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dome observatory

SkyShed POD-S is a new benchmark in mid-size observatories. Seriously.

WHY?
A long list of features that sets the bar for manual, motorized, remote/ASCOM, slotted dome observatory operation.

Made from the same great material (LLDPE) as SkyShed POD and POD MAX. It’s really tough stuff. It can last for decades with a minimal amount of care.

Just as with POD and POD MAX, the only doubled-walled observatories on the market. Not a single-wall “eggshell” dome or wall. With up to 70% thicker/heavier material than SkyShed POD too.

 

SkyShed POD-S wall for dome observatories

POD-S will take on high wind speeds, large hail, snow, ice, pouring rain, dirt, pollen, harsh Sun. You name it. Pretty well everything nature can throw at it. Except a tornado. If a tornado hits, all bets are off, with any observatory.

BUILDING MATERIAL COMPARISON
Fiberglass
Expensive, fragile, expensive to transport, dries out and fractures
Steel / Aluminum
Expensive, heavy, difficult to work with, rusts / oxidizes eventually and dents. A "convection oven" around your gear.
ABS
Fragile. Cracks and fractures very easily. Very Low UV Resistance. Not long lasting
POD-S Polyethylene
Lasts for decades, easy to work with, strong, non toxic. High UV Resistance
Heavy matte finish inside and out for lower reflectivity

Designed from the ground up to be operated manually, or on-site via our 24V motor/control system, with hand-controller or computer.

Plus remotely via LAN / Internet – PC, Linux, and your favorite ASCOM dome control software. I.E. The SkyX, NINA, SGPro, etc.

A greatly superior motor/control system than is available in other North American mid-size obs.
Simple, Robust, Industrial Strength.

Direct Shaft Drives

No “mickey mouse” friction drives, cable drives, sprocket drives, no plastic tracks, which are the norm. And which are generally not dependable, problematic, and poorly supported.

Up to 15 degrees per second rotation speed.

“Easy Roll” garage door track and quiet ball bearing/nylon roller Slot Cover System. Simple, strong. Works year ‘round.

The Slot Covers CAN’T blow off in the night as with some other mid-size observatories. They’re locked on. It will take a tornado to dislodge them. Yet very easy to roll at operating temperatures.

Past Zenith view with center mounted, offset mounted, or wedge mounted telescopes.

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Leave the lower pivoting slot cover closed to obscure
local or neighboring lights when you’re concentrating on objects higher in the sky.

Great for solar observation and imaging when the sun is placed at a higher altitude.

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DOME CAN’T LEAK.
If assembled correctly. Not only is the dome double–walled, but the strong, thick slot covers have double weather stops at the ends, are arched (for snow loading, water run off), and tile downward. With only one oversized lap-join between the two dome halves. No vertical facing bolts thru the dome (that would be bad design). Meaning the heaviest rain CAN’T GET THROUGH!

Like POD, heavy tong-style steel dome brackets retain the dome in high winds.
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Same footprint as original POD Clamshell. This means you now have 4 options to choose from. Original POD Wall/Bays or New Taller Wall/Bays.

Original Clamshell Style Dome, or new Slot Style Dome with or without Motor Control. Your choice. “Mix and Match”.

Existing POD owners can add the POD-S Dome and motor system
to their existing POD Wall and Bays. 

Or add the New Taller Wall Panels, Door, and Bays to your existing POD Dome.

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Or add the New Taller Wall Panels, Door, and Bays to your existing POD Dome.

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Existing POD owners who would like to move to the new taller wall, can add the new SkyShed Pier Base Extension too. To raise your scope along with the wall height. Simple bolt on design. Using your existing SkyShed Pier bolt pattern.

Due to the new Taller Wall, Doorway, Bays, and New Dome Style, there is 111 cubic feet more room in a POD-S XL5,
with Tall wall/Bays vs. original POD XL5 with original wall/Bays.

 

Choose between zero POD-S Bay panels (5 Wall panels and one Door panel), or 1 – 5 Original Height POD-S Bays (Mark III), or 1 – 5 Taller POD-S Bays (Mark IV), which replace the Wall panels.

Model numbers are designated XL1 – XL5. Where the number after the XL represents the number of Bays. I.E. an XL1 has one Bay. An XL2 has two Bays. Up to an XL5 with five POD-S Bays. Be they original height POD-S Bays (Mark III) or taller POD-S Bays (Mark IV).

Debossed circles in the dome and wall panels add strength, look cool.

50% thicker, stainless steel dome flange track vs POD’s galvanized steel track.

New all black, even tougher, ball bearing wall-wheels. Tested to perform in temps from -40F to 230 F.

Renowned Support. Online Interaction. Dedicated Discussion Group. Personalized Support. Even 1-on-1 personalized by-the-hour support is available.

Available pre-assembly, wiring, and shipping with major parts assembled and installed. Shipped in a 20’ sea container to just about anywhere in the world. CONTACT US for more information.

AVAILABLE IN 7 COLORS! Lunar Gray, Discovery White, Midnight Gray, Cobalt Blue, Hunter Green, Forest Green and Desert Tan. The Dome and Wall can be different colors as well.  For instance – A DiscoverY White Dome on a Desert Tan Wall / Bays.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions – If you have questions there’s a good chance you’ll find your answers in our extensive FAQ section.
PRICING
We will be posting estimated pricing ASAP – CHECK BACK.

If budget is limited, to help you decide between POD and POD-S:

At this time we estimate POD-S prices without motor/control system will be 30 – 50% higher than SkyShed POD prices.

The POD-S Motor/Control System will be an optional extra.

Taller Wall/Bays, and POD-S dome and full units, will cost more to ship than SkyShed POD with original height wall, due to being a larger/heavier shipment.

UPDATES
Join the POD/POD-S discussion Forum for all the latest updates.
TIMELINE
We have been developing and testing POD-S for over 2 years, and have completed 90% of our Task List. We’re now ramping up for production. Molds and Tooling with which we make POD-S have existed since 2021. As do full test units, which can you can see here on the website. With the molds and tooling we have in place, we can create thousands of POD-S units.

NOW IN PRODUCTION!

Thanks to a great response, production spaces for 2024 are filled up.

Get in line now for 2025 production before it fills up too!

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
HAVE QUESTIONS?

We’re always busy with regular production and very thankful for that! Add POD-S pre-production on top of that, and we will be hard pressed to answer every POD-S question we receive. Please read everything on the website, including the very thorough FAQ page before sending questions. Your answer(s) might be right on the page.

If you’re thinking that POD-S might fit with your observatory plans, CONTACT US and tell us about those plans. We have 20 years and thousands of SkySheds of advice we can assist with. We’re active astro imagers too. We have a very good idea of where you want to get to. We’d like to hear about your particulars and help you get there. It’s what we do!

 

POD-S MARK IV XL5 Pre-Production Unit Images

All deep-sky background images on the website are courtesy Wayne Parker, SkyShed Observatories Owner

We not only create great astronomical observatories, we’re avid astro imagers just like you!