MOST RECENT
Trixie testing
I got some photons on the mirror over the weekend. Still test shots. I think the new shrouds are working OK. It now complains that the pointing is off again (I shouldn’t […]
Straight-Truss scopes
Box Kite Al Highe Also check out Plettstone, who make Al Highe’s scopes.
Telescope Balance calculations
This is the balance calculation spreadsheet that I used when designing Trixie. It’s not the best-documented. I was transferring all the components from a paper napkin into the spreadsheet. The calculation (weight […]
Trixie balance calculations
Asi I was designing Trixie, I aimed to have the balance point be at or behind “ring 2”, which is the middle one. I put all the actual weights of things into […]
Astro mystery
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Re: Trixie Integration Testing, phase 1
Took the scope out for another spin last night. I even fired up the Gemini and watched it swing that big scope around. Very cool. The results of my testing: there’s definitely […]
Trixie Integration Testing, Phase 1
I’ve just taken Trixie out for another shakedown run, this time with the full imaging rig attached; that’s the guidescope, 2 finders, and the camera, which adds about 10# to the total […]
Astro knowledge / ATM / Optics
big, fast, light
16” f/5 honeycomb mirror for $1500 According to the website, these optics are ~20% lighter than solid mirrors of comparable thickness. So this one might weigh only 20# instead of 26#. That […]
diffraction
The iron bar that Coulter used to mount the secondary was seriously tragic. The thing is literally 1/4” thick. That would destroy any contrast you’d get, making a “pretty good” mirror look […]
Trixie needs a finder
I own the finder. I just have no place to mount it on Trixie. Take a look at the photo again. There’s no place to mount a finder dovetail. I have to […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.