¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
  1. TAASCT
  2. Topics

TAAS Gigantaur Project

 

Thanks to Leslie Brown, our little club is in possession of major professional-grade optics. Thank you Leslie! The Conn College 20" Ritchey-Chretien mirror set is safely ensconced in my workshop. Rather than simply storing them, I hope that we can mount and use them.?
?
I suggest that we try putting them in a semi-portable dob style mounting that a club without a permanent observatory could use. As an example, here is a similar project done years ago by Mike Lockwood: loptics.com/ATM/telescopes/12in_cass/12in_cass.html
?
Although I am very tempted to offer to build a beast like this, I have to admit to myself that it would be at least two years before I could get to it. So I've taken the liberty of asking Ryan Goodsen at New Moon Telescopes and Normand Fullum at Optiques Fullum if they would be intersted in the project. I haven't committed the club to anything, just seeing if the build would be possible.
?
Or, if we don't want a professional is anyone else in the club interested in doing something similar? It's always more fun to use a telescope built by a friend!
?
Some details to think about: price, components (mirror cell, spiders x2, tertiary flat diagonal, focuser, field rotator, go-to & tracking system, dew busting, a ray trace to determine spacing, where to put the focuser (on top like Lockwood or out the the side through an altitude bearing), and more.
?
Whatcha think? Jay
 

I think it's a grand idea but is certainly above my skill level.
This project requires skill and time, both of which I'm short of these days.? Not to mention I'm more of a home-depot returns kind of ATM'er.?
The linked telescope is oozing charm, I love the idea.
?
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
 

That said, if 3D-printed parts are needed I can help there!
--
Jeff Dunn
https://shorelineastronomicalsociety.blogspot.com/
 

Jay:
While I do think your idea is a good one, and I am tied up for at least a year and a half with my home building project, there is another possibility. There are a couple of land trusts that could potentially have an observatory. Perhaps Geoff can bring us up to date on the one he works with, which has been talking about an observatory for some time now. The issues with transporting a beast like the 20 inch DK is not trivial. If one of the caretakers for the properties can find a way to get a dome ( like the one we disassembled in OL) they¡¯d be well on their way to a serious observatory. Anyhow, I hope we keep all options open and I¡¯m sure at least one will work out. Also, thanks for getting and storing the optics safely in EL.

George
 

Jay:
OOOPS, one correction the optics are, as you correctly listed, an RC and not DK.

George
 

Jeff, Ima email you separately about a little 3D printer project.?

George, I love the land trust idea! Geoff and Alan might chime in? Re the LOL AshDome we salvaged years ago, it is sadly being used as a storage shed at Stellafane. It¡¯ll need some work but I¡¯m sure that we could move it again if a trust was interested¡­
?
Thanks for the ideas, Jay

1 - 6 of 6