PhilW
08-10-2009, 11:50 AM
With a larger scope on the way, I am considering selling my premium 14" dob, since I can only look through one scope at a time. It has the following key features:
- 14" F/4.6 Suchting mirror (in the scope since mirror was made three years ago)
- Protostar fused quartz secondary & curved spider
- KineOptics HC-2 helical Crayford focuser
- Light yet stable structure
- Fully optimized & ventilated cell, designed with PLOP & Houdart's edge support calculator
- Eyepiece height at zenith is 168cm, so no ladder required.
It is a minimalist scope, both to reduce thermal mass & the risk of hernias. When assembled it can easily be lifted with one hand (I can weigh it if anyone is interested). When broken down, the UTA fits inside the rocker box, so the whole scope will fit in a compact car. The trusses are a single telescoping unit, so no loose poles & 2-minute setup. This also means it holds collimation well, even after disassembly and reassembly.
While I built it with deep-sky viewing in mind, it is also a superb planetary scope. Because of the low profile and focal ratio, it is ladder-free. It is perfectly matched with Bintel's observing chair.
PM me if interested in discussing it. The scope is based in Melbourne, and potential buyers are welcome to test it.
Regards, Phil
- 14" F/4.6 Suchting mirror (in the scope since mirror was made three years ago)
- Protostar fused quartz secondary & curved spider
- KineOptics HC-2 helical Crayford focuser
- Light yet stable structure
- Fully optimized & ventilated cell, designed with PLOP & Houdart's edge support calculator
- Eyepiece height at zenith is 168cm, so no ladder required.
It is a minimalist scope, both to reduce thermal mass & the risk of hernias. When assembled it can easily be lifted with one hand (I can weigh it if anyone is interested). When broken down, the UTA fits inside the rocker box, so the whole scope will fit in a compact car. The trusses are a single telescoping unit, so no loose poles & 2-minute setup. This also means it holds collimation well, even after disassembly and reassembly.
While I built it with deep-sky viewing in mind, it is also a superb planetary scope. Because of the low profile and focal ratio, it is ladder-free. It is perfectly matched with Bintel's observing chair.
PM me if interested in discussing it. The scope is based in Melbourne, and potential buyers are welcome to test it.
Regards, Phil