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smartin53
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Reged: 09/26/09
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Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
#5607347 - 01/05/13 09:43 PM
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Got a fun one for you. I'm presently working as a volunteer with the Smithsonian's Public Observatory Project. We have a Boller and Chivens 16" f/18 Scope on loan to us from Harvard.
Details http://bollerandchivens.com/?p=338
The problem is the images seem to be blurrier than they should be. Everything lacks sharpness even when perfectly centered, resulting in a loss of detail. I've used a focusing mask to verify that focus travel is fine, and the unit is collimated as far as I have been told and can see with standard tests. Also, while there is some light dust on the mirror, it is not significant enough to cause these kinds of issues. I can't get a good look at the secondary to see its status though.
Even though the scope is from the 60s I can't imagine that it was always this bad. My 5" Meade ETX puts out better images. At this point all I can imagine is that the articulating eyepiece holder is causing issues but thats just a guess. Removing it is a headache though so I have not tried to see how things look without it yet.
Figured I would put this out there to try and gather any other ideas to look at. Thanks.
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Spectral Joe
super member
Reged: 02/28/11
Loc: Livermore CA
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: smartin53]
#5607579 - 01/05/13 11:58 PM
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I think you're right about that articulating eyepiece thing. I would pull that off and look at the cass focus before doing anything else. B&C made good stuff, and engineered it well. My only direct experience with them was the 36 inch at Princeton, which I used and did maintenance on in the 1980's. Check the focal plane directly and I think you'll find the problem is in the relay optics. If not, my second guess would be the primary cell. Check inside and outside of focus for astigmatism.
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Mirzam
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/01/08
Loc: Lovettsville, VA
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: Spectral Joe]
#5607791 - 01/06/13 05:43 AM
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What magnification are you using? I imagine it may be quite high and that the blurryness is partially due to this.
Got any cooling fans on that thing?
JimC
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Darren Drake
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/09/02
Loc: Chicagoland
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: Mirzam]
#5608076 - 01/06/13 11:01 AM
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I've looked through a 24 inch B and C at Yerkes and the images were very good. I would not think that its in the optics themselves based on my experience with that scope. The bad images are most likely due to miscollimation, bad thermal issues, or something in the eyepiece or diagonal.
Edited by Darren Drake (01/06/13 11:02 AM)
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DAVIDG
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/02/04
Loc: Hockessin, De
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: Darren Drake]
#5608197 - 01/06/13 12:02 PM
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I won't be surprised if it had bad optics. I refigured a 24" f/16 Tinsley Cass at Mt Cuba observatory back in 1985 that had a bad optics. When getting ready for Halley's Comet the mirror was removed to be recoated and I had a chance to test it. The figure was a deep hole with a badly turned edge. It had abaout 2 waves error in it. The Board of Directors at that time didn't believe me since this telescope cost $65,000 back in 1962, so they had someone from Questar come in to independently test the mirror. He said the same thing. I refigured it and the result were again independent varified.
Over the years I have tested hundreds of telescope optics and have seen many bad one from just about every company that has made them. If you never got a good image out of that scope it's time to test the optics and see exactly what the surfaces look like.
- Dave
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PeterKA
member
Reged: 05/12/06
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: DAVIDG]
#5674956 - 02/11/13 10:58 PM
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Has there been any progress on this issue?
As noted, there is nothing much to say until the articulating eyepiece holder is removed and an eyepiece used directly.
If your group has a budget for an air ticket & hotel, one of the lead engineers at B&C, Don Winans, is still available for consultation.
Peter Abrahams
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x-ray
member
Reged: 10/06/07
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Re: Image Quality Issues with Boller and Chivens 16"
[Re: PeterKA]
#5686233 - 02/17/13 11:57 PM
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I used that scope when it was still at Harvard, and it did show astigmatism, an elonfated star image that changed direction inside and outside of focus. My best guess is pinched optics, as B&C made good optics. It would take a little detective work to peek inside and see how the mirror supports are working today. Cheap USB "endoscope" cameras on a 2-5m cable are available now, and it might shed some light on the subject, literally.
Alan Sliski
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