Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Víctor Martínez]
#5151569 - 04/01/12 11:31 AM
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Victor,
Going from a 55mm thick mirror with one fan to a 32mm thick mirror with 3 fans should help in my observing environment where the temperature drops 30-40 degrees in two hours at the start of the night.
I also had some big insurance settlements from an accident I was not the cause of.
So, if price were no object, what would you do? Zambuto mirror, for sure. 1/30 wave or better secondary, for sure. And Teeter's if you love wood or Starstructure if you like the "machine" look--maybe Normand Fullum if you want a piece of art.
I made over 70 modifications to the Discovery over the years, including a complete re-build of the UTA and pole structure.
I've made 2 small modifications to the Teeter and I'm done. I can't see anything else to change or that needs changing. One of the reasons I went with Teeter was that Rob's philosophies on building were so close to mine. And he's a wonderful wood worker. I'm almost scared to take this scope outside.
One surprise: the height of the eyepiece at the zenith is 3" lower than my Discovery.
Other upgrades: Tangent DSC to Sky Commander DSC, more than doubling the number of objects in the database. One speed to 2-speed focuser. 4000 tick encoders to 10,000 tick encoders. 3 point cell to 18 point cell. Bottom edge supports at 120 degrees to Glatter sling.
Do I expect a startling improvement in image quality? No, not really, except maybe in perfect seeing conditions. But this could be my last scope, so I wanted one where the structure and optics were equally high quality.
Well, enough about that. I'll do a review in a few months, after I've had a chance to use it a while. Today is the first day since I got it we might have clear skies, so tonight could be first light.
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ahlberto
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/06/08
Loc: lisbon-portugal
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Starman1]
#5151721 - 04/01/12 01:04 PM Attachment (57 downloads)
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Mine 6" f5 
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Víctor Martínez
sage
Reged: 02/05/07
Loc: Cádiz - Spain
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Starman1]
#5152048 - 04/01/12 05:00 PM
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Don,
I agree with you on the reasons you stated, especially in relation to the thickness of the mirror Ostahowski and the severe drop in temperature in such a short space of time in your usual place of observation. It should be virtually impossible to carry that mirror to working temperature. Wait for your review of the new telescope and an objective comparison between the two mirrors if possible.
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Al Miller
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/08
Loc: South, Texas
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Víctor Martínez]
#5152066 - 04/01/12 05:16 PM Attachment (53 downloads)
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My latest: Discovery PDHQ 15-inch, f/5 split-tube.
This is the largest reflector I've had in many years, and is about all I'm willing to manhandle about anymore. The split-tube makes things easier but it's still a monster scope.
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Jason B]
#5152078 - 04/01/12 05:30 PM Attachment (65 downloads)
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This is a 11" Starmaster Hybrid truss dob on a Tom O EQ platform.
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John K
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Loc: Vernon BC Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Denimsky]
#5152645 - 04/02/12 01:15 AM
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Hey that looks like MSQ?I have looked through your scope.Very nice set up!
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Bill Weir
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/01/04
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: John K]
#5152675 - 04/02/12 01:50 AM
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Is that at the Loon Lake site? MSQ is on my agenda for this fall (I hope). 20" SFXQ in tow.
Bill
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tezster
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/14/09
Loc: Missisauga, Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Denimsky]
#5152828 - 04/02/12 07:35 AM
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I love the look of that compact Starmaster! 
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John K
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Loc: Vernon BC Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: tezster]
#5152950 - 04/02/12 10:00 AM
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Yes Bill that is Loon Lake.The sky's measure better on the SQM than Mt. Kobau.I have measured 21.78 on my SQM-L at MSQ. 
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: John K]
#5153119 - 04/02/12 12:00 PM Attachment (67 downloads)
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My first scope 8" dob, alongside my current (& last) 16" dob!
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City Kid
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/06/09
Loc: Northern Indiana
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Starman1]
#5153675 - 04/02/12 06:26 PM
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Don, looking at your new scope has me very excited. Rob is building me a 12.5" that's due to be completed in June. Looks like we have pretty much all the same options. Can't wait to hear your thoughts once you start using it.
Phil
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: John K]
#5153867 - 04/02/12 09:10 PM
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Quote:
Hey that looks like MSQ?I have looked through your scope.Very nice set up!
Thank you John.
Yes it was in the loon lake during MSQ.
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Bill Weir]
#5153872 - 04/02/12 09:13 PM
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Quote:
Is that at the Loon Lake site? MSQ is on my agenda for this fall (I hope). 20" SFXQ in tow.
Bill
Yes it was at the loon lake.
There are usually 4 - 5 StarMasters during MSQ.
I'm looking forward to seeing your scope.
I've never seen a FX model in person.
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: tezster]
#5153873 - 04/02/12 09:13 PM
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Quote:
I love the look of that compact Starmaster!
Thank you!
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borix
super member
Reged: 04/24/07
Loc: The Netherlands
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: Denimsky]
#5157123 - 04/05/12 06:19 AM Attachment (65 downloads)
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Here is my new reflector: it is a 10 inch f4.8 Sumerian Alkaid travel dobson with DSC's and SkyCommander. Focusser is HC-2 helical from KineOptics, Primary mirror is from Orion Optics and secondary is from Protostar.
Whole package weights around 10 kilo.
I am still struggling with the balance when I use my heavy eyepieces (22mm T4 and 12mm T4). The elastic band 'counter weight' system does its job but I do not want to depend on it too much so I want to add more weight to the back.
Also I need to figure out if I can reach focus with all my EP's but I only have it for 2 days now and had 1 opportunity to use it on the moon between heavy clouds.
Unpacking and packing it can be a challenge in the dark but inside the comfort of my house it was a lot easier than I thought. I am a happy camper! (specially when I can take this beauty out to a campsite). 
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borix
super member
Reged: 04/24/07
Loc: The Netherlands
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: borix]
#5157125 - 04/05/12 06:22 AM Attachment (59 downloads)
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Here is the Alkaid when packed. Trusses in the picture are already assembled.
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John K
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Loc: Vernon BC Canada
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: borix]
#5158167 - 04/05/12 07:36 PM
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Wow what a great scope.To bad the truss pols are not collapsible.
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borix
super member
Reged: 04/24/07
Loc: The Netherlands
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: John K]
#5158622 - 04/06/12 04:42 AM
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No they are. I mean that in the second picture I already put them together so can be 'cut' in half so you can wrap them in the light shield without them sticking out too much.
I am planning to get one of those tubes you can use to carry paper/posters around and then put them in there.
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joelimite
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/01/08
Loc: Fayetteville, AR
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: borix]
#5161176 - 04/07/12 06:12 PM Attachment (24 downloads)
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My relatively new XX12 with Moonlite CR2. I just bought a used Type 1 Paracorr off Amart. Can't wait to try it out.
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CHASLX200
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/07
Loc: Tampa area Florida
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Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2
[Re: joelimite]
#5161269 - 04/07/12 07:44 PM
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Here is a pic of my Starliner 10" F/8.3 on a 2" shaft mount back in 1993.
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