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Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.
New scope project
- Thread starter CHASZ51
- Start date
Wow!!! You planning on building a planetarium or something to house such a beast? Obviously you aren't going to be carrying it around and setting it up in different locations.
Interestingly enough, I've sort of had my own interest in this stuff kindled because of a camera I bought recently -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106268
Nowhere near the capability you will have, but heck, I'm keeping my goals small with the two mounts I am getting....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759361-REG/Sky_Watcher_S20150_Sky_Watcher_AllView_Mount.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...r_s20510_star_adventurer_motorized_mount.html
I don't really have a good view of the sky anywhere on my property other than right in front of my garage, and even then, it's really just straight up, and that is it. I'm not even sure I'll be able to see Polaris to align those mounts.
And actually, I'm gearing up to try to get some video of the solar eclipse coming up next year.
Man, 16 inches can likely gather a LOT of light! That thing is HUGE! Don't let the counterweight fall off and land on your foot!
How does the night sky rate in your area? Here's a map showing light pollution in reference to the night sky -> http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html Looks like most of Florida isn't going to be all that great. Interestingly enough there looks like there is a great area for night viewing just about 20 miles SW of me. But it's in the Apalachicola National forest for the most part, but the town of Sumatra is pretty close to the center. It's in Tate's Hell Swamp, if that gives you any sort of an idea about how the conditions would be standing around in the dead of night trying to look through a telescope. Bring LOTS of bug spray!
Keep us informed with your progress, please. I find this interesting...
Interestingly enough, I've sort of had my own interest in this stuff kindled because of a camera I bought recently -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106268
Nowhere near the capability you will have, but heck, I'm keeping my goals small with the two mounts I am getting....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759361-REG/Sky_Watcher_S20150_Sky_Watcher_AllView_Mount.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...r_s20510_star_adventurer_motorized_mount.html
I don't really have a good view of the sky anywhere on my property other than right in front of my garage, and even then, it's really just straight up, and that is it. I'm not even sure I'll be able to see Polaris to align those mounts.
And actually, I'm gearing up to try to get some video of the solar eclipse coming up next year.
Man, 16 inches can likely gather a LOT of light! That thing is HUGE! Don't let the counterweight fall off and land on your foot!
How does the night sky rate in your area? Here's a map showing light pollution in reference to the night sky -> http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html Looks like most of Florida isn't going to be all that great. Interestingly enough there looks like there is a great area for night viewing just about 20 miles SW of me. But it's in the Apalachicola National forest for the most part, but the town of Sumatra is pretty close to the center. It's in Tate's Hell Swamp, if that gives you any sort of an idea about how the conditions would be standing around in the dead of night trying to look through a telescope. Bring LOTS of bug spray!
Keep us informed with your progress, please. I find this interesting...
CHASZ51
Z51
Just the planets.
CHASZ51
Z51
It will stay in the back yard.
The mount has no stand or pier. I need to find a good metal shop to fab up my plans for a pier and legs or go with a cement pier. I have hard limestone 1.5" down in my back yard so not sure how i could get down 4'. I would use a Sono tube and use L bolts to mount the top cap of the mount to the pier.
This part of FL to the north has limestone around the coast so a cement pier could be out.
Well, here's something that might come in handy for you:
https://telescopes.net/store/nexdome-observatory-dome.html
https://telescopes.net/store/nexdome-observatory-dome.html
Attachments
CHASZ51
Z51
My tube is way too long for that. Got the mount home last nite. Feels like i went to bat with a bear getting the mount to the back room. At least it comes apart. Just these two pieces are very heavy.
Ah, ok. Guess the size of the tube wasn't evident from the pic you provided. But still, I would imagine the company likely builds bigger domes. Or you can fabricate your own. Surely leaving your scope outside 24/7 here in humid Florida is not going to be real good for it.
I was checking the tolerances on one of the mounts I got, and it looks like typical Chinese quality at work.
The company (Sky-Watcher) says the wobble is acceptable to them, so I guess they don't care much about quality control. I was told all of their equipment is made in China, so obviously Sky-WatcherUSA isn't as "USA" as one would hope.
I guess you actually have to buy older equipment used in order to get something that ISN'T made in China these days. Where was that rig you got manufactured?
I was checking the tolerances on one of the mounts I got, and it looks like typical Chinese quality at work.
The company (Sky-Watcher) says the wobble is acceptable to them, so I guess they don't care much about quality control. I was told all of their equipment is made in China, so obviously Sky-WatcherUSA isn't as "USA" as one would hope.
I guess you actually have to buy older equipment used in order to get something that ISN'T made in China these days. Where was that rig you got manufactured?
CHASZ51
Z51
Here are the tubes that will be used on the mount. One is a 8" F/8.5 and the other is a 12.5" F/6.
The smaller scope is a Cave thatw as made in 1970 and the other was made in 1976. These scopes lost favor in the later 1970's as Celestron was selling a much smaller C8 SCT. People wanted smaller and lighter scopes.
The smaller scope is a Cave thatw as made in 1970 and the other was made in 1976. These scopes lost favor in the later 1970's as Celestron was selling a much smaller C8 SCT. People wanted smaller and lighter scopes.
CHASZ51
Z51
No. It would have been about 10ft long by 22" OD tube and around 200lbs. No way i could lift a tube that big onto the mount nor so i have the space to store a tube that big. My pier for the big mount should be done this week at the machine shop. I am not 14 anymore and can't whip these heavy scopes around like i did when i was 14. Even that big scope you see in the pic is too heavy to grab and pick up. No one could lift it up and line up them two ring studs into the small holes on the mounts saddle without a helper.
Ten foot long? Yeah, sounds like it would have been a real monster to try to handle. But heck, not only would you have been able to see the little green aliens on the moon, but you could have been able to see whether they were smiling or not.
So, have you spotted Nibiru yet? :hehehe:
So, have you spotted Nibiru yet? :hehehe:
CHASZ51
Z51
I have plenty of more work to do on the mount and more mods.
CHASZ51
Z51
There are motors and gears on both axis. Have yet to get them back on.