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TELE-STATION 3 ROLL-OFF ROOF OBSERVATORY

Pier-Tech, Inc. is a US based manufacturing company. The company 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 in 2008 they expanded production to include observatory domes for use by professional and home astronomical observatories, and planetaria constructed of galvanized steel in diameters from 8 feet (2.4m) up to 30 foot 6 inches (9.3 meters)! So by 2008 Pier-Tech was offering almost everything that an amateur or professional astronomer could want to house their telescope or other project.

Company Seven became aware of this developing company because of their increasing selection of roll-off roof observatories and telescope piers. And even though we do offer observatory domes for sale, and our own observatory is in a superb dome, there were times when we deduced that our customer might be better served with a roll-off roof observatory and we therefore would recommend Pier-Tech as the first choice. While no observatory structural arrangement is a perfect solution since each brings with it some compromises, there are instances when the roll-off roof arrangement may be preferred over a dome.

Right: three views of the Tele-Station 3 Observatory.
Click on image to see enlarged four view image (122,678 bytes).

Advantages Of A Roll-Off Roof Observatory:

when the observer prefers to have a more 'open to the sky' experience, free to glance from horizon to horizon
the open roof arrangement allows the instruments to reaches thermal equilibrium faster than in a dome. And this eliminates the possibility of having a 'chimney effect' develop as hot air rises up and through the open slit of a dome.
with the roll-off roof completely retracted there is no need to buy complicated and costly Dome automation equipment and software to keep the Dome shutter opening tracking along with the telescope
when the owner prefers to have a lower profile structure that does not readily advertise the presence of a telescope
when the owner prefers (or spouse demands) to have a lower profile structure that blends better than a dome with the associated architecture
makes the best sense at sites where protection from high winds is not a concern
provides shielding from lower placed neighboring lights

This Makes Tele-Station Particularly Attractive:

Unique roof design to assure protection of the contents and longevity. The aluminum roof consists of five panels, and these have overlapping seams assuring a complete waterproof seal.
The roll-off roof panel is supported without outriggers or unsightly and space-wasting exterior support tracks and framing. Track supports telescope in and out to support the roof as it moves. See the video at right to understand how unobtrusive this arrangement can be.
The Tele-Station 3 is a low-profile roll-off roof panel similar to that provided with the Tele-Station 2. But Tele-Station 3 differs from that model in that it is not provided provided with any base structure. So a customer can buy Tele-Station 3 and install it atop any structure, usually with our supplied anchoring hardware. If you would like to build your own substructure, but have difficulty with the roll off roof portion, this is the option for you. We will supply the roof, roll off assembly as a complete package. All you have to do is bolt it to your existing substructure.
Tele-Station 3, designed for mounting to an existing building structure with the supplied short wall, and with brackets for attachment onto your substructure perimeter ledge. It can also be mounted to a home roof for converting a loft or attic into an observatory. It is shipped in wall and roof sections, ready for assembly. Typical assembly time is five (5) hours.
The roll-off roof can be opened or closed manually, or by means of the optional electric motor provided with a wireless remote control. And if power to the motorized system fails, then the roof can still be operated manually.
This is an aesthetically pleasing design with choice of exterior panel colors. Its unique aluminum framing is slotted along the entire Tele-Station exterior walls so that the exterior can be covered to blend in even better with its surrounds.
Pier-Tech has engineered a comprehensive array of accessories for their observatories including:
- Pier-Tech has developed a comprehensive solution not only of observatories but also offers telescope motorized elevating Piers that extend and retract beyond the roof level. This means one can observe from horizon to zenith!
- Optional Control systems to permit complete remote operation of the observatory with commands transmitted by hardwire or by cellular communications. The Tele-Station with optional motor can be operated as a fully remote observatory system with the Pier-Tech 2 or higher capacity Pier-Tech 3, all controlled by the Advanced Observatory Control Software & Hardware from the comfort of your own home or from another part of the world.
- Solar Panel Power System to operate remote installations or simply for those who wish to make an environmental statement.
Pier-Tech products are engineered and provided largely assembled and with good documentation so that installation and set up will go smoothly - even for the mere mortal. For example walls and roof panels bolt together using only one (1) tool, a supplied Allen wrench!!!
Tele-Station can be disassembled and relocated easily. And so reuse of the space is facilitated for the next occupant of the property.
Company Seven can provide as much support as the customer prefers: consulting and sales, facility preparation (foundation work, utilties, permits), construction, systems integration, and operator training. Just tell us what type of telescope and mount you have, and we can take care of the rest.
Company Seven preaches "the best telescope is the one that gets used". And so the convenience of having the telescope set up in an observatory, with the mount aligned and ready to go increases the instances when the owner will enjoy the night sky.

Above Right: Click on image to see the streaming video of the similar roll-off roof Tele-Station 2 Observatory with Pier-Tech 2 elevating Pier.
Video will download in Apple Quicktime format. The one minute presentation amounts to 31,166,260 bytes.

Product Gallery click on the picture to view enlarged image

Tele-Station 3 Roll-Off Roof Observatory

Tele-Station 2 Solar Panel Power System

Pier-Tech automation hardware and Wi-Fi module

Available Options Click on item to view image of the product, or link to the product description page
Motorized roof with wireless hand pendant controller	P.O.R.
Cloud Sensor with mounting and wiring	P.O.R.
Solar Panel Power System: Solar Panel, inverter, battery, charge controller, with all wiring and mounting equipment	P.O.R.
Vantage Pro2 weather station with mounting and wiring	P.O.R.
Built in storage box along whole length, inside of the observatory	P.O.R.
Advanced control software and hardware for full robotic operation, ASCOM compatible. Includes controller, limit switches on roof and pier.	P.O.R.
Awning, mounted, covers front of observatory	P.O.R.
Pier-Tech 2 Telescope Pier	P.O.R.
Pier-Tech 3 Telescope Pier	P.O.R.
Telescope Vibration Isolation platform. Eliminates vibration to mount induced by walking around the pier or tripod	P.O.R.
Personalized, custom signage on door of observatory or any side panels	P.O.R.

Tele-Station 3 Roll Off Roof Observatory Pricing:

Item #

Description

Price

TS3-7x7x19

7 x 7 x 19 inches high

P.O.R.

TS3-7x10x19	7 x 10 x 19 inches high	Contact C7
TS3-7x14x19	7 x 14 x 19 inches high	Contact C7
TS3-8x8x19	8 x 8 x 19 inches high	P.O.R.

TS3-8x16x19	8 x 16 x 19 inches high	Contact C7
TS3-9x9x19	9 x 9 x 19 inches high	P.O.R.

TS3-9x18x19	9 x 18 x 19 inches high	Contact C7
TS3-10x10x19	10 x 10 x 19 inches high	P.O.R.
TS3-10x15x19	10 x 15 x 19 inches high	Contact C7
TS3-10x20x19	10 x 20 x 19 inches high	Contact C7

Tele-Station 6 Is Available In Your Choice Of 12 Colors:

White	Sunset Red	Bright Yellow
Royal blue	Candy Apple Red	Ivy Green
Raven Black	Silver Metallic	Matte Black
Ivory	Regal Bronze	Sand Beige

By 2008 Pier-Tech products's best credentials by then were their ever increasing base of satisfied customers including amateurs and:

Professional Institutions

NASA

European Space Agency

Boeing

United States Air Force

Oceanit Labs

Sci-Tec

Sensing Strategies

Mitre Corporation

Lockheed Martin

Universities and Colleges

University Of North Dakota

University of Wisconsin Lacrosse

Texas A&M University

Houston Community College

Keystone College

University of Washington

Stroudsburg University

Sheppard University

Appalachian University

Widener University

University of San Mateo

Public Institutions

Franklin Science Museum

New Mexico State Parks

Virginia living Museum

New York Hall of Science

Tele-Station 2

contact Company Seven

Contents Copyright 2005-2008 as collective works by Pier-Tech and Company Seven - All Rights Reserved.
Any unauthorized reproduction by any means, mechanical or electronic, without the express written permission of Pier-tech, Inc. and Company Seven is strictly prohibited.