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Star Traveler Is Durable! Road Test Results:
- The Star Traveler Mobile Observatory was road tested on November 3, 2007. It was driven from Chicago, Illinois to College Station, Texas. A trip of 1,100 miles (1,770 km), at an average speed of 60 miles (97 km) per hour.
- A second Star Traveler Mobile Observatory was road tested on January 7, 2008. It was driven from Chicago, Illinois to Miami, Florida. A trip of 1,400 miles (2,253 km) at an average speed of 60 miles per hour.
Right: Click on image to see the streaming video demonstrating operation of the similar Tele-Station 2 Observatory with Pier-Tech 2 elevating Pier.
Video will download in Apple Quicktime format. The one minute presentation amounts to 31,166,260 bytes.
This Makes Star Traveler Particularly Attractive:
- Designed so that weight distribution is properly balanced for safe trailer operation.
- All aluminum trailer platform with safety lighting, 2 inch (50.8 mm) hitch ball with electrical connector to the towing vehicle for lights, etc.
- All aluminum observatory walls and roof with stainless steel fasteners.
- Unique roof design to assure protection of the contents and longevity. The aluminum roof consists of five panels, and these have overlapping seams assuring a complete waterproof seal.
- The roll-off roof panel is supported atop the metal structure without outriggers or unsightly and space-wasting exterior support tracks and framing. Track supports telescope in and out to support the roof as it moves. See the video at right to understand how unobtrusive this arrangement can be.
- Pier/tripod isolation platform with independent retractable electric isolation pods. This platform totally isolates the pier/tripod from the trailer floor. You will be able to walk in the trailer without vibrating the pier/tripod. Furthermore, it also isolates the pier/tripod from external forces, such as wind acting upon the side of the observatory.
- Azimuth adjustment adapter for quickly adjusting your telescope/mount in azimuth (left to right).
- The Star Traveler can be anchored onto the ground or onto any type of floor with optional anchoring hardware.
- The roll-off roof can be opened or closed manually, or by means of the optional electric motor provided with a wireless remote control. And if power to the motorized system fails, then the roof can still be operated manually.
- This is an aesthetically pleasing design with choice of exterior panel colors. Its unique aluminum framing is slotted along the entire Tele-Station exterior walls so that the exterior can be covered to blend in even better with its surrounds.
- Pier-Tech has engineered a comprehensive array of optional accessories for their observatories including:
- motorized elevating Piers that extend and retract beyond the roof level. This means one can observe from horizon to zenith, or lower the center of gravity by retracting the payload in the trailer.
- control systems to permit complete remote operation of the observatory with commands transmitted by hardwire or by cellular communications. The Tele-Station can be operated as a fully remote observatory system with the optional Pier-Tech 2 or Pier-Tech 3 controlled with our Advanced Observatory Control Software & Hardware - all from the comfort of your own home or from another part of the world with the optional Wi-Fi or Cell tower Communication Module.
- Solar Panel Power System to operate remote installations or simply for those who wish to make an environmental statement.
- Pier-Tech products are engineered and provided largely assembled and with good documentation so that installation and set up will go smoothly - even for the mere mortal. For example walls and roof panels bolt together using only one (1) tool, a supplied Allen wrench!!!
- Star Traveler components can be disassembled and replaced easily. So damage from an accident may be repaired without returning the trailer to our factory.
- Company Seven can provide as much support as the customer prefers: consulting and sales, facility preparation, systems integration, and operator training. Just tell us what type of telescope and mount you have, and we can take care of the rest.
Product Gallery
click on the picture to view enlarged image
7x10 Star Traveler Mobile Observatory Entry Door
Closed
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7x10 Star Traveler Mobile Observatory Entry Door
Open
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Roof Open - Angle View
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Roof Closed - Canopy Open
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Roof Closed - Front View
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory-Roof Closed-Top View
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Roof Open
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Roof Open - Solar Panel
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Work Table
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory - Weather Station and Cloud Sensor
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Transport Vibration Isolation Platform
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Pier Isolation System - Under Trailer
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Controls package - Solar panel controller - Inverter - Observatory
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Pier-Tech automation hardware and Wi-Fi module |
7x7 Star Traveler on dirt road in the Everglades, Florida
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Happy Customer next to his new 7x7 Star Traveler Mobile Observatory
in Florida Everglades
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Available Options
Click on item to view image of the product, or link to the product description page |
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Motorized roof with wireless hand pendant controller |
P.O.R. |
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Cloud Sensor with mounting and wiring |
P.O.R. |
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Solar Panel Power System: Solar Panel, inverter, battery, charge controller, with all wiring and mounting equipment |
P.O.R. |
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Vantage Pro2 weather station with mounting and wiring |
P.O.R. |
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Built in storage box along whole length, inside of the observatory |
P.O.R. |
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Advanced control software and hardware for full robotic operation, ASCOM compatible. Includes controller, limit switches on roof and pier. |
P.O.R. |
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Awning, mounted, covers front of observatory |
P.O.R. |
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Pier-Tech 2 Telescope Pier |
P.O.R. |
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Pier-Tech 3 Telescope Pier |
P.O.R. |
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Telescope Vibration Isolation platform. Eliminates vibration to mount induced by walking around the pier or tripod |
P.O.R. |
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Battery and fuse box with wiring
(minimum needed to power pier/tripod isolation plate) |
P.O.R. |
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Wheel docks (6 needed)
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P.O.R. |
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Wheel chocks (4 needed) |
P.O.R. |
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Personalized, custom text or logo on door of observatory or any side panels |
P.O.R. |
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Star Traveler Mobile Observatory Pricing: |
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ST-7x7 |
7 ft. W x 7 ft L x 71 inch wall height (213 x 213 x 180 cm) |
P.O.R. |
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ST-7x8 |
7 ft. W x 8 ft L x 71 inch wall height (213 x 244 x 180 cm) |
P.O.R. |
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ST-7x9 |
7 ft. W x 9 ft L x 71 inch wall height (213 x 274 x 180 cm) |
P.O.R. |
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ST-7x10 |
7 ft. W x 10 ft L x 71 inch wall height (213 x 305 x 180 cm) |
P.O.R. |
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Star Traveler Observatory Is Available In Your Choice Of 12 Colors:
White
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Sunset Red
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Bright Yellow
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Royal blue
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Candy Apple Red
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Ivy Green
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Raven Black
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Silver Metallic
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Matte Black
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Ivory
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Regal Bronze
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Sand Beige |
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C-7 News 
Tele-Station 2 Assembly Manual: 7x7 and 8x8 Models.pdf Revision 5 May 2007. Complete twenty one (21) page color illustrated instruction manual for assembly of the similarly constructed Tele-Station 2 roll off roof observatory. By Pier-Tech, all rights reserved (785,275 bytes in Acrobat Reader ".pdf" format).
NASA
Pier-Tech, Inc. is a US based manufacturing company. The company was established for the purpose of making fixed and portable Piers that can accept astronomical German Equatorial or Fork Mounts or other instruments. In time they expanded their production to develop astronomical observatories with slide-off roof, and most recently in 2008 they expanded production to include observatory domes for use by professional and home astronomical observatories, and planetaria constructed of galvanized steel in diameters from 8 feet (2.4m) up to 30 foot 6 inches (9.3 meters)! So by 2008 Pier-Tech was offering almost everything that an amateur or professional astronomer could want to house their telescope or other project.
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