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Roboscope: Worth it to build?

Started by benkokes, 12/30/2005 10:40PM
Posted 12/30/2005 10:40PM Opening Post
I posted this in the beginners forum, but was instructed to post here instead..

The lowdown is that I have some land in Bend/Redmond, Oregon that I can put a sizeable structure on. (parents place has 30+ acres outside of town, dark skies)

So I am just wondering if there would be a market for renting time out on a 40" reflector if I were to build and house such a beast. Right now, I am looking at feasability scenarios to determine weather or not to continue along this though process. I would just like input if people have done this before and if there are many 40"+ scopes out for rent..


Since I already posted this in the 'beginners' forum, I got come responses, shown below:
Ben,

It would have to be located someplace with 200+ nights of clear skys.

Case Western Reserve has a 36 reflector we considered selling time on, but it's located in northeastern Ohio - last winter/early spring we had over 90 days WITHOUT a clear night!!!!

Let me know if you decide to go forward with this.

Russ
Posted 12/31/2005 03:29AM #1
Ben,

Here's a 32" that rents for $175 per hour.

http://www.tenagraobservatories.com/Selling%20Telescope%20Time.htm

Russ
Posted 01/01/2006 12:27AM #2
Ben,

It is already being done--not that you should not do it, but you could probably learn from those who do.

For instance, the software is already written, and the prices are already determined, and imaging does not require 40 inches. And if you had a 40 incher, how would you differ from a big university program?

good luck, though.

Alex