I've heard of his mirrors, but haven't had a chance to peek through one. Hope I run into you and your new toy sometime. Michael
Michael Steve Dodds (NOVA Optical) make it. I think I mentioned that I like the "+" he etched in as a center spot. I can see the "+" through a Cheshire collimation tool and the thing lights up when a laser hits it.
great mirror.
Jim
Michael Carnes <moogiebird@earthlink.net> wrote: Hey Jim, Where'd you get your primary?
Michael On Oct 14, 2004, at 8:11 AM, Jim Gibson wrote:
A little about my new TeleKit that I don't think I have mentioned. The Primary is 20" and the focal length is 107.6"; that makes an f/5.375.
Brent Watson bred into me the idea and advantages of long focal ratios and I really thought I would go with a f/6. When I climbed my ladder and dropped the tape measure to get an idea of where I would be I decided to go with an f/5 instead. So I think the f/5.375 is a good compromise.
I had a special ladder built. It is an 8' orchard style ladder with the rungs only 8" apart. The wide base makes it really solid and with the short spaced rungs it makes it nice for those in-between situations. Who knows, I might even get Debbie Whitaker (the Ground Queen) to go up a few rungs (she doesnt like heights or ladders). When the Dob is placed vertical and while peering through the eyepiece the top of the ladder is about chest high; just right for holding onto.
My lowest power, the 31mm Nagler, gives me 85x with a 0.97 degree FOV. My highest power is a University Optic Ortho at 4mm which gives me 685x with 0.07 degree FOV; things move fast through there. A 41mm Televue Panoptic would give me 64x with 1.06 degree FOV - I feel the tug of a purchase coming on, but I am not sure it would give me that much more. I will have to see if I can barrow Richs sometime for a peek.
I can't see all of the Andromeda galaxy with the 31mm but it is still a good view and I cant see all of NGC 7000 (North American Nebula) but who can? I can see most everything else that I am interested in like Planetaries and such and a good bit more detail than my 12.5 f/7.
The TeleKit weights a lot, I cant remember exactly, but with the wheel barrow style handles and wheels, I can get it around just fine. I need to get a good ramp to get it in and out of my van.
It will be at the Wedge Overlook this Friday night so come by and have a look.
JG
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