Sea West Observatories

Behind the scenes with the Sea West team! We had an amazing time working with @ on this custom observatory build for Building Outside the Lines. From assembling the dome to fine-tuning every detail, our crew put in the work to make this project a success. It’s not every day you get to build an observatory as unique as this one! Check out these behind-the-scenes moments of our team in action. #SeaWestObservatories #ObservatoryBuild #BehindTheScenes #BuildingOutsideTheLines #space #science

Drones can be a great tool when evaluating a new observatory site, giving us a full view of the property and surrounding landscape. Seeing the big picture helps us plan for accessibility and placement. Beyond just the view from above, we carefully assess the site to ensure there are no obstructions—trees, buildings, or high terrain like mountain ranges—that could block the sky. A clear horizon is essential for optimal stargazing, ensuring the observatory has an unobstructed view of the night sky from horizon to zenith. #space #seawestobservatories #observatorybuild #SpaceX #science #telescope

Bringing this observatory to life—one lift at a time! We built and tested this Ash Manufacturing 10' 6" dome on the ground first before lifting it onto the custom observatory. This one-of-a-kind build features beautiful cedar veneer walls—often seen in saunas. It’s naturally resistant to moisture, rot, and decay, making it perfect for outdoor structures like observatories. From leveling the tracks to the final lift, every step had to be just right. #SeaWestObservatories #BuildingOutsideTheLines #ObservatoryBuild #MagnoliaNetwork #space #science

Piece by piece, we brought this observatory to life! Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our team assembling the dome, getting it ready for installation. Precision is everything when it comes to protecting high-tech astronomy equipment, and we made sure every detail was just right. Stay tuned—soon, we’ll show you where this dome is headed! ??? #SeaWestObservatories #ObservatoryBuild #BuildingOutsideTheLines #MagnoliaNetwork

Talk about perfect timing! One of our clients captured this incredible shot of a Falcon 9 rocket streaking across the sky above their private observatory in California. This stunning phenomenon is caused by the Falcon 9 rocket's exhaust plume being illuminated by sunlight at high altitude. #astronomy #spacex #nasa #space #science #stargazing #falcon9

We’ve been working on something exciting, and we can’t wait to share it with you this week! Our team had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Jared Capp in South Dakota on a special project for?Building Outside the Lines?on Magnolia Network.?This was our first install in South Dakota and we are excited to share more soon!?Stay tuned for more—big things are coming! ????

Sea West Observatories provides end-to-end services for observatory projects, from initial consultation to final installation and ongoing support. ?? We start with comprehensive site surveys and detailed consulting to ensure your location and design meet all requirements. Our team handles everything from custom observatory design to installation and automation, ensuring every detail aligns with your vision and needs. We offer expert upgrades and maintenance for existing observatories, improving automation and enhancing system performance for long-term success. Learn more about our services ?? https://lnkd.in/gQdZ2FBU

Sea West installed a remote telescope system at ObsTech Observatory that would be used for advanced astrophotography. The telescope for this project was a PlaneWave DeltaRho 350 and was chosen for its wide field of view and fast focal ratio of f/3. Installed on the DeltaRho is a ZWO ASI461 medium format monochrome sensor to take advantage of the telescope’s large field of view. The entire telescope system is autonomously controlled over the internet via Voyager Advanced software for scheduling optimal imaging of targets based upon moon phase and altitude for obtaining the highest data quality possible. More on this project ?? https://lnkd.in/gTHQxXGd

Jackson College needed a world-class observatory for their astronomy department to conduct cutting-edge research while fostering strong public engagement through astronomy outreach. Jackson College partnered with R.W. Mercer and Sea West to design and build their new observatory, which is centered around a main dome with four additional concrete piers outside for smaller telescopes. The observatory features: ?? 18’-6″ Ash-Dome ?? PlaneWave CDK700 ?? Moravian C5-100, ZWO6200 MC Pro, and ZWO533MC Pro, and Shelyak eShel spectrograph Project Partners ?? Jackson College facilities management, R.W. Mercer, Observatory Automation Solutions, PlaneWave Instruments , Ash Manufacturing Co. More on this project on our website ?? link in bio.

Sea West Observatories is dedicated to helping institutions meet the accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for new construction projects. ?? We specialize in designing and constructing observatories from the ground up that adhere to ADA standards, including providing accessible pathways to the telescope itself. ?? Send us a message to discuss your project or learn more on our website ?? https://lnkd.in/gajurBJs ?? Bruneau Dunes State Park Observatory