New SDM 20" Scope arrives: Pictures

[Rodstar]

My new scope finally arrived on Friday. :D

It is truly a work of art, I could not be happier. I am very grateful to Peter Read for the great care he took in building her for me. It was great to have Peter deliver the scope to my door from Shepparton Victoria, and for him to give me a demonstration on how to set it up, collimate, etc. He truly is a great bloke.

Now if the weather would just co-operate, so I can see how the OMI mirror performs!

Anyway, here are some photos of the new beast. I will post a few times with a range of photos so you can get a sense of how gorgeous (and huge) she is. Now, I just need to think of a name.....

[jase]

What a ripper Rod. You've gotta be happy with that beast. Looking forward to hearing some first light reports.:thumbsup:

[Rodstar]

And here are some more pictures, including one with my vicious guard dog...

[RB]

Oh it looks fantastic !!!!! :eyepop:

Can't wait to see it in action Rod.

As for a name, how about "Eta Carina"........:whistle:

[Rodstar]

And finally......

[AstroJunk]

How good is that Rob - Welcome to the club!

SDM006 was behaving beutifully at the weekend, and I'm sure that SDM012 will be every bit as good. Happy viewing.:thumbsup:

[netwolf]

Congrats Rod and awesome workmanship, well done Peter.

[stringscope]

Very nice Rod. :thumbsup: Congratulations.

Cheers,

[h0ughy]

nice one rod, you draw in the weather with that magnet. I will enjoy a peek at SPSP

[strongmanmike]

Wow Rod:eyepop:

That looks bloody beautiful!

Sure makes my ASA N12 look positively limp :lol:

Did it come with all the add ons like temp readout and Argo Navis etc..?

What was the cost of this beast all up?

What are the OMI mirror specs?

Can you show and tell how the temp sensors are mounted?

As for a name? Becasue of its beautiful Burgundy colour colour how about "The Red Barron" or "Hydrogen Alpha" or if you liked Hey Hey... "Red Symons" ? :D

Mike

[Starkler]

What a ripper Rod :thumbsup:

SDM #17 is still a little while away from being in my hands and I'm getting toey.

Have you got the heated secondary? Im interested to know how Peter hid the wiring.

[Rodstar]

Thanks guys for all of your kind remarks. It certainly will be great to take her out observing.

HOughy, you are certainly right about the scope being a drought-breaker.

Mike, find below the mirror specs below. ALMOST up to the specs of your scope, which isn't bad for a 20" mirror! In relation to what it cost, I ordered 7 months ago when prices were a bit cheaper, but bottom line, I got the unit as seen for $10,130 plus the Argo Navis, which I got off Wildcard Innovations directly. I'll take some snaps of the thermometer attachments on the weekend, and post them for you. I'm sure Peter Read would be happy to tell you how it works, or you can have a peek in my scope if you are coming to SPSP.

Geoff, I'll also take some shots from you re the heated secondary, and post at a later date.

[AstroJunk]

Erm...

That mirror has a central hole. yours doesn't does it?!

Am I being thick?

[GTB_an_Owl]

i see you opted for the smaller female version of the "Push Too" option Rod
:whistle:

you sure you gunna be game to take it out of the garage ?

geoff

[Rodstar]

Jonathan, the "hole" is just an artifact of the way in which the inteferometer test is performed. My mirror is no donut!

Geoff, you will have to be on your best behaviour if you are to dance with her....and she is staying parked in the garage until this BLOODY weather clears!

[RB]

I keep coming back to look at the photos again and again Rod.
Just can't get enough.

What a beauty !

[GTB_an_Owl]

i bet you've got the roller door up - just waiting for a minute break in those clouds to look at anything that sparkles

geoff

[AstroJunk]

That's good - I've never seen the OMI tests before - the galaxy tests don't show a hole unless there is one.

And those holes make for difficult laser alignment!

[strongmanmike]

Yes the specs for my mirror are pretty good but yours look more than adequate.

That's quite a cost effective price for a 20" scope of this apparent quality. The wait time of 7 months was quite acceptable too.

Did Peter fit the temp guage and sensors too?

Did you fit the Argo Navis encoders yourself or did Peter fit those too?

I look forward to seeing it and Peter Bobroffs new 16" too at SPSP.

Did ya like any of my name suggestions? :D

Mike

[Ambermile]

Cool - looks rather pretty... but is it left handed? Can't help but notice that Jonathan (Astrojunk) has his EP on that side as well though... not seen that before?

Arthur

PS - mine's called Big Blue :D

[Rodstar]

Mike,

Yes, Peter fitted the temp guage and sensor, and the encoders, all for the price quoted. The name suggestions....didn;t grab me, but please keep the suggestions coming!

Arthur, your comment is an interesting one. I have no idea whether there is such a thing as a left handed or right handed format. That is just the way Peter does all of his scopes. I wonder if it is a hemispherical thing or just a cultural thing, and something more sinister???!!!

[Rodstar]

Do I sense an order for SDM #018 coming on??!!:P :scared:

[iceman]

Looks fantastic Rod! Did you get up at 3am as I suggested? The skies were clear! :)

[xelasnave]

Congratulations Rod I am very happy for you and thanks for taking the time to take so many photos..terrific.. and I like your dog, obviously very aware of the goings on.
alex

[sheeny]

Congratulations Rod! You've got to be happy with that!:thumbsup:

We should be running a book on how long it will be before the weather clears enough for you to use it!:lol:

Al.

[astroboy]

Looks a beautiful scope Rod ,
I'm sure you will be happy with it . I'm always impressed with how well my SDM looks and works and Peter as you would know is great to deal with.
I've just had a Pohmie guest here who used to have a 25" Obsession and thought the SDM beat it in every way .

Enjoy:)
Zane

[wavelandscott]

Wow!

That looks like a brilliant piece of work!

I hope you get many enjoyable views through that magnificent looking (and hopefully performing) scope!

[Odlaw]

Very Very Nice.... Congrats to you buddy

[Deeno]

Yes Yes Yes!!
Its very pretty and I'm dying to have a peek (Friday?)
The big question is that it was pretty clear at 4am this morning...........?

[xstream]

Congrats on the new addition to the family Rod.
I'm looking forward to seeing her in the flesh at SPSP, I'm sure she'll look even more gorgeous in the flesh. ;)

[Rodstar]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Mike and Deeno, I had a late night last night, and a long day at work today, so am STILL yet to see first light. Hopefully tonight (or early tomorrow morning).

[sejanus]

gosh that looks good

10k is pretty decent as well

congrats rod

[jjjnettie]

She's beautiful Rod.
Like any women, treat her kindly and she will give you many years enjoyment.

I call my scope The Annie Jump Cannon. ( not just because a dob looks like a canon ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Jump_Cannon

[ving]

drool drool drool!!

man that looks great rod!!! :D

name it ving ;)

[strongmanmike]

Ok then...

Because of her colour, ya just gotta name it after a famous red head.

Here are a few:

Erik The Red (Viking)

Napoleon

Lenon

and even Judas! :-)

Here is a whole list of famous redheads:

http://www.ocala.com/stagnant/redhead/famous.html?nocache=1

he he he

Mike

[seeker372011]

cant wait to have a look at SPSP..congratulations

[GrahamL]

Looks great rod

Ruby :hi: ?

[matt]

Rod.

That's simply superb!!!

Congratulations, mate.

All the best for many great nights out under inky black skies.:thumbsup:

[norm]

Congrats Rod, that is one impressive looking dob. Just awesome. :thumbsup:

May the weather GODS be good to you as well.:rofl:

[taminga16]

Rod, you could call it GRACE, it's amazing.

regards Greg.

[Rodstar]

Thanks everyone for some great suggestions for names.

I like one or two of the names suggested so far, but I might just wait for a few more suggestions before settling on a name. The scope isn't actually red/burgundy, so you might steer away from that theme!! Maybe my purple house has played colour tricks on peoples' minds??

Some ideas that I have also had for names:

*"Lord Rosse", being the third Earl of Parsonstown in Ireland, who built the Leviathan, the largest telescope of the 19th century on his estate (183cm mirror), and who famously gave the "Crab Nebula" its name. My maternal family's name is, co-incidentally, Ross. (NB: the Leviathan is name that has been used for many other scopes and is therefore a tad old-hat).
*Bill Parsons, the regular name (well, at least it is "William Parsons") of Lord Rosse.
*Desiree, the very tall, fat, gold-wearing black character from the BBC series "Little Britain" who gets into naked rumbles in health spas.
*Pyxi, being rather like the constellation Pyxis, and conjuring images of Pixi Skase.
*Carina, being my favourite constellation, and bringing back fond memories of real people by that name whom I have met.
*Jacob Sladder (for the biblically literate, the patriarch Jacob dreamt of a ladder taking him all of the way to heaven)
*B.F.T. (Big Friendly Telescope, based on Roald Dahl's "The B.F.G"." – The Big Friendly Giant, a favourite of my three kids)
*Gough (as in Whitlam, being tall, larger than life, representing idealism – in this case astronomical, but ultimately bad for the family economy)
*Anastasia (Russian royal, seductress)
*Kamal (tall, dark, deep – sky, bedecked with glittering jewellery)

Any other suggestions??!!

[AstroJunk]

Well mine has become "the Mistress".

as in 'Just popping out with the mistress dear, don't wait up...'

[g__day]

Beautiful!

[Rodstar]

Well, I am pleased to report that I have finally seen some star images in my scope!

I got up at 3am today, the eastern sky was clear, thick clouds to the west, but I decided to chance it, and set up. By the time I was set up at about 3.20am, the clouds were covering the entire skyline. Damn!

Anyway, having hauled myself out of bed, and having gone to the trouble of setting up and collimating, I was determined to see something. So, I ranged the skies, trying to see through little gaps in the clouds.

Quite unexpectedly, suddenly out of the grey flashed Rigel Kent. Quick as a jack rabbit, I was onto it. Beautiful, but transitory....it disappeared behind the Grey Shroud never to be seen again. I also chanced a view at Jupiter through the clouds....boy, will it be bright when I see it without clouds! I also glimpsed some star fields momentarily. So folks, I can report that the mirror works, and I have seen first light.

Hopefully I can achieve some more serious work later this week. IN the meantime, my apologies to the astronomical community of south-eastern Australia for destroying your observing for the past week.

[GTB_an_Owl]

Rod

have you seen the weather forcast for the following week on "d-weather" - cloud and more cloud right up to NEXT friday - yes not THIS Friday - NEXT FRIDAY
:cloudy: :poke: :sad:

geoff

[ving]

call it ving...

:P

jupiter is gunna be almost too bright for the scope me thinks ;)

[matt]

A few very choice filters will help that brightness problem, should it indeed prove to be a prob:D

[Satchmo]

Congratulations on your new arrival Rod.:thumbsup:

The hole in the data set is due to the hole in the autocollimating flat, not to do with the interferometer.

Rememeber to allow some artistic licence in the Strehl number on a large thinner mirror as the astigmatism co-efficient is subtracted from the data. As the vertical mirror bend with horizontal axis alone, would lower the Strehl into the 0.70's without adding the complexities of momentary air movement and mirror seating and any real astig present. As always it comes down to the experience and skill of the optician for a good optic, there are no simple solutions to proving how good a mirror is on paper, just eyeball at the telescope in the end.

Enjoy, and look forward to seeing your SDM at SPSP.

[Rodstar]

Mark,

The mirror is two inches thick. What thickness of mirrors do you use? I am surprised that you would think there might be vertical mirror bend on the horizontal axis from such a thick mirror, or that this could so significantly affect the Strehl. Can you clarify??:shrug:

I am aware that Strehl is only one measure of the quality of a mirror, and does not disclose other potential failings in the mirror, such as astigmatism or a turned edge. I'll let you know how the mirror performs in real life when I have a decent night's observing under my belt. In the meantime, I am not going to anticipate any negatives unless they become apparent.

I have received some emails from Paul Haese about his new 18" SDM, with OMI mirror. He reckons that at the recent star party he attended (Snake Valley) those he observed with made the comment that the mirror performed as well as any they had ever seen. I am expecting mine to perform likewise. I am extremely happy to have ordered my mirror from OMI.

[ausastronomer]

Hi Rod,

Just reporting in from downtown Coonabarabran where we are keeping the 40 Texans amused, by giving them glimpses of southern skies targets, through sucker holes. We got lucky on Monday night with an excellent nights observing, where we did an "allnighter", otherwise it has been pretty cloudy. Peter Read arrived in Coona on Sunday arvo with John Trudgen and his new 20"/F5 (SDM #11). It is a lovely scope. Peter parked it next to my 18" Obsession and Andrew Murrell's 25" Obsession. While we didn't get to use it too much on Sunday Night, several of us gave it a good "shakedown" on Monday night. Our good friend from Texas, Van Robinson, who owns several Starmasters up to 22" fitted with a variety of mirrors from John Hall (Pegasus Optics) and Carl Zambuto, was also highly impressed with SDM #11. Both, in terms of looking at and through it. SDM #11's OMI mirror is outstanding. As Mark Suchting indicated, don't worry about the Strehl numbers, just go and enjoy the views. The 4 3RF 18" Obsessions and the 20" of John Trudgens all have OMI mirrors and they are all excellent. I wouldn't be too worried about any astigmatism in the mirror, your problem is going to be convincing Nina to let you play with your toy as and when required :)

CS-John B

[Rodstar]

Bugger!:doh:

Geoff, the BoM websites is currently describing the forecast for this Friday as "mainly fine and sunny". I remain resolutely optimistic about a Kulnura session on Friday night!

[Rodstar]

Great to hear from you John! I am glad you have had at least one night's good observing. What do 40 Texans do in Coona when the weather is foul??

Glad to hear that Peter Read's handiwork (in concert with OMI) has made an impression. I wonder how many orders have been placed for SDM scopes? I dare say Peter would have a captive audience with money to spend! :thumbsup:

Hope you get some decent weather before the week is over. And drive home safely, buddy.

[Satchmo]

Hi Rod ,

I wasn't intending to cast any doubt on the quality of your mirror. 20" mirrors regardless of thickness bend about 1/2 wave with axis *horizontal* regardless of whether being 1.6" or 3" thick. ( In answer to your question I use 1.6" as they perform perfectly on an 18 point cell and cool faster than 2" ). This mirror bend is almost gone by the time you are pointed 15 degrees above the horizen. It is with axis *vertical* that thicker mirrors need less float points. But ( horizontal ) thats not how you use your scope, and the wavefront quality from the sky near the horizen would be many waves anyway.

I responded in an 'educational' sense when I saw you make a comparison about your mirror not being 'quite as good as Mike Sidoneo's 12" , by comparing the Strehl ratio's. From memory Mikes mirror being a lot more rigid, allowed the opticians to leave the Astigmatism component 'switched on' in the output. Makers of large mirrors usually subtract it out to show a high Strehl number and more indicative of the good spherical aberration correction) and use judgement and experience to make that call. That is the sense that I meant there was artistic licence involved. A proper analysis of a large mirror to extract the true astigmatism component would probably cost more than the mirror. So to keep mirrors affordable you have to trust the optician and their reputation.

Strehl is probably a bit too mis-understood as a `golden bullet' and it is just not possible to make comparisons of different size mirrors on the basis of Strehl alone, as it is usually derived in basic interferometry by fitting polynomals, and doesn't really cope or take account with small period zoning, roughness , astigmatism , and turned edges. Phase shifting interferometry is better at those things but I'm not aware of any opticians to the amatuer industry using it.

OMI certainly know what they are doing, it wouldn't really matter what documentation they supplied, they have a great reputation. I've only looked through John Bambury's 18" but there were certainly no isssues there and yours won't be any different I'm sure :thumbsup: .

Hope this clarifies your questions and proved educational.

[Ambermile]

Certainly is in mine - if I want to peek it's better at dawn when the skies are a bit lighter atm. Better that than drilling a hole through my eye. Even the Moon with a 7mm nagler (680x) needs an ND to tone it down a bit!

You're going to love this scope Rod :thumbsup:

Arthur

[AstroJunk]

that makes your scope F8+! :scared: Thats a big Ladder, or a tiny miscalculation;)

In answer to an earlier point about left/righthanded dobs - I don't think there is a true reason. Obsession started the trend and it has kind of stuck. It actually makes more sense in Australia, as much of the time is spent looking North, so the scope tracks away from the ladder making it safer.

It took me while to get used to initially, but now it feels more comfortable than t'other way.

[Ambermile]

f/4.8... yup, 380x not 680x, sorry! FL is 2700mm :doh:

Ah - you are also right on the track away bit. Still means you can fall off the ladder though, but you just hit the ground rather than the ladder on the way down :rofl:

Arthur

[Rodstar]

Mark, thanks for clarifying your comments. I note we agree that Mike Sidonio's mirror stats are better than mine, which is actually all I said!!!:poke:

[acropolite]

Congratulations Rod, looks like a beastie. The weather here in Tas is clear at the moment, so load up the car and drive on down. I'm curious as to how long the mirror will take to cool.:confuse3:

[GTB_an_Owl]

save some of that clear sky to-nite for us to-morrow nite Rod

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease

should be out there myself - but too much to do if i gunna take to-morrow nite off for kulnura

geoff

[MortonH]

Since you referred to the scope as "her", why not name it Stella?

Morton

[spacezebra]

Hi Rod

My apologies for not congratulating you earlier on the new arrival. Border Stargaze is keeping me mighty busy. You must be absolutely rapped to have her home.

May you have many long enjoyable clear skies ahead. We are looking forward to seeing you at SPSP - and yes we will bring "the Gazebo":D.

Cheers Petra

[iceman]

Can't wait to look through it tonight - the skies will be clear!

[Odlaw]

Lucy is probably the most famous red head.

LUCY

[Rodstar]

The imminent arrival of Geoff's scope has focussed my mind to think of a name for my SDM......I have decided to call it "The Mary Rose", after Henry VIII's favourite ship, raised from the depths of the ocean in 1982. In its hayday, it was a most beautiful ship.

I wonder what Geoff is going to call his new scope?????

[GTB_an_Owl]

maybe what we all suggested you call yours Rod !

but you weren't game to.


:whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

and the letters "FME" had nothing to do with a MEDICAL person

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[AstroJunk]

Word travels fast in these parts ;)

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/SDM012.html

[Rodstar]

Spies everywhere.......:lol: