Thinking of a telescope rebuild
20 years ago, I built Big Blue:
It's been a great telescope. But it is, well, big. About120 145 pounds, hard to take apart, hard to transport. I've been reading up on alternative designs, and I came across this one by legendary Mel Bartels. Here is my take on it. A very light scope, easy to disassemble, and easier to transport. First, the assembled scope:
It will easily disassemble and fold up for transport:
And the plywood bits will all fit on a single standard 4x8 sheet:
I'm not sure when I'll get around to building it, but it is fun to think about.
Edit (Nov 10 2014): I started disassembly, and found that the scope is actually 20% heavier than I realized (and includes 25 pounds of counterweights). From initial estimates, the new design will weigh:
Upper cage: 6 pounds (was 11 pounds)
Mirror box: 46 pounds (was 53 pounds)
Rocker box: 30 pounds (was 41 pounds)
Counterweights: 8 pounds (was 25 pounds)
Overall, a 35% weight diet. The mirror box/mirror combo is not that much lighter - but that does not take into account the bulk of the old box and the fact that it was really 78 pounds because I never removed the counterweights. I'll make the new counterweights much easier to remove and reattach.
It's been a great telescope. But it is, well, big. About
It will easily disassemble and fold up for transport:
And the plywood bits will all fit on a single standard 4x8 sheet:
I'm not sure when I'll get around to building it, but it is fun to think about.
Edit (Nov 10 2014): I started disassembly, and found that the scope is actually 20% heavier than I realized (and includes 25 pounds of counterweights). From initial estimates, the new design will weigh:
Upper cage: 6 pounds (was 11 pounds)
Mirror box: 46 pounds (was 53 pounds)
Rocker box: 30 pounds (was 41 pounds)
Counterweights: 8 pounds (was 25 pounds)
Overall, a 35% weight diet. The mirror box/mirror combo is not that much lighter - but that does not take into account the bulk of the old box and the fact that it was really 78 pounds because I never removed the counterweights. I'll make the new counterweights much easier to remove and reattach.
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