My homemade telescope...

[SteamWake]

As promised in another thread here are some shots of my home made telescope.

I had to tear her down to get ready for winter and blow out a few cobwebs and such.

Only the optics and finders were 'purchased'.

It is a 6" f8 newtonian (dobson) reflector.

These pictures are a little out of order but its un-important.


Front looking down


Side view showing the altitude bearings. The round things. It 'glides' on teflon pads which are just visible. The entire base rotates for azimuth adjustments. Your typical dobsonian mount.


This is the main mirror and mirror cell resting on the table after cleaning.


Another mirror shot this is a vain attempt to show its scale... its 6"


Here is a shot of the diagonal mirror holder aka the spider. The diagonal mirror is allegedly optical 'flat' and re-directes the foucus 90 degrees and up the focuser.


A peek down the focuser 1.25" ... cobwebs.. yuk.


An overall view of the 'tube' its really a box but we still call it a tube


This is the ass end of the scope tube showing the collumnation screws. The three screws are adjusted to align the tilt of the main mirror.


Here the mirror cell is in place but left loose to show the adjustment screws. A funny side note the screws but up to pennies glued to the mirror cell to keep the screws from digging into the wood.


Outside view of the collumnating screws. The middle screw holds the cell in place the three outside screws do the adjustment.


Theres been quite a few mods over the years the most signifigant was these finders. Both a right angle 'scope' and a reflex sight. The original finder was a pair of screw eyes The reflex sight places a red dot in the sky when you look through it. If all is well place the red dot on an object and it 'should' be centered in the eyepiece. The spotting scope is a bit more accurate and easier to see faint objects.


Of course adding all that weight from the finders to the end of the scope threw it out of balance requiring this kludge. Thats a plastic screw container filled with led shot mixed with expoxy.

Thats about it for now... enjoy !