Geodesic dome - what shape?

I am looking at building an observatory with a dome of some sort, which I prefer to build myself. I have been thinking along the lines of a first level geodesically expanded dodecahedron.

Am I on the right track? Can anyone point me to good literature please.

Thanks.
Anthony

This link may be of some help. http://www.orednet.org/~jgarlitz/geodome.htm

Cal

Anthony, Cal's link to Joe Garlitz's site was the beganning of our new dome. Very good instructions. We modified the design slightly by bonding thin 1/4" plywood to the inside and outside faces of the polystyrene, then glassing the seams for reinforcement. Designed a roll back two part shutter built in aluminum. Just now working on the opening mechinism, a cable pull arrangement. The whole project was started Nov 2002, and has taken far longer than I would have guessed. The next problem will be getting it the 25 feet high on the back garage roof, likely or hopefully some sort of crain or lift.

You can contact Joe via email and he is very helpfull. We added the plywood for strength in high wind conditions of the Gulf Coast.

Regards Preston