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From Stubbs:
Ok sounds like a partial success. I think the key think is to get a good dome-closed vs. dome-open comparison. 
I don't understand the longer exposures. Is that with a single flash per image? If so then all the longer images would seem to do is add to the background and not the signal. Or are you running with constant light source? 
I can certainly believe that dome rotation shakes things- During most image the dome is not rotating. 
The focus change could well be due to temperature change of the lens. I can't remember if there is an f-stop ring on that lens or not... I think not. The depth of focus will increase if you make a smaller aperture in front of the lens. There is heavy duty Aluminum foil in the cardboard fan box at the base of the pier. You could try making a snout with a 1 inch off-axis hole and see if that (with reducing ND filter) helps with focus. 

Response to Stubbs comments:

I was able to capture the pegboard and focus when the dome is rotating. They seem to be unaffected by it. My worry is that when the amount of shutter opening changes the initial wind gust messes it up. I am going to put more detailed documentation about the entire run as well as the jupyter notebook.

Stubbs comments- 

This looks like great progress, bravo. We need to be sure the cables and other elements are not trip hazards, and so I suggest running them under the grating floor somebow. Also the camera isn't pointed quite in the direction I was expecting but I'm sure you guys have that figured out. Finally, we need to be sure we aren't obstructing the new in-dome illumination system that Patrick and Parker are installing. 
Happy to arrange a time to talk over zoom tomorrow if you like. 
 

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