Domes
Dome Observatories
of a 6' Home Dome observatory.
Dome Observatories are what most people picture when talking about observatories. These structures typically have a white or silver exterior and are made from either fiberglass or aluminized steel. Domes have many advantages for housing astronomical equipment. The small footprint of the circular base makes a dome a perfect fit for a backyard or for placement on a house. The spherical and round shape of the dome and base handles high winds or heavy snow load extremely well. And if you are planning on automating your astrophotography sessions or doing remote control of the observatory, the major dome manufacturers already have the motors and other accessories that are needed.
Give us a call to learn more about the products below or to place an order. We provide a complete solution with onsite installation of domes to complete personal observatory construction.
Technical Innovations entered the fiberglass observatory dome business in 1991. Owners John and Meg Menke of Barnesville, MD decided to create affordable domes, "designed for the professional, priced for the amateur." In the years since 1991, their product line grew to include Home-Dome, Pro-Dome and Robo-Dome observatories in several sizes, plus dome automation products such as Dome-Works, Digital Dome Works and Robo-Focus.
In February, 2002, the founders of Technical Innovations transferred ownership of all dome and dome automation products to NetLink Technologies, Inc. Jerry Smith, the president of NetLink, is doing business as Technical Innovations and is still based in Maryland. Technical Innovations has carried forward all the products and policies of the founders, including employing the same staff and contractors for production. Jerry Smith's background includes engineering, management and a long-standing interest in amateur astronomy.
Technical Innovations has hundreds of amateur and professional dome installations worldwide. Domes comes in 6', 10' and 15' sizes. The standard dome color is white with a blue interior, but the exterior can be factory colored to the customers requirements.
Pier-Tech Domes are fabricated in their Bartlett IL facility. Galvalume, which is a steel sheet that is coated with an aluminum-zinc material, is the standard 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. Pier-Tech also offers their domes in white painted Aluminum and a Stainless Steel version for superior corrosion resistance. Motors on shutter and azimuth rotation are included with all models. The viewing range is from horizon to 15 degrees past zenith. Pier-Tech offers a walk-in free standing dome and a dome alone version for mounting to an existing (or to be built) structure.
Pier-Tech Domes come in 12 different sizes ranging from 8' (2.4m) to 30'6" (9.3m)
