Building a Roll-Off Roof or Dome Observatory: A Complete Guide for Design and Construction (The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series) 2nd ed. 2016 Edition

This profusely-lllustrated book by John Stephen Hicks is a detailed, step-by-step guide to building an astronomical observatory from the ground up. I read it as I was preparing to break ground for my dome observatory, and found it useful at every stage of construction, beginning with the slab and isolated pier base, which also involved bringing in the underground electric feeder from the house service and forming up the slab.In building a dome observatory, you have the option of fabricating your own dome or buying a pre-made dome. The book convinced me to go the pre-made route and in retrospect I'm glad I did. A home-made dome is a major undertaking and the materials are costly.John's book contains a wealth of information on every phase of the project. Astrophotography, especially under high magnification, requires an absolutely rigid pier and sound environment, and the author provides thoughtful guidance in meeting these demands. I especially appreciated his guidance on planning for and building the pier, which got me started.Springer Science did a superb in producing this book. The many color photographs and clear diagrams go well with John's expert writing.

This a very good comprehensive look at observatory building. There is something for everyone.

Gave good examples of different structures. Illustrated different means of constructing a roll off roof, with some explanation of why certain methods were better than others. I will be building a roll off obs this summer, this book is a great help.

Book clear and understood

Although this book did have some useful hints, most, if not all of the information could be acquired online. There was very little new information, and very few insights that helped me decide one way or the other (dome or shed). The problem is that each observatory needs to be custom-made to adapt to the viewer's environment so it's difficult to define the best choice. Another problem is that zoning regulations vary greatly from state to state, making it difficult to define how one might want to add power, heating, or lighting, or how to position it. If you've never considered building your own observatory, the book might be a fair introduction to the project. If you've already done a fair amount of your own research, however, there' not much new you're likely to learn.

Well written, complete.

very good book. lots of good information.

good and comprehensive