If you can find a 16″ LX200R, it’s better to get the R than the GPS version. Are you going into astrophotography? If yes, Paramount ME will be a good choice for such a big OTA. By the way, what’s your budget?

what an amazing achievement ! A VERY nice observatory, and what a beast. I am living with my family in quite a rural area in South Australia, actually in one of the darkest areas of the Adelaide Hills; we have 76 acres to work with, and there has to be a place for an observatory. While I always shied away from the costly domes that are commercially available I would be very keen to learn more about your design, i.e. do you have any plans you´re willing to share, any recommendations for such a future project, etc. ?

We´re currently observing “just” with an 8 inch Newtonian, but I am in the process of going a bit larger (either the CGE 1400 from Celesttron, or the 16 inch LX 200 GPS, both on a fixed EQ mount). As both scopes are quite heavy a permanent assembly would be nice, hence my inquiry re. the construction of your observatory (the methodology is called plywood-veneer here in Oz and quite popular; due to the very dry climate wooden constructions survive for ages).

I would be extremely pleased to hear from you; please direct your favourable response to both my personal and my corparate email adresses:

florian-wolf@gmx.de

florianw@jurlique.com.au

This way I´ll be able to reply a.s.a.p.

Many thanks in advance for your kind help, clear skies and best regards,

Florian