Observatory Domes
Outsideology: A New UK Installation Partner for ScopeDome Observatory Domes
We’re delighted to have entered a partnership with ScopeDome, an established European specialist manufacturer of Observatory Domes. Their domes have been installed all over the World, and we’re incredibly excited to offer them to our UK-based customers starting in January 2025.
Now Professionally Installed by Our Own Teams
Uniquely in the UK, we offer a full professional installation service for your observatory dome, just as we do for all our other observatories. Whether you require a simple concrete base, a raised deck or indeed a rooftop installation, we’re here to offer you the same high quality design, planning and implementation we’re famous for with our roll-off roof observatories.
An Exceptional Quality Observatory Dome
The ScopeDome product speaks for itself – put simply, it is a professional-level observatory dome which is manufactured to the very highest quality. All their observatory domes are capable of full automation, and are therefore ideal for remote use. ScopeDome is the choice of Universities, Public Observatories and International Organisations such as the European Southern Observatory (see image on the left). Now you can own a professional observatory dome too!
Competitive Pricing
ScopeDome are priced competitively when compared to similar quality observatory domes offered elsewhere. You will notice that our pricing appears high compared to prices other suppliers are advertising – but beware! Other suppliers don’t include the considerable cost of delivery from the manufacturer in Poland, nor do they include any installation service. Our more realistic pricing below includes VAT, delivery (from ScopeDome direct to you) and straightforward installation by our own team on an existing pad. For more complicated installations, or if you require a deck, floor, walls, or even a whole building, please contact us and we’ll provide you with an estimate.
ScopeDome Observatory Domes & Clamshells
ScopeDome 2m
From £13,500 installed
ScopeDome 3m
From £19,000 installed
ScopeDome 4m
From £39,000 installed
ScopeDome 5.5m
From £59,000 installed
Clamshell 3m
From £42,000 installed
Professional Installation
ScopeDome observatories can be installed in any number of ways; either on their own (on a concrete base), on a raised deck, on walls of any height, or of course on the roof of a building.
However you decide to install your ScopeDome, we are here to help. We’ll design and specify the required ground works, and oversee their installation. Our 15 years of observatory design expertise means we can design any additional parts needed to fit the dome precisely, whether it’s walls, a raised floor, or a complete observatory building with warm room included. As with all our observatories, you’ll receive a full set of plans and 3D views for approval before installation.
What’s more, we’ll provide you with a 5-year warranty that covers not only the dome itself, but the entire installation. Peace of mind is built in too!
Please note though – we will only install ScopeDomes we have supplied.
Observatory Dome Automation
Whilst you can buy our 2m and 3m ScopeDomes in a manual version, each is also available motorised (manually controlled) or with full automation.
4m and 5.5m ScopeDomes, and the incredible Clamshell Observatory, are all fully automated as standard.
In every case, the automation is achieved by two silent-running mains-powered motors, one rotating the dome and the other operating the observation window (flap). The dome motors are fully encoded, ensuring that the position of the flap matches the direction of the telescope at all times. The system, powered by an Arduino processor, is supplied with its own ASCOM driver to interface with your observatory computer.
Ground Works
Whatever form your ground works take, we’ll take care of the design and, where it’s cost-effective for you, we’ll install them too.
Outsideology’s Unique Mounting System
In particular, we offer a unique mounting system for the ScopeDome, whereby we supply our own rigid floor that is supported off the ground on ground screws. This decouples the observatory floor from the pier, ensuring vibrations from your own movements aren’t transmitted to the telescope. Our floor system also makes a dramatic difference to the moisture and temperature performance of any observatory. Our First BaseTM Ground Screws are installed using laser levelling, ensuring a strong, precise and reliable mounting for your observatory with excellent longevity. Just like our famed roll-off roof observatories, the floor is finished in phenolic ply – a remarkably resilient, easy-to-clean, non-slip surface that is impervious to moisture.
Installation
Unless we are providing you with additional parts such as walls or a building with the dome, our ScopeDome installations can be completed in as little as one day.
As part of the installation, we perform full testing and verification of the electrical circuits within the observatory, and our Part-P registered electrician will provide a full Electrical Installation Certificate for the installation. Likewise, we will notify the work to your local Building Control Body as required by the regulations, and you will receive a certificate from our registration body, the NICEIC.
We’ll always let you know how many days we expect to be on site when we book your installation. It’s rare that we need to move or extend an installation, but if the weather is especially poor we will sometimes do so because we are able to achieve a better finish in the absence of heavy rain or snow!
