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Author
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Topic: Record set for world's largest amateur telescope
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-22-2013 12:28 AM
   
Dobsonian telescope with a 1.77 m mirror: A Utah man has set a record by building the world's largest amateur telescope, and he plans to travel the country to allow others to use it.By day, Mike Clements drives a truck to Idaho and back. However, by night, he's preoccupied with something much less down-to-earth. Clements is an amateur astronomer who, after years of planning, finished constructing the world's largest amateur telescope in September. The telescope is as long as a school bus, and weighs about 900 pounds. It also houses a mirror that is 70 inches wide. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 10-22-2013 07:43 AM
Wow! That is one heck of a telescope. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-22-2013 01:55 PM
I can't wait until he brings it around to my neck of the woods for a little peek!The article didn't say what kind of optical system it's configured as. Couldn't really see anything that looked like the eyepiece holder in any of the photos. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 10-22-2013 03:34 PM
I wonder how much constantly transporting that scope will throw the focus out of whack. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-22-2013 07:53 PM
The size itself is noteworthy but the owner basically just erected Newtonian scaffolding around some glass he purchased rather then grinding the primary. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-25-2013 10:25 AM
That's correct but getting this 1.7m mirror aluminized and collimating the optics of this huge telescope must have been some work.  I knew there are several amateur-astronomers among collectSPACE forum members... all ready for Comet ISON. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-01-2016 10:23 AM
Some cS forum members are keen amateur astronomers and I wanted to point out my telescopes blog with photos taken at some of the 160 observatories I have visited so far. |
AstronautBrian
Member Posts: 287
From: Louisiana
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-02-2016 02:54 PM
My dad and I were into astronomy in my teen years up through college. We had a 10" Dob that was a major pain in the you-know-what to transport around. I can't imagine the logistics involved to move this fella's 900 pound monster. Now that my father is retired and living next door to my family, he, my son, and I are planning on getting a crash course in modern amateur astronomy and "get back into it." |
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