would you consider a custom-version of the 14′ dome tent done with fabric that doesn’t let light through

On Jun 4, 2009

Hey Bob —

Apologies if you aren’t the right person to talk to – if you could redirect me to the right person in that case, it would be great. I am a Program Manager working in Microsoft Research on the WorldWide Telescope project: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx. One of our missions is outreach in the science and ed communities to help kids explore astronomy and physics, and to that end we are trying to think of ways to build small “portable” planetariums. We have built one out of cardboard/clips/fabric/2x4s as a test but are looking for something easier to assemble and found your dome tents and think that might be an alternative.

My odd question is;
* would you consider a custom-version of the 14′ dome tent done with fabric that doesn’t let light through— we need to control the light coming through in order to reduce the cost of the projector we would acquire
* in terms of specs, the geometry for projection is ideal if we have a pretty perftect half-dome. We think the 14″ dome looks ok, but if you have another recommendation, that would be great

Our goal is to create small planetarium “kits” that we could sponser/send to our intl subsidiarys and to various institutions that we sponsor and would do PR around.

I know the questions are a bit odd, but the project is fun. If you want to see a quick preview of WorldWide Telescope, check out this video:

Best,
Kim

Subject: Re: Interesed in your Yurt Dome for some research

As a special order this order is: 20% more in cost and non-returnable, we can make you a 14’er out of a white and black covering we have. It is a black out covering. It however is not fire retardant. Our domes are not half spheres but 1/2 of a nearly spherical polyhedron.