above observatories with an aluminum roof made of 5 panel overlapping panels for good waterproofness. Simply open the large side door, quickly deploy the manually operated caster at each corner, and then simply roll Tele Enclosure away from the telescope. Casters can be locked into position from inside to prevent movement, and access door is provided with a lock too. Recommended for compact telescopes including SCT's of up to 14 inch aperture. Can be used to house instruments for other sciences too.

  Tele Enclosure is 6 feet high, and 4 feet x 4 feet.

• Pier-Tech Dome PTD1: the first venture into dome observatories by Pier-Tech, announced in 2007. Standard construction is of Galvalume, a steel sheet that is coated with an aluminum-zinc material. Painting is not required, since the basic finish renders a silvery look that is very pleasing to the eye. However painting to any desired color is available as an option. We also offer these domes in white painted Aluminum and a Stainless Steel version for superior corrosion resistance.

  The PTD1 provides the Dome with retracting Main Shutter (up and over arrangement), with cylindrical Base and an full height access Door linked to the hinged Lower Shutter (drop out) section. The viewing range is from the horizon up to 15 degrees beyond zenith. Since the walk-in Door travels with the Dome in azimuth, the possible viewing angle is effectively from ground up to 15 degrees past zenith. The Door and Shutter can be opened independently from each other. Motors for operation of the shutter and for azimuth rotation are included.

  Optional contactor bars provide current to shutter motor are available thereby eliminating the need to plug and unplug the shutter motorÕs power cable, before and after dome rotation. Complete ASCOM compatible Dome Automation is also available as an option. The entry Door can be automated to open by remote control as well!

  Available models (diameter at Base Ring): in approx. 2 ft increments from 8 ft (2.4m) up to 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m)

  Stand by for more details and images to come

• Pier-Tech Dome PTD2: Dome as above but without Base and Door, designed to be installed onto a platform or foundation provided by the customer. The Dome rotates upon a track installed onto the foundation. Viewing range is from horizon to 15 degrees past zenith.

  The Lower Shutter operation is aided by gas springs. Optional electric cylinder power is available for automation purposes.

  Available models (diameter at Base Ring): in approx. 2 ft increments from 8 ft (2.4m) up to 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m)

  Stand by for more details and images to come

Company Seven's staff can be your complete source of Pier-tech products information, sales, installation and service (for items sold by us). Company Seven's team has learned much about building Observatories (including those made by Pier-Tech) by doing it, and so we can help the construction by you or your contractor go even faster and better or we can build it for you. We will provide as much support as you prefer: consulting and sales, facility preparation (foundation work, utilties, permits), construction and assembly, systems integration, and operator training.

Right: observatory designed and constructed by Company Seven working with local contractors November-December 2008. Tele-Station 2 Observatory with Celestron C-14 telescope with AstroZap heated Dew Shield atop CGE German Equatorial Mount on a Pier-Tech 2 elevating Pier. Telescope is in a 'parked' or hibernating orientation as the observatory roof is closed. (123,928 bytes).
Click on image to see enlarged view (298,387 bytes).

We invite you to contact Company Seven to learn more about our Pier-Tech products and services.