I watched this ESOcast and was wondering what scope is shown in the background behind Dr. J. I was thinking it might be a Celestron C14, but I'm not quite sure. Anybody have a suggestion?
Here's the link. Take a look a 5:05! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gljBFSW3srw
Why would people at Paranal use a Celestron scope? As I was told they aren't the best on the market. Why don't they buy themselves a RCT or something similar?
Alot of observatories have regular types of scopes for public outreach programs. When I visited Sydney observatory earlier this year they had a 16" fork mounted Meade LX200 for example.
I mean they have enough money to get themselves a scope better than a plain Celestron. I just don't get why don't they buy a more high-precision telescope for purposes like the one mentioned in the ESOcast?
What business would the public have in viewing through an RCOS, or a high-end refractor? They're not designed for visual work. They're designed for imaging.
What business would the public have in viewing through an RCOS, or a high-end refractor? They're not designed for visual work. They're designed for imaging.
H
H,
In the ESOcast I posted scientists are using that Celestron scope to find out where to build the E-ELT. Cerro Armazones is not for public viewing! Wouldn't a RCT be better for that purpose?
In the ESOcast I posted scientists are using that Celestron scope to find out where to build the E-ELT. Cerro Armazones is not for public viewing! Wouldn't a RCT be better for that purpose?
Bart
F/10 would be more sensitive to seeing so maybe it's the best scope to gauge the conditions?
Those big observatories are public funded and are always short of money. They raise much needed revenue by public openings.
Incidently The ESO who have vast resources of astronomical data used some of their money to commission a friend of mine, Fabien to write a program to help them access this data. It is called Virgo and is available free for download. It is based on Stellarium and. This commision allowed Fabien to work full time on the Virgo/Stellarium project for three years to all our advantage.
You can't look through the big telescopes on these viewing sessions so the observatories have these smaller visual scopes to satisfy the viewers.
Where do they get these scopes. Mostly by donations from the manufacturers. Remember the old saying "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"
Barry
Last edited by Barrykgerdes; 27-09-2010 at 09:25 AM.
(you can see it better at 0:17)
As I was told they aren't the best on the market. Why don't they buy themselves a RCT or something similar?
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