Have you considered how you'll transport it? Will it fit in the back of the van? How will you lift it into the car? I imagine the rocker box will turn out very heavy!
Yeah Mike, it will fit very nicely in the back of my Odyssey. I have 10 weeks to build a ramp. I will use the wheelbarrow handles to get it in and out. If Cheryl on the Obsession DVD can do it, I think I can manage!
That will be one nice scope. I had thought of getting a 20" one day, maybe as an inheritance, but would settle for an 18" f4.5 I think that would be my limit.
As far as names go I think Scope-A-Saurus or Dobzilla and its looking forward to the scopeout , hope I don't strain the mirror on some distant quasar
Zane
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodstar
Very nice Zane.
Peter Read was telling me this morning that the glossy finish can tend to show the finger marks. I for one don't mind...I am happy to have any excuse I need to polish my baby...
I would love to visit when you have taken delivery. Maybe we can compare scopes after mine arrives?? I am sure I could find a few other people who would like to play, too!
What are you going to call your scope? I am going to give mine a name...I am open to suggestions.
Hey Astrojunk, so you are the bloke with "Blackie". I thought I saw an IceInSpace T-shirt in the pictures of SDM-6 on the website.
Great looking scope!
I would love to see the ladder you are using. I have seen a ladder which has three steps leading to a platform at a height of 86cm. Just perfect if observing at zenith, I hope. Happy to hear anything you have to share!
Bunnings - 6 foot double sided ladder, most steps on rear side removed, the rear braced, steps then used on front side to make 6 inch steps which are much more comfortable for viewing. And an extra grab rail too.
A 6' ladder is plenty long enough for the 20".
On the negative side - this is a cheap ladder (around a hundred bucks or so) so it is on the heavy side - ArgoNavis's 8 foot is lighter (please comment AN). Also the steps are thick, which makes it possible to get your foot stuck!
I've also been looking at the SDM site for a while now since Don at Bintel told me about it. The 18" would suit nicely.
Can I ask how long it takes to assemble?
Mark.
Mark,
There are two ways I could interpret your question, so I will answer both ways.
1. If you mean how long is the set up time each time I want to observe, I am led to believe from the Obsession DVD that a scope of this design can be easily set up in 10 minutes. Whether this is true in real life, maybe others on this forum are in a better place to comment.
2. If you mean how long does it take for Peter Read to deliver a completed scope from the date of order, the delivery date Peter is working towards for me is 18 November. Given that I placed the order two days ago (25/8), that makes a total construction time of less than 3 months. The timeframe cannot be much shorter than this. The length of time beyond this principally depends on who is supplying the mirror. I have ordered an OMI Torus mirror, who also supply Obsession, and they have a very fast turnover rate. One supplier I was talking to in Australia for a slightly faster focal ratio (f/4.5) was talking in terms of 6-7 months for a mirror. I was not prepared to wait that long!
Bunnings - 6 foot double sided ladder, most steps on rear side removed, the rear braced, steps then used on front side to make 6 inch steps which are much more comfortable for viewing. And an extra grab rail too.
A 6' ladder is plenty long enough for the 20".
On the negative side - this is a cheap ladder (around a hundred bucks or so) so it is on the heavy side - ArgoNavis's 8 foot is lighter (please comment AN). Also the steps are thick, which makes it possible to get your foot stuck!
These are the final specs as confirmed by SDM today:
It includes
20” Premium optics from OMI with 96% reflective coating
3.1” secondary with 99% reflective coating
Moonlight CR2 focuser
8192 step encoders and mounting brackets
Plus power distribution rail (inside rocker box)
Plus wired fan
Plus 1000-Oaks dew heater system for telrad and eyepiece with 2 spare heater strap outlets and 1 constant 12v outlet for accessories
Plus auto sensing secondary mirror heater
Plus digital temp. gauge which monitors air temp and mirror tep.
Aluminium side bearings
Ebony Star on Teflon bearing surfaces (Teflon pre routed for servocat upgrade)
Superbly crafted marine ply cabinetry
Superfast modified secondary cage attachment system
Astro Systems spider and secondary holder
Fully wired ground board plus 6 meter power cable
Telrad
Barlowed laser collimator
Ripstop nylon shroud with monogrammed carry bag
Transport handles
Heavy duty Kydex on secondary cage (will not warp in the sun)
Heavy duty carry cases for secondary cage and truss poles
Personalized cast brass plaque-with your name and telescope details on it.
With an Argo Navis from Wildcard Innovations, that should keep me pretty happy for a while.
Fully packed to fully functional in under 20 mins is realistic, 10 at a push if you don't stop to chat! And it's just as quick to put it back at the end of the night.
As for ladders - that 86 cm platform would work for me at 6' tall - but would be no use for anyone shorter, and you will share won't you
Fully packed to fully functional in under 20 mins is realistic, 10 at a push if you don't stop to chat! And it's just as quick to put it back at the end of the night.
As for ladders - that 86 cm platform would work for me at 6' tall - but would be no use for anyone shorter, and you will share won't you
Isn't your scope 8' to the EP at zenith? An 86cm high platform (2' 10.25")would mean only another 5' 1.75" of height is needed to the EP, doesn't it? Now I know that my eyes are not at the peak of my skull, but allowing for loss of 3.5" for eye to skull-peak difference, and then adding .25" for additional height courtesy of the soles of my shoes (minus the diamonds),
wouldn't a person who is 5' 5" be able to reach the EP?
I am 5' 10" ish, so I figure that is perfect for me. I am confident even Ausastronomer is at least 5' 5". And those requirements are only at zenith. Anything lower than zenith, and severely height-challenged people (and the kids) will be able to see as well.
). BTW, Black is the best colour.![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
