Is this a totally insane idea...? (1 Viewer)

[David M Franks]

I've been into astronomy since I was a kid, but currently live in an area full of awful throbbing orange streetlights. Being a new motorhome owner, I figured that can now pack a telescope and drive right into the dark countryside and enjoy the night sky as it should be. But here's the bonkers part of the idea:

Could I/should I cut a circle in the roof, mount (and waterproof) a fair size perspex dome, and be able to aim my scope into the sky in the relatively luxurious interior? Or would doing that put crazy stress on the roof integrity?

It's either a genius idea and I should patent it... or, more likely, a completely stupid one and I should forget it! Feel free to laugh at me!

 

[Richard n Ann]

If your keeping the van until it's scrap, go for it

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Barking bonkers batty i.m.o.

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[CWH]

Love it!
@DavidG58 have you seen this?
Wonder if @Terry could 'fix it' for you???

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Barking bonkers batty i.m.o.

What he said

 

[ianthebuilder]

A great idea!!! You could then mount a machine gun on the roof as well,, just to get rid of some of the bloody idiot car drivers I have come across!!! Xxxx

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[Dan and Jan]

Is this to big for you?

 

[David M Franks]

Hahahahaha - you are all even more bonkers than I am! Lovin the replies!

 

[Wissel]

You'd need the van stabilised surely?

Any movement at all would render the scope next to useless I'd imagine (Missus into astrophotography).

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[MC 55 FUN]

Why not pop one of these on the roof - no hole required

 

[CWH]

Hahahahaha - you are all even more bonkers than I am! Lovin the replies!

Agh David! Your name's turned black!!! That means you've had your 5 'free' posts as a 'guest' member and turned into a 'read only' Funster - so to keep on posting (and benefiting from this magnificent forum) you now need to subscribe - at just £15 per year it's the best motorhoming investment you'll EVER make!

 

[TheBig1]

anything is do-able if you really want to do so. the roof opening would need reinforcing to prevent the walls flexing. and the van would be virtually worthless if you wanted or needed to sell

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[Dan and Jan]

Why not pop one of these on the roof - no hole required

Surely they only fit on a caravan?

 

[DBK]

I don't think you could look through the perspex, if that's what you meant, too much distortion. You can buy astronomy tents, like a bird hide but for looking upwards for not too much money. This would also give you a stable base (MHs move in the wind unless you spend a lot on jacks) and a stable temperature. I suspect if you were to stick you head and telescope out of the roof of a MH you would be surrounded by warm and potentially moist air - until the interior of the MH became cold. Which wouldn't be much fun to experience while getting ready for bed after your star gazing.

Alternatively, of course, fit a camera to the telescope and control it remotely and watch the results on a screen - in warmth and comfort!

 

[Wissel]

lol, I did a search to see if anyone had done this:

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

I would have thought that if you have a roof vent that you could be able to stand up in/through you could fit a dome over the opening and remove the vent lid. If sealed correctly it would only have downsides of increased running height, not being able to open and probably the most difficult would be how to stop condensation and misting due to the temperature difference.
If you do it, please can you post a picture?

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Surely they only fit on a caravan?

By the time this mod' is done that's all that will left of the o.p.'s Moho . . .

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Why not pop one of these on the roof - no hole required

lol, I did a search to see if anyone had done this:

View attachment 184654

See - it can be done !

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[gus-lopez]

I think the dogging/cottagers will love it.

 

[magicsurfbus]

If I was going to modify a MH for space exploration I'd go down the Eagle V route:

 

[CWH]

Hey, you've gone blue! Welcome to the rest of the mad-house!!!

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[Viennese]

I've been into astronomy since I was a kid, but currently live in an area full of awful throbbing orange streetlights. Being a new motorhome owner, I figured that can now pack a telescope and drive right into the dark countryside and enjoy the night sky as it should be. But here's the bonkers part of the idea:

Could I/should I cut a circle in the roof, mount (and waterproof) a fair size perspex dome, and be able to aim my scope into the sky in the relatively luxurious interior? Or would doing that put crazy stress on the roof integrity?

It's either a genius idea and I should patent it... or, more likely, a completely stupid one and I should forget it! Feel free to laugh at me!

Why not just go to the C&CC site at Bellingham where they run astronomy weekends - it's near the Kielder Observatory too!

 

[Stretto Boy]

Why not tow it? No need to damage your MH and you can carry the telescope across if you change it:

Give me a wave if you spot me when you are looking into outer space:

 

[My Dog Likes Fishing]

You could just open a window and look up!

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Glad to see you've gone blue @David M Franks . The best £15 you'll ever spend. I've been able to cancel my subscription to The Beano since joining this forum, and I'm thinking of cancelling my next Open University course on "British and European Law Relating to Towing vehicles in the Post Diesel Era" as I can get all I need to know on this forum.
Anyway I think your idea is excellent. I'm not sure how big a dome needs to be, but I would have thought that you could simply change one if the opening skylights to fit a tailor made dome without impacting the van integrity. @DBK has cast doubt on being able to see through Perspex without distortion, so you may have to come up with a waterproof seal around the telescope opening, or have a second, hinged dome on the outside. This could also help prevent your lens getting compromised from dead flies and other road kill.
What I really like about this is that non-astronomers, like myself, could use your invention without the telescope to a) watch bands at festivals when it is raining too hard to leave the van, and b) observe queues further forward than you can from the driver or passenger seat. You might also like to include in your design, some sort of telescopic ( no pun intended) observation chair so you don't have to stand on the bed/table/wife's back whilst doing your observing.

 

[PP Bear]

Your motorhome, your money, great project, just keep us all updated with photos and feedback please. You could fit hydraulic levellers as they're meant to be the dogs dangly bits, so should steady you up nicely

Good luck spaceman

 

[Lenny HB]

Aren't you defeating the whole object of this star gazing lark, i.e. to stand outside in the middle of winter freezing your nuts off.

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[pappajohn]

Why not, my RV had a large opaque plastic dome over the shower cubicle to give extra headroom.

 

[Julie and Charles]

If you have a refraction telescope you can drive out and set up. Give it 20 minutes, so time for a brew.
But, looking through any window won't work well.