I wonder when a Panoptic 4" eyepiece will be available for these behemoths .
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Many American observers use ladders with half-steps, that is twice as many steps
as normal. For some reason one doesn't encounter many ladders with half steps
at star parties here in Australia. Some of the best observing ladders I have
encountered are those designed for the use in orchards in the US that have additional
hand rails at the top that then allow the user to take a more secure, relaxed and
comfortable stance when one reaches the top.
A number of years ago I built a step ladder for a friend with a 25" Obsession, to be used out at Ilford (NSW). I built an observing platform at the top of the ladder with ample space to walk around safely, and carpeted it. The platform / ladder combo had wheels on the bottom so that it could be moved about as needed. It worked out very well for him.
Bare in mind that these 50" F3.7 scopes are currently vapor-ware, guys. Someone put up the deposit for one and see if they can actually succesfully make one that works .I will stick to the spectator stand
The customer is also responsible for arranging for needed material handling equipment at the delivery site (for example, the crated 50" mirror will weigh about 500 lbs — you'll want a forklift or a whole bunch of friends!).
That was about the shipping weight of my 20" CDK with mount, crate etc.
Cost me a pretty penny to get it here shipped by Air cargo..
Just need the beers to keep up the energy needed to put the dob together.
Just hope it doesnt look like the leaning tower of Pisa when finished.
While it'd be cool to have one , you'd have to think the view would positively boil in averge seeing at an average site ?.. that monster dob
from what I remember was completely built around the pristine area and place it was to permanantly be housed ?.. figure that in and the 100K
only looks like the deposit
Just a further note on these giants..
I was in a chat with Normand Fullum (The builder), and spoke to him about folded newt options, and he tells me it will have soon. You can opt for it now, but it will be made publicly in time.
So, imagine a 40" and all you need is a kitchen 2 step, step ladder.
One has to wonder, why don't companies make scopes of this size in Naysmith form? Pretty much any aperture can be had with the observer's feet on the ground (or butt in chair)!
I'm wondering about the EP location on these crazy scopes. Would it work to have a mirror where the EP is and have it bounce the image down the side of the scope and then another mirror to bounce it into an EP closer to ground?
Kind of like a periscope on the outside of the OTA?
This is kind of what Sab was suggesting above, re Naysmith.
I think there was some suggestion that Peter from SDM was going to start to offer his big dobs with a folded design too...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Afro Boy
I'm wondering about the EP location on these crazy scopes. Would it work to have a mirror where the EP is and have it bounce the image down the side of the scope and then another mirror to bounce it into an EP closer to ground?
Kind of like a periscope on the outside of the OTA?
This is kind of what Sab was suggesting above, re Naysmith.
I think there was some suggestion that Peter from SDM was going to start to offer his big dobs with a folded design too...
Thanks. The Nasmyth has the 3rd mirror on the inside of the OTA so that would require another spider or some sort I'm guessing. ??
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