Ad Astra Observatory

I was so close to being finished with the hardware installation that I made sure I didn’t skip a week this time, despite 2 birthdays this week (Happy Birthday to me and my son!)

There was a minor amount of cleat-cutting. I also decided to round the edges of the cleats (I used clamps to drive the teeny primary cleats past the router head; yes, I still have all 10 fingers).

Once the cleats were cut and screwed into place,

the mirror cell went in easily.

I decided to test-fit the primary mirror, too. Man, that thing is big.

The upper ring was similarly close to being finished; I cut a cleat for the focuser board and got the focuser board installed and focuser attached.

I attached the secondary to make sure that my measurements were correct; I love it when a plan comes together.

Now that the woodcutting is done, it’s time for varnish. But that’s another show.