134_3485134_3485
Date: 05/27/2003
Pretty sophisticated homebuilt telescope. Two fans bring mirror to ambient temperature. Nifty digital thermometer shows how close the two are.
134_3486134_3486
Date: 05/27/2003
Whole telescope, very compact and light, for its size! Probably 25" aperature?
134_3487134_3487
Date: 05/27/2003
View of minimalist base. Not sure about stability, but light! Equatorial base too!
134_3488134_3488
Date: 05/27/2003
Homebuilt solar telescope. Self-powering too! Uses a DayStar solar filter, I think, which needs heating.
134_3489134_3489
Date: 05/27/2003
Beautiful telescope made with wood.
134_3490134_3490
Date: 05/27/2003
Tube made from long thin pieces of wood glued together. Gorgeous!
134_3491134_3491
Date: 05/27/2003
Typical Dobsonian setup. This is where I want to be in a year or two.
134_3492134_3492
Date: 05/27/2003
An 18" Dobsonian. Nice wooden mount.
134_3493134_3493
Date: 05/27/2003
The fork mount for a Meade 16" SCT. I have never seen a mount this gimongous in my whole life.
135_3508135_3508
Date: 05/27/2003
Another view of secondary assembly.
135_3509135_3509
Date: 05/27/2003
How's that for a worm drive?
135_3510135_3510
Date: 05/27/2003
Who knew the "Least portable. Telescope. Ever." would be built into a trailer??
135_3511135_3511
Date: 05/27/2003
Horseshoe equatorial mount; good for big scopes, but awfully bulky.
135_3512135_3512
Date: 05/27/2003
Wires ready for cameras, illuminated reticles, controls, everything! Great feature.
135_3513135_3513
Date: 05/27/2003
Good ol' Obsession scope. Lovely.
135_3514135_3514
Date: 05/28/2003
Split-block clamps are used to hold struts on most Obsession Dobs.
135_3515135_3515
Date: 05/28/2003
Another view of the split-block clamps.
135_3516135_3516
Date: 05/28/2003
More astronomer humor. I guess.
135_3517135_3517
Date: 05/28/2003
A little 10" Dobsonian. The guy who made it explained how it's constructed. He can break it down and take it as carry-on luggage onto a plane!
135_3518135_3518
Date: 05/28/2003
The big brother Dob, by the same gentleman.
135_3519135_3519
Date: 05/28/2003
Four struts!
135_3520135_3520
Date: 05/28/2003
A lovely Dobsonian, made from very nice wood and then finished. It was for sale!
135_3521135_3521
Date: 05/28/2003
Secondary assembly. Interesting way of connecting the struts.
135_3522135_3522
Date: 05/28/2003
Base of the wooden telescope. Pretty standard.
135_3523135_3523
Date: 05/28/2003
Detail of the struts and how they connect to the secondary assembly.
135_3524135_3524
Date: 05/28/2003
This behemoth is a homebuilt spectrohelioscope.
135_3525135_3525
Date: 05/28/2003
A friendly person explaining the theory behind the spectrohelioscope.
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Date: 05/28/2003
The first mirror in the optical chain - is flat, and directs the sun to the second, parabolic mirror.
135_3528135_3528
Date: 05/28/2003
The first mirror has a couple of worm drives for electronic control.
135_3529135_3529
Date: 05/28/2003
This is where you look! Controls for frequency, direction, and other such things.
135_3530135_3530
Date: 05/28/2003
The older guy in the hat is the one that built it! Quiet guy, but very friendly.
135_3531135_3531
Date: 05/28/2003
People enjoying the spectrohelioscope.