Astronomical Tower

an enclosure that houses a telescope. In order not to transmit possible vibrations to the telescope, a separate foundation that does not touch the tower’s walls and overhead cover is constructed for it. The lower levels of the tower are often used for laboratories and other auxiliary purposes; the telescope is set up in the upper, unheated level. The roof of small towers either rolls back or slides apart. Large astronomical towers are furnished with rotating hemispherical domes with an opening slit through which astronomical observations are made. The exterior of modern astronomical towers is sheathed with sun-shielding deflectors.