Subject: RAT NOTES - 18" F4.3 Starmaster / Zambuto Dob - 10/1/03 - Pt 1
From: (Susan C)
Date: 10/2/03 2:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:


I keep looking at the effort of rolling out the 18" compared to bringing
out a
smaller scope, and asking myself if it is really worth it. Last night I
timed
operations, because it seems to me that it takes an inordinately long time
to
set up the big scope compared to the smaller ones. All in all I had set the
scope up, removed the wheelbarrow handles, taken out the lock screw,
removed
the mirror cover, drug out an observing chair, a table and a six-foot
ladder.
This operation took five minutes. Dressing for the cold, taking out
eyepieces,
books, charts, log, radio and power supply took another five minutes after
the
initial set up for cool down was complete. Collimation takes about a
minute.
Putting everything away took a little less than 10 minutes.

******************
A 6ft ladder for a 18" Starmaster???

I used my 18" Standing on the ground, and it was f4.5.

Chas P.