Wood Yurt Observatory?

Wondering out loud here and hoping to bounce this around as an idea.  We love the night sky here.  We've got a family of photographers and were gifted a lovely starter pro telescope by my former midwife.  We would love a warm place to hang out and look at the night sky, take photos, etc. in the winter (MA, USA).  I'm wondering how it would be to build a small Coperthwaite yurt with a skylight dome to serve this purpose?  

Seems like a cool idea.

Has anyone done something like this?  

Thanks heaps,

I am not sure of your intents, but I am a long time amateur astronomer.   You use the word warm.  Observatories are not heated.  Heat will cause atmospheric disturbances that will mess with the image quality.   I question if the small hole at the top of the yurt will serve much real purpose.   Stars appear to move across the night sky as the earth rotates.  I question if they will stay within view of that hole long enough for useful observing.

There are relatively inexpensive options to consider.  The value of an observatory, from my perspective, is to serve as a wind break and to block out stray light.  I would consider some solid fencing.   Maybe an 8x8 area.   Going up the ladder in cost a large plastic water tank with a slot cut out could also work.  The water tank could be rotated as needed.  Finally, it is common to use sheds with roofs that slide off on wood or metal rails.  

You may want to check out www.cloudynights.com; it is a well moderated site (similar to Permies) that contains a wealth of information.   It is one of 3 sites that I participate in.

John F Dean wrote:I am not sure of your intents, but I am a long time amateur astronomer.   You use the word warm.  Observatories are not heated.  Heat will cause atmospheric disturbances that will mess with the image quality.   I question if the small hole at the top of the yurt will serve much real purpose.   Stars appear to move across the night sky as the earth rotates.  I question if they will stay within view of that hole long enough for useful observing.

There are relatively inexpensive options to consider.  The value of an observatory, from my perspective, is to serve as a wind break and to block out stray light.  I would consider some solid fencing.   Maybe an 8x8 area.   Going up the ladder in cost a large plastic water tank with a slot cut out could also work.  The water tank could be rotated as needed.  Finally, it is common to use sheds with roofs that slide off on wood or metal rails.  

Oh thanks!  I had no idea that they were not heated.  My camera equipment isn't really great in the cold, and neither am I. :D  But that's cool to know about distortion.

Light pollution isn't a problem here on our place.  We're almost a mile from artificial light at the top of our ridge.  

The little observatory pods look similar in size to yurt skylights.  That's why I asked.  That, and not knowing that the warmth would impact the instruments.  

Nissa said, "The little observatory pods look similar in size to yurt skylights.  That's why I asked.  That, and not knowing that the warmth would impact the instruments.

My neighbor is into astronomy and has built something specifically for viewing the night sky which is something big in different parts of Texas.

Do you live in an area that is good for viewing the night sky?  A place without pollution from lights in the cities?

You also might get more answers if you explain what the two tier Coperthwaite yurt is so I have found some pictures to help:

Edit to add that I found this thread that might be helpful to you or others:

https://permies.com/t/24115/Bill-Coperthwaite-tapered-wall-yurts


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This is a little different so I am not sure that pipe would prevent viewing though it is so cute:


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Anne Miller wrote:

Do you live in an area that is good for viewing the night sky?  A place without pollution from lights in the cities?

Yep.  We have a 300 acre farm in central Massachusetts.  We are, at the top of our ridge, about a mile from any artificial light.  It's glorious for star gazing.