21.12.20

21.12.2020 A tilting [shade net] screen of invisibility!

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I have had a completely mad idea for concealing the brilliant whiteness of the new dome. The donor igloo is claimed to have a solar heat reflecting, white finish! Presumably titanium white. White doesn't get much brighter than this! Ideal for solar imaging. Where thermal effects are highly undesirable.

Now imagine two, hinged and counterbalanced arms. With pivots on the east and west sides of the building. Add almost opaque, pro-quality shade netting. Stretched over a frame only in front of the dome. Facing south, the house and the distant road. The screen remains in place only when the dome is not in active use.

Release a cord and the netting screen will effortlessly lift out of the way of the telescope's light path. Carried upwards by the hanging counterweights on the east and west, see-saw arms. Providing instant invisibility and adjustable, solar shading combined! 😎

The frontal net frame could be curved to follow the dome. Helping to reduce frontal area to wind loading. Perhaps a lightweight PVC plumbing tube frame for lightness? It could even be curved into a semicircular shape if it was PVC pipe. This would also help to reduce the net's own visual impact over longer distances. It would be "tree" shaped. 🌳


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