Building a Roll-Off Roof or Dome Observatory

John Hicks is a Canadian citizen, Professor of Urban & Regional planning, and also a qualified professional landscape architect. Based in Ontario, Canada, he is the principal owner of John Hicks & Associates, Environmental Planners and Landscape Architects, Site Planning, Park Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment. He is also a long-time amateur astronomer and has had articles published in “Astronomy,” chapters in Dickinson and Dyer’s “The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide,” and has made contributions to various other astronomy books. John is well-known as a designer of observatories and telescopes and has been an active solar observer for 30 years. Prior to writing the first edition of “Building a Roll-Off Observatory,” he created and sold observatory plans for both roll-off and domed observatory structures at major star parties and to various clients globally.

The Benefits of a Permanent Observatory.- Pros and Cons – Roll-off Roof Type versus a Domed Observatory.- Questions to ask before you begin.- The Prestige of Ownership.- Site Requirements.- Ownership situations.- Roll-Off Roof Observatory.- Detailed construction drawings.- Photographs of finished Roll-off Observatories.- Domed Observatory.- Construction Details.- Photographs of Finished Domed Observatory.- How to Request Full-size Plans.