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Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?



 
 
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  #11  
Old July 29th 03, 07:20 PM
Mike Simmons
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Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

Nathan Koren wrote:
In the course of my architecture practice, I have encountered a client
who wishes to built a personal observatory. Their budget for the
scope itself (nevermind the enclosure and sitework, et cetera) is
$750,000. This seems like an akward number to me -- a lot larger than
any definition of "amateur" that I'm familiar with, but a lot smaller
than any institutional observatory I've ever heard of. Nonetheless,
if you had $750,000 to blow on a telescope, to whom would you go?


The issue of the best source for the proposed observatory goes far
beyond the available budget. There are many options available in this
price range and it's necessary to know the purpose of the observatory as
well as several other factors before making a decision on either the
type of telescope or the manufacturer or manufacturers (telescopes in
this range often have components provided by different sources). There
are many companies that can build a telescope that will cost this much
for your client. What he will end up with could well be unsuitable for
his purposes, however, unless proper care is taken in matching the
instrument and building to his needs. There's more homework that needs
to be done before deciding where to buy the telescope.

If someone asked you what car to buy for $125,000 would you recommend a
Ferrari or a Rolls-Royce? Both are great cars. But while one would
satisfy the customer, the other would be a big disappointment. And
you'd have to know which showroom to go to ahead of time so you can
learn about the most appropriate options available.

Mike Simmons
  #12  
Old July 30th 03, 09:03 AM
Bob May
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Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

First thing is to figure out what size telescope he wants and what he wants
it for. For that kind of money, there are really a lot of options for a
telescope! Odds are that he will be able to get a very large scope with a
very nice mount and a nice dome to go over it.
The whole thing needs to be discussed a lot with the client as there is a
huge variation in the choices that can be done. Even scopes in the meter
diameter class are possible with that kind of money.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works evevery time it is tried!
  #13  
Old July 30th 03, 09:03 AM
Bob May
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Posts: n/a
Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

First thing is to figure out what size telescope he wants and what he wants
it for. For that kind of money, there are really a lot of options for a
telescope! Odds are that he will be able to get a very large scope with a
very nice mount and a nice dome to go over it.
The whole thing needs to be discussed a lot with the client as there is a
huge variation in the choices that can be done. Even scopes in the meter
diameter class are possible with that kind of money.

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works evevery time it is tried!
  #16  
Old July 30th 03, 12:10 PM
Roger Hamlett
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Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

"Nathan Koren" wrote in message
...
Nonetheless,
if you had $750,000 to blow on a telescope, to whom would you go?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!


I think you need to go back and talk to the client a lot more...
Though you say the price does not include the sitework/enclosure, the first
big question, is whether it also includes the mount?. This makes a massive
difference. The second 'set' of questions, relate to what sort of target,
and use, is involved. Though it sounds lovely to think about a '$750,000
telescope', if, the scope is to be guided for astrophotography, a second
'guide scope', attached to the same mount may well be needed (adds the cost
of a double mounting system, and for this scope itself...). Now though it is
allways 'nice' to think of a single scope for everything, it may also apply,
that for some objects a shorter focal length system may be 'optimal',
compared to the best scope for other applications. This again introduces the
possibility of needing two actual scope tubes. The final question, is that
if the scope is intended for imaging, as well as simple observing, then the
price of a CCD camera/guider system, may also have to be considered. Hence,
you need more data...
That having all been said, the price, is the sort of figure, that might well
be paid, for a medium sized Ritchie Chretien scope (about 30", or slightly
larger), on a high quality mount, with perhaps an APO, mounted alongside, a
CCD camera, and accessories (focusser, control system etc. It is quite
simple to use at least half the 'budget', on these latter parts (rather than
on the main scope), and indeed for the mount, if it is to be adequate, a
cost in the same order as the telescope tube, becomes allmost 'de rigeur'.
If the budget is purely for the 'scope', then the target grows somewhat, but
I would doubt it...

Best Wishes
  #17  
Old July 30th 03, 12:10 PM
Roger Hamlett
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Posts: n/a
Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

"Nathan Koren" wrote in message
...
Nonetheless,
if you had $750,000 to blow on a telescope, to whom would you go?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!


I think you need to go back and talk to the client a lot more...
Though you say the price does not include the sitework/enclosure, the first
big question, is whether it also includes the mount?. This makes a massive
difference. The second 'set' of questions, relate to what sort of target,
and use, is involved. Though it sounds lovely to think about a '$750,000
telescope', if, the scope is to be guided for astrophotography, a second
'guide scope', attached to the same mount may well be needed (adds the cost
of a double mounting system, and for this scope itself...). Now though it is
allways 'nice' to think of a single scope for everything, it may also apply,
that for some objects a shorter focal length system may be 'optimal',
compared to the best scope for other applications. This again introduces the
possibility of needing two actual scope tubes. The final question, is that
if the scope is intended for imaging, as well as simple observing, then the
price of a CCD camera/guider system, may also have to be considered. Hence,
you need more data...
That having all been said, the price, is the sort of figure, that might well
be paid, for a medium sized Ritchie Chretien scope (about 30", or slightly
larger), on a high quality mount, with perhaps an APO, mounted alongside, a
CCD camera, and accessories (focusser, control system etc. It is quite
simple to use at least half the 'budget', on these latter parts (rather than
on the main scope), and indeed for the mount, if it is to be adequate, a
cost in the same order as the telescope tube, becomes allmost 'de rigeur'.
If the budget is purely for the 'scope', then the target grows somewhat, but
I would doubt it...

Best Wishes
  #18  
Old July 31st 03, 10:41 AM
Alan W. Craft
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Posts: n/a
Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 18:20:15 GMT, Mike Simmons ...reflected:
If someone asked you what car to buy for $125,000 would you recommend a
Ferrari or a Rolls-Royce? Both are great cars. But while one would
satisfy the customer, the other would be a big disappointment. And
you'd have to know which showroom to go to ahead of time so you can
learn about the most appropriate options available.


In that I would want a 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I, perhaps the
client should opt for a 12+" Alvan Clark, that is, if one is available.

Alan

[s.a.r. mod. note: quoted text trimmed. Please do this yourself if
cross-posting to sci.astro.research: thanks -- mjh.]
  #19  
Old July 31st 03, 10:41 AM
Alan W. Craft
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Posts: n/a
Default Where to buy a high-end custom-made telescope?

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 18:20:15 GMT, Mike Simmons ...reflected:
If someone asked you what car to buy for $125,000 would you recommend a
Ferrari or a Rolls-Royce? Both are great cars. But while one would
satisfy the customer, the other would be a big disappointment. And
you'd have to know which showroom to go to ahead of time so you can
learn about the most appropriate options available.


In that I would want a 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I, perhaps the
client should opt for a 12+" Alvan Clark, that is, if one is available.

Alan

[s.a.r. mod. note: quoted text trimmed. Please do this yourself if
cross-posting to sci.astro.research: thanks -- mjh.]
 




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