SDM#038 arrives

[stephenb]

I took delivery of SDM#038 this afternoon, as Peter pulled into the garage it absolutely poured with rain.

Anyway, after a thorough setup turorial, and a chinwag, Peter was on his way and SDM#038 sits in its little carpeted corner of the garage waiting now for a clear night.

GSO 16" Mirror, Galaxy secondary with Astrosystems spider and holder, Moonlite focuser (red...mmm love that red), shroud, storm cover. Chose not to get an AN just yet, will wait for a while.

I am amazed at the quality, the finish and the attention to detail, but that's not new news to SDM owners.

[Rodstar]

Great news Stephen. It looks a ripper!

You do understand, it will now rain and sleet for a month.

When my SDM arrived, I kid you not, it was overcast for 12 straight days, I set the alarm all hours of the night to try to fool the sky, to no avail. You will have to bide your time!

Hope you have lots of fun.

[astroron]

Great News Stephen:) welcome to the 16," club even though mine is not an SDM:D

[iceworks]

Congratulations. Peter fitted my SDM with Argo Navis and I think it is worth every penny. I'm not very experienced with sky hopping, and with an AN I don't have to be. It is very easy to use and very accurate. Wishing you many happy nights gazing with your SDM.

[FredSnerd]

What a lucky man you are stephen. Beautiful looking scope. I bet it wont take long for the AN to get fitted.

[lacad01]

Fantastic piece of work :) I'm extremely jealous now ;)

[jjjnettie]

She's beautiful.
I hope you share many enjoyable nights together.
Have you named it yet?

[stephenb]

I will try to resist the temptation of an AN for now, but Peter had included a lot of the holes and fittings ready for an AN - well planned.



I have a couple of names kicking around on a short list. I may need to seek some private opinions on it soon.

We've just returned from a counter meal at the local pub, and it's perfectly clear. But tonight's family night, so roll on Monopoly!

[PCH]

What a beauty :eyepop:

And you're resisting the urge to go out, even though it's clear, because Friday is family night. What a considerate chap you are. Still, that's exactly what earns the necessary brownie points for such a beast in the first place I guess ;) Have fun :thumbsup:

[stephenb]

Thanks Paul, I'm tempted to wheel it out to look at the full moon but I value my eyesight too much :lol:

[Octane]

Stephen,

That looks stunning! Congratulations!

Have you got a bunch of Naglers or Pentaxes for ogling?

Look forward to first light report!

Regards,
Humayun

[g__day]

I remember looking through Zane's 24" SDM at the Magellan Observatory and it was stunning good. The views from a really quality big scope in dark skies is absolutely something else!

[erick]

I can see my fingerprints on it........:D

[AstroJunk]

Welcome to the best club in the universe!

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/SDM038.html

[norm]

Congrats Steve on the new scope and welcome to the SDM club!:thumbsup:

[byronpaul]

Stephen,

beautiful scope :P ..... just got to get you and this baby out to the SVAA Oct Camp so we can have a squizz ;)

[Ric]

Congrats Steve, it looks a wonderfully crafted scope, a real work of art.

Cheers

[wavelandscott]

Congratulations on a piece of art...now make sure you've got an umbrella!

[xstream]

Steve,congratulations and welcome to "The Club". :)

SDM #028 (http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/SDM028.html)

[stephenb]

Thanks to all the great compliments. and all the "welcomes" to the exclusice club. I just keep staring at the mirror finish, and I'm talking about the timber, not the mirror!

I am glad I bought the Astrosystems laser collimator. Seriously, it took less the 3 minutes to collimate. This device made the job incredibly simple. I don't know why I didn't buy one in the past for my previous Newts.

Yeah Paul, look forward to a good run at Snake Valley soon. I need to carefully work out a way of transporting the mirror box and rocker assembly in the back of the ute, without causing any damage. I may need to get hold of an old doona to assist with protection.



Hey Eric, While Peter was here, he offered me a free 12" GSO mirror he had lying around in the back of the station wagon :lol::lol:

[erick]

:scared: :sadeyes: :(

[stephenb]

joking of course ;). Look forward to seeing yours at SV.

[h0ughy]

congratulations it looks a lovely beasty

[Starkler]

Congrats and welcome to the club. Looks like my SDM might have another for company at snake valley :D

[spacezebra]

Hi Stephen

Its a work of art! Wishing you many hours of pleasure.

Welcome to the club (SDM #13).

Cheers Petra d.

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Stephen,

Nice scope all right!, certainly looks the goods.

I like the moonlight focuser too, one question though.... my focuser on the SW Dob is rotated 90 degrees clockwise of yours, do the SDM's have them that way for a reason? (ie the wheels are in line with the scope tube, the pics show yours perpendicular to the tube)

Just wondering....

Congrats, and good luck with the first light.

Cheers

Chris

[stephenb]

Thsnks Chris, Chris I don't think there is any reason at all. But I'll ask Peter. I suspect like all focusers it can be rotated to suit the user.

[gb_astro]

Hi Stephen, welcome to the club, it looks great.

Chris, re orientation of the focuser: On smaller SDM scopes the range of possible positions of the focuser can be restricted by the lip of the lower edge of the UTA which sticks out enough to contact the focuser knobs, or at least make them difficult to use, when you try to line up the focusing shaft with the optical axis of the scope.

gb.

[erick]

I've asked Peter to set mine at 45 deg - that's the way I like it.

[stephenb]

I have been advised that having it set up in the middle of the lounge room to "show to guests" is a "stupid idea" and "why the hell would our guests want to see your telescope" and "you have a study and a triple garage so why would you want to....." etc.

[wavelandscott]

Surprisingly to me, I've had a similar comment from my lovely wife on some of my scopes...and I thought she liked fine furniture!

At least take comfort that we all enjoy your new toy and recognize it as a true piece of art and workmanship///

[Screwdriverone]

Aaah, so it seems that the focuser can be oriented any way you like, based on Houghy's and GB's information, thanks for answering the query.

Cheers

Chris

[Paddy]

Congratulations Stephen! I'd be setting it up in the lounge room for me to admire, no guests would be necessary! Mind you, Glenluce is not very far from me so if you would like someone to come and admire your new equipment, I would be very happy to supply some accolades.

[erick]

GSO focussers have two small grub screws (Hex key (Allen) heads) that hold the main body of the focusser to the base plate. Loosen them and rotate to personal preference and re-tighten. Careful - not much holding it all in place, especially if you load it up with barlows and big eyepieces! :scared: Check those screws are firm.

Eric

[dugnsuz]

Very nice Stephen.
If I ever return to visual stuff I would love something similar.
Doug

[FredSnerd]

Where else would you keep it but in the lounge room. Its very important not to disrespect a piece of equipment like that and the garage is definately no place for it (triple or otherwise). And if it wasnt for the fact that its a telescope, I wouldnt even be exposing it to the weather. You are absolutely right Stephen and dont let anyone talk you out of it. A scope like that needs to be pampered and shown off to guests, otherwise it might think you dont love it.

[mbaddah]

I'm so jealous :(

[AstroJunk]

Agreed. And to make matters worse, my inconsiderate wife parks her ***CAR*** in my observatory. :doh:

[GrahamL]

Dosn't everyone keep there scope in the bedroom ?:shrug:
important things need to sleep in important places:thumbsup:

[FredSnerd]

OK I was gonna suggest the bedroom but I was scared people would think I was a little obsessive ... But it is an obsession telescope after all

[Starkler]

Bite your tongue! It's better than an obsession. It's an SDM :D

[erick]

What else?





Edit: Image swiped from the 'net. It's not me..................yet ;)

[FredSnerd]

Good one Eric.

Just dont go spawning any little baby scopes

[Starkler]

:lol::rofl::rofl::lol: