An 18-Point Flotation Mirror Cell -- Continued . . .

An 18-point mirror cell for Day in Enterprise Utah.
This is for his 16" F4.5 mirror, now out for coating.

The mirror cell is optimized and configured with Plop.

The adjustable 3/8" threaded-rod mounts allow for his 18"-20" round tube.
Once Day's mirror is returned to me, I'll mount it on the cell for him.

Off, Again, to Mt. Wilson July 17, 2015....

I'm off to Mt. Wilson, this time, for an evening of tours tour and
viewing through the 100" -- July 17, 2015. By far, the largest telescope
I've had the pleasure of looking through.

The 100" looks like this photo, these days. A nice "heavenly blue"!!

During observing hours, red light is illuminates the dome.

Dayton and his 10" Telescope ...

Dayton, and his new 10" telescope all setup and ready to go.
He lives in Glenpool, Oklahoma.

A photo taken through the eyepiece with Dayton's telescope.

An 18-Point Mirror Cell

An 18-point flotation mirror cell starts to take shape for
Day in Enterprise, Utah. His 16" mirror is out for coating.

Another view, Jay's 17.5" in the Utah desert.....

Jay's 17.5" Dobstuff all setup and ready to go.

World Creek Pass Milky Way -- a beautiful sky.

An 8" F4.....

I've thought about a scope like this for awhile. Here's a Meade
fork mount with the mirror box for an 8" F4.
The OTA will be just about 28" long.

Note the space between the forks have been increased with spacers.

I've made a dew shield as well (L). The stock "trunions" have been replaced 
with altitude bearings to support the new mirror box.

A Meade Fork or Celestron Fork would work just as well.

Ken and his 16" Dobstuff Truss....

Hi Dennis,

Attached is a shot taken while I was setting up last night in my driveway. It was moonless and clear, and the Clear Sky forecast was for Excellent transparency and Above Average seeing, and the forecast was accurate.

I spent most of the time observing galaxies in the Virgo cluster and Leo with the 16”, and I was very pleased with the structure I could see in some of the Messier objects and how easy it was to find some of the smaller and fainter Herschel objects like NGC 3377 and 3412.

My Crossbow Platforms will arrive this week. I’m going to have a dolly similar to the Wheeler Bars made in a local machine shop and attach the platform and 16” to the dolly so I can just roll it out, level and be ready to go.
I love my 16” DobSTUFF, and thanks for all your help and advice.

A Trip to Mt. Wilson and the 60" Telescope.....

Our guide and telescope "maven" Michael tells us about the 60" and
the upcoming evening observing schedule. Evan, not pictured
was the telescope operator.

For public night viewing, see this link  /http://www.mtwilson.edu/

Under the 100" "Hooker" telescope -- the green is the plate-glass
mirror sitting in its cell.

The "Old Days" and looking at RA/DEC circles on the 100". Now this
is done electronically with encoders and computers.

The 150-foot Solar Tower against the sky.

Your truly and the 60" telescope. I gotta get me one of these!!!

At t the 60" eyepiece. They used the "Nasmyth" (cassegrain) focus for the evening.

The 100" Hooker Telescope.

The 100" again. Will this fit into my backyard????
If so, I'll take it home...

Linda and her iPhone capture Jupiter through the 60"

Linda at the 60" eyepiece -- Oh yeah!!!!

In the Mt. Wilson Museum, Michael talks "history" -- GREAT..

A "Rigid Shroud" . .

John, in Pamona Calaifornia, made a "rigid shroud" for his 16" strut telescope.

Full Rigid Shroud. Notice the "strings" on the telescope as well.
John built the telescope from one of our kits.

10" for Dayton is Complete . . .

10" F4.7 for Dayton in Glenpool, Oklahoma is now complete.

The final touches on the "mirror box" include a primary dew shield
and the "Dobstuff Plaque"

Here's the detail of the focuser baffle and secondary holder (and spacing)
The "edges" of the secondary mirror have been painted flat black..

And, the top ring with the Telrad in place.

I always include a small sliding counterweight to adjust for different size and
weight eyepieces. Most of the time it is set and forgotten.

10" for Dayton Almost Complete

10" F4.8 for Dayton in Glenpool, Oklahoma almost complete.
Yet to be finished is the dew shield, installation of the Telrad
and a sliding counterweight.

I include a custom-made primary mirror cover with all my telescopes.

Visible here is the Destiny curved-vane spider and
Moonlite 2-speed Crayford focuser.

The primary mirror cell is installed. Dayton's
10" mirror is out to Swayze Optical for testing
or refiguring.

Note the Digital Setting Circle pivot installed on the Rocker Box.

A cliserview of the upper-ring. The telescope
disassembles for easy transport and storage.

More Progress on Dayton's 10" . . .

The Rocker Box for Dayton's 10" is just about complete.

Rocker Box for Dayton's 10" Telescope . . .

Now that Dayton's OTA is complete, it's off to the Rocker Box.
Here it is assembled with clamps to check fit/function.

10" OTA for Dayton . . .

Dayton's 10" OTA takes shape.

Destiny curved-vane spider and
Moonlite 2-speed 2" crayford focuser.

The black anodized struts are 42.75" long.

The 60" Telescope at Mt. Wilson . . .

And away we go. The Mt. Wilson Observatory is offering 20 individuals an evening
with the 60" telescope, a snack and observatory tour. So, think of me on June 12

I'LL BE THERE!!!

September 2007 I wandered onto the Mt. Wilson grounds
and lucked out with a 3 hour visit and tour with a volunteer.

60" Telescope, Mt. Wilson.

That's me and the 60" "Newtonian Cage" in 2007.

Steve's 10" OTA Kit....

Steve D, from Brandon, Mississippi asked for a 10"
Optical Tube Assembly kit. In addition, I mounted his
mirror cell for him.

The mirror cell, with its fan, fits nicely onto the mirror board.

Dayton's 10" Continues . . .

The Mirror Board, Upper ring and Mirror Cover are complete.
Testing under the stars, tonight, will fix the strut length -- about 42".
The focuser is a 2-speed Moonlite Crayford and Destiny 3-vane spider..