|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
newbie question
Hi,
I'm considering constructing a telescope for Solar System observation (especially Mars). I've got all the necessary skills to build one (I think) but lack the necessary guidance as to what would be the best route to take. Fundamental questions are, What type, what size, material sources (I'm UK based), plans?.Is it worth making my own mirror or can I buy mirrors ready ground? What is going to be a ball park cost for, say, a 6 or 8 inch reflector? I have a lot of research to do before I start but some direction would be appreciated. Steve |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Is it worth making my own mirror or can I buy mirrors ready
ground? Try Beacon Hill or Orion (UK) for ready made mirrors and DIY materials. Also SCS Astro. http://www.beaconhilltelescopes.mcmail.com/main.html http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/acatalog http://www.scsastro.co.uk/index.shtml DIY you learn more, ready made is quicker. Good luck, have you tried your local Astro society ? jc http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
UK based? Are you saying your stationed in the UK? Cause if your US
Military stationed in the UK I have a shipping code for US military to avoid customs charges. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:38:38 -0000, steve church
wrote: Hi, I'm considering constructing a telescope for Solar System observation (especially Mars). I've got all the necessary skills to build one (I think) but lack the necessary guidance as to what would be the best route to take. Fundamental questions are, What type, what size, material sources (I'm UK based), plans?.Is it worth making my own mirror or can I buy mirrors ready ground? What is going to be a ball park cost for, say, a 6 or 8 inch reflector? I have a lot of research to do before I start but some direction would be appreciated. Steve My last effort was an 8" f/8 with a mirror kit from Newport Glassworks. (Didn't get to finish, before giving it away.) Long focal length 8" should be great for planets. Start with books: Build your own telescope - Richard Berry How to Build a Telescope - Jean Texereau Amazon.com or Willman-Bell http://www.willbell.com/ if you can't find them locally or at library. These should give you some ideas. Cheers, Larry G. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I'm considering constructing a telescope for Solar System observation
(especially Mars). I've got all the necessary skills to build one (I think) but lack the necessary guidance as to what would be the best route to take. Fundamental questions are, What type, what size, material sources (I'm UK based), plans?.Is it worth making my own mirror or can I buy mirrors ready ground? What is going to be a ball park cost for, say, a 6 or 8 inch reflector? If this is going to be your first telescope, I suggest just buying a commercial 6" F8 dobsonian. The reason is that: 1) It will take you less time to save the money than to finish your scope. 2) You'll start with a good telescope and then know what to expect from one if you choose to build one 3) If you are building your first telescope alone, without experience from another telescope maker, you are likely to rush it and take shortcuts.. so you'll end up with a hacked together scope and you probably won't save much money. That said, building a telescope is a rewarding experience. I've built about 10, and made the mirrors for all of them by both hand and machine. I bought my first scope (a 10" Meade Dob) and then sold it after building a few smaller scopes and finally deciding which one was good enough to use full time. Actually, my 6"F6 beat the Meade 10" hands down on planets. If you go this route be warned: You will spend more time building than observing...it's addictive. If you still want to build one, then buy Jean Texereau's book "How to Make a Telescope" and a mirror grinding kit from either Newport Glass, Willman Bell (the publisher), or maybe somewhere over on your side of the pond (sorry don't know who to suggest). Grinding a 6" F8 would be the best choice I think (it's the easiest to figure and test since it can be left spherical) but it will take you anywhere from 1 month to forever (ie: if you are a gemini)... Download this software for design help: http://home.att.net/~dale.keller/atm...t/newtsoft.htm After 5 years of building scopes and not observing, I finally sold all of it and bought an LX90, DSI, etc. Call me a sellout if you want to, but I *love* my LX90 and no longer have the desire to push glass. Getting outside and observing is more fun these days. -tom |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
steve church wrote: Hi, I'm considering constructing a telescope for Solar System observation (especially Mars). I've got all the necessary skills to build one (I think) but lack the necessary guidance as to what would be the best route to take. Fundamental questions are, What type, what size, material sources (I'm UK based), plans?.Is it worth making my own mirror or can I buy mirrors ready ground? What is going to be a ball park cost for, say, a 6 or 8 inch reflector? I have a lot of research to do before I start but some direction would be appreciated. Steve Optical quality is the most important factor for planetary viewing but not the only one. Low obstruction and smooth tracking are also high on the list. To ensure high optical quality you should look for a Newtonian longer than F6. If it is not too large for you consider an F8-F10. As far as aperture goes you need to balance resolution against seeing. The larger the aperture the higher the resolution but the fewer instances of good seeing you will experience. Its hard to say what will be best for you but since it is your first telescope project I would not recommend anything over 8". A long focus Newtonian will have lower obstruction than most other designs so you shouldn't be too concerned with diffraction. If you choose an EQ mount you will need at least a Synta EQ6 or a vixen GPDX. The EQ mount will give you better tracking and make it much easier to view the planets at high power. A dobsonian base is inexpensive and rock solid up to about 300 times. I would recommend starting with a dobsonian base then upgrade to an EQ mount if you feel you need to. If you make your own optics they may not be back from the for mars. I honestly don't know how much of it is tax but Orion optics seem overpriced. Before shipping a 6" set of high quality is 300 pounds. The same quality mirror in Canada sells for 127 pounds. Ian Anderson www.customopticalsystems.com |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Chris L Peterson wrote: On 5 Feb 2005 15:54:20 -0800, wrote: As far as aperture goes you need to balance resolution against seeing. The larger the aperture the higher the resolution but the fewer instances of good seeing you will experience. Not true. A larger aperture will always deliver at least as high resolution view as a smaller one. Always. Perhaps what you meant is that a larger aperture will be seeing limited more often than a smaller one. _________________________________________________ Chris L Peterson Cloudbait Observatory http://www.cloudbait.com Yes, that is another way to say it. Ian |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Optical quality is the most important factor for planetary viewing but
not the only one. Low obstruction and smooth tracking are also high on the list. To ensure high optical quality you should look for a Newtonian longer than F6. If it is not too large for you consider an F8-F10. As far as aperture goes you need to balance resolution against seeing. The larger the aperture the higher the resolution but the fewer instances of good seeing you will experience. Its hard to say what will be best for you but since it is your first telescope project I would not recommend anything over 8". Whats the meaning of the F number and it's relation to length? Also aperture?(Yes I really am a newbie) If you make your own optics they may not be back from the for mars. I honestly don't know how much of it is tax but Orion optics seem overpriced. Before shipping a 6" set of high quality is 300 pounds. The same quality mirror in Canada sells for 127 pounds. We're holidaying in Canada later this year (25th wedding aniversary treat). I may end up with excess baggage with that much glass! Ian Anderson www.customopticalsystems.com |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Steve Church wrote:
Whats the meaning of the F number and it's relation to length? Also aperture?(Yes I really am a newbie) The F number is the focal ratio, and it's equal to the ratio of the primary mirror's focal length (the distance it takes to bring distant light rays from a star to converge to a focus) to the mirror's width or aperture. For instance, suppose the mirror is 8 inches across, and it has a focal length of 48 inches. Then the mirror has a focal ratio of f/6. In Newtonian reflectors, the focal length is typically (but not always) close to the length of the physical tube. Brian Tung The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/ Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/ The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/ My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
another newbie question | cobbler | UK Astronomy | 3 | April 3rd 04 10:31 AM |
Newbie scope question (again) | HobGobSnakyWaky | UK Astronomy | 8 | March 11th 04 06:32 PM |
Newbie question about Possl's | Pete Badham - G0WXJ | UK Astronomy | 6 | February 13th 04 08:02 PM |
newbie question | jojo | Amateur Astronomy | 19 | September 18th 03 05:52 PM |
Newbie question about observing mars | Mike Y. | Amateur Astronomy | 10 | August 24th 03 03:45 AM |