215 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

Maybe the previous owner was going for a poor-man's Great Melbourne Telescope?  

Gonna need a long ladder if it is a 40" F/8 Newt. I would be way too scared to go that high. Plus it's not gonna fit thru my door.

[Kasmos]

Maybe the previous owner was going for a poor-man's Great Melbourne Telescope?  

In the drawing it looks like it has a secondary, so I guess it's a long Cassegrain. Interesting that it's outside with no visible way to protect it.

[jragsdale]

Interesting that it's outside with no visible way to protect it.

Maybe it was a speculum mirror so they knew it was F'ed anyways. 

[Kasmos]

Maybe it was a speculum mirror so they knew it was F'ed anyways. 

Oh my 

[clamchip]

They probably did it like Mr. George Hole:

https://www.britishp...arden-telescope

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 27 February 2023 - 08:33 PM.

[davidmcgo]

I would surmise if the OTA was used in daytime for filming parachute tests,  the holes were vents so heated air in tube from it being in Sunlight could escape so as to not degrade the images.

 

Dave

[jragsdale]

I would surmise if the OTA was used in daytime for filming parachute tests,  the holes were vents so heated air in tube from it being in Sunlight could escape so as to not degrade the images.

 

Dave

No, the previous owner did it with a crude hole saw to try to shave weight off the front because he had a hard time balancing it properly with a 3 foot tall Cave Astrola mount meant for a reflector. Did I also mention he also put a 60lb bucket full of concrete in the back end of the scope?

[jragsdale]

Well, the universe once again finds a way, after casting a wide net, the absolute PERFECT mount of my dreams has fallen into my lap. An UNUSED Schaefer AT-12 with an extra long saddle and a 5 foot x 10" portable pier. And it's relatively nearby so I can pick it up. This mount should be able to carry 2 of my 10" refractors it's so beefy. And I'm an absolute Schaefer fanboy, so this is a dream come true for me!

And 2 short months later, the mount is in my hands, tuned up and setup to hold this scope. It's an absolute dream, so smooth and stable!

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[djgilley]

I wondered how things were going with the 10 inch refractor, Jordan...what a mount! Have you scared up a Chromacor for it yet? Or do you use it mainly for deep sky?

 

David

[jragsdale]

I wondered how things were going with the 10 inch refractor, Jordan...what a mount! Have you scared up a Chromacor for it yet? Or do you use it mainly for deep sky?

 

David

Chromacor is definitely on the want list for this beast. I still have a LONG way to go before the scope is where I want it to be. The CA is not as offensive as you'd think, so I've had good views of the solar system objects, the moon is fantastic with a Semi-APO filter at high magnification. And the 13% ND filter generally used as a moon filter works well on Venus visually. But it does excellent on DSO objects as expected.

[jragsdale]

Captured Venus tonight with the 10". 

 

ASI290MM + 2x Barlow + Green CCD Filter

 

50k frames, best 2k stacked

 

Drive corrector was great to have to keep the planet center in the ROI.

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[CHASLX200]

How smooth is hand centering objects? Don't look that big with that scope or my eyes are playing tricks.

[jragsdale]

How smooth is hand centering objects? Don't look that big with that scope or my eyes are playing tricks.

DEC is like butter, but the RA is a little tight still. It's a brass friction clutch that's unlubricated and helps hold it tight when you engage the polar thrust washer. So it goes in this order from south to north: thrust knob, Teflon washer, polar shaft, polar casting (rear brass sleeve, front ball bearing), front of polar casting, large Teflon disc, RA gear (w/setting circles mounted on side), brass friction clutch, front face of polar shaft, DEC casting. Trying to add some extra slip without slipping while tracking.

 

I should take the picture with me in it for scale. It's giant, lens is almost 10 feet off the ground when at the home position.

Edited by jragsdale, 02 May 2023 - 07:10 PM.

[CHASLX200]

My 2.5" Cave mount was heavy as sin. 

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[jragsdale]

My 2.5" Cave mount was heavy as sin. 

Do you know what it weighs sans counterweights? I'm at 215lbs on this Schaefer. But it's way more of an efficient design with its large thrust face and RA gear. Much more stable than the Cave T style EQ mounts.

Edited by jragsdale, 02 May 2023 - 07:40 PM.

[jragsdale]

Don't look that big with that scope or my eyes are playing tricks.

Ok, here's me for scale and I'm 6'0".

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[Sean Cunneen]

The mount is about 2ft too short. You'll have to sell it to me.

[jragsdale]

The mount is about 2ft too short. You'll have to sell it to me.

I plan on adding a finder scope and some other things on the back end (counterweights) so I can slide the tube up the rings quite a bit. Plus a taller more heavier duty rolling base for it to lift it another 6" or so. That should get it into comfortable viewing height for all parts of the sky. Nice try though.

[CHASLX200]

Do you know what it weighs sans counterweights? I'm at 215lbs on this Schaefer. But it's way more of an efficient design with its large thrust face and RA gear. Much more stable than the Cave T style EQ mounts.

All the Cave, Meade , Parks and Starliner mounts were never made right.  Something like your mount or my AP800 was a much better mount as all them other mounts had a small thrust area.  My mount with the pier i had made was around 300lbs with the one weight you see in the pic. Maybe your mount is made with steel?  I never seen one ever in real life as i don't think one has ever been in my part of FL. I guess i will never luck into a mount like that. But if you get tired of it and wanna come enjoy the beach  i will make a good offer..  I think i could roll it out pretty easy on a short pier.

[CHASLX200]

Ok, here's me for scale and I'm 6'0".

Looks like i could use it at my house for the 826.  Not sure the 826 is heavy enough to work even without weights.

[deSitter]

Ok, here's me for scale and I'm 6'0".

Man that's amazing! Those rings seem awfully thin. Why skimp on material there? It's just a thin mint to that mount

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Man that's amazing! Those rings seem awfully thin. Why skimp on material there? It's just a thin mint to that mount

 

-drl

Them rings are strong. I have had many made my man for many scopes.  They are solid.

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[jragsdale]

Man that's amazing! Those rings seem awfully thin. Why skimp on material there? It's just a thin mint to that mount

 

-drl

They're 1" thick Parallax rings. Very sturdy and heavy duty. Definitely not worried about those. I think they look small because it's so big. 

[jragsdale]

Starting in on the 2nd OTA now; got the backplate and baffles removed, now to get 10" cut off the tube and the baffles so it can reach focus. 

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[Sean Cunneen]

I am a big fan of hose-clamps and a hacksaw. Only way to get a nice straight square cut. It takes a while, but its worth it!