View Single Post
  #8  
Old 01-07-2011, 09:06 AM
Rick Petrie's Avatar
Rick Petrie
Rickapoodyandafandoogally

Rick Petrie is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Mardi NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,123
Quote:
Originally Posted by fracs View Post
Thanks all.

Actually my story is a little complicated. I have a set of Galaxy 18" f/5.5 optics, which I purchased in the 90s (yes - f/5.5, it's not a typo). I followed D.Kriege's notes from the Telescope Making magazine to build my own Dob back then... Kinda didn't work out as planned (I'm an electrical engineer, not a mechanical engineer ).

Now, after a long pause from Astronomy, I am looking at options to return to the hobby. Here's what I am considering:

(a) clean and re-coat both my existing primary & secondary mirrors, then contract SDM to build a lovely scope around them. I have been inspired by claims of 96% reflectivity on Galaxy/OMI primaries, and want in on that action! - I have already contacted SDM.

(b) shelve the 18" f/5.5 optics for now, and just buy a new (& complete) 18" f/4.5 Obsession. - out of interest, I contacted Obsession, but Dave won't take on the "unusual" focal ratio of my optics.

Happy if you want to add to my deliberations...

Cheers.
Mike
Hi Mike
If you already have the optics and they are good quality glass, it may be an option to have the primary refigured to a f4.5 and get someone like Peter Reid from SDM to build a scope around them.
I'm sure Isaac from Chi Qin could then recoat your mirrors to obtain a quality coating.
You would then have a fast, manageable, first class telescope to be sure.
Someone here could recommend a good optician as well to refigure locally.
Good luck.
Reply With Quote