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Introduction
Equipment
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Tanager Observatory
8" newtonian
6" Criterion
4.25" RFT
Cameras

    I own several telescopes and other astronomy accessories including binoculars, eyepieces, cameras, etc. These reflect my past and current astronomy projects. Above left is my 8" f/7 newtonian used for high-resolution imaging of the Sun, Moon, and Planets. Above right is my Criterion RV-6 newtonian.  

Telescope Building

What's New

Images with a "new" Philips ToUcam Pro Webcam

May, 2003

Installed Motor Focus for JMI NGF-Mini 2 focuser

November, 2002

Purchased JMI NGF-Mini 2 focuser

October, 2002

Obtained Philips ToUcam Pro Webcam

September, 2002

Computer-controlled Altazimuth mount is completed
Criterion Dynascope RV-6 renovation is completed

March, 2002

Installed Protostar ULS Quartz secondary

December, 2001

Obtained Intel Webcam

October, 1999

Obtained Supercircuits PC23C b&w video camera

    I get a special satisfaction out of building my own telescopes. This is because it offers an outlet for my desire to build something. I also have a limited budget and I can create a scope that gives alot of bang for the buck. 

    Building a scope gives special advantages. It gives me an intimate knowlege of how my telescope works. If something goes wrong during an observing session, I can usually locate the problem and fix it in short order. There is also something to be said for the special pride I feel in using a scope that I have built with my own hands. It is really quite amazing that someone without any special skills can fabricate a working telescope that can produce really remarkable results.

    I must admit that I get a certain smug satisfaction that my little scope routinely outperforms instruments that cost far more. However, I quickly am humbled by those that grind and polish their own mirrors and/or those that fabricate electronic components. 

These are rules to my hobby that I try to live by (not always easy):

It's easy to develop aperture fever or crave that "better" telescope. Someone always has a larger and better telescope than you. This is the simple but hard truth. Remember, ultimately the Hubble Space Telescope is going to outperform any amateur's scope. However, any amateur potentially may capture an event that the HST will miss. A smaller telescope may actually be better for you for various reasons including ease of use and portability.
I'm a competitive person and it hurts to discover that someone is always going to obtain a better picture while using a smaller telescope. I now am obtaining images far superior than any I ever thought I would be able to obtain with such humble equipment and that alone should satisfy me. We keep raising the bar.
The cost of the equipment does not necessarily reflect the quality. I'm convinced that my telescope routinely outperforms almost all commercial scopes of similar aperture that cost under about $4,000. I spent a fraction of that amount on building my scope. 
The looks of the equipment does not necessarily reflect the quality. I'm saying this because homemade equipment does not always look as good or glitzy as commercial equipment, yet it can often outperform commercial equipment. Remember, in the end its the performance and all telescopes look about the same in the dark.
Persistence and experience do pay off. Often the best results are obtained after you understand how to best use your equipment and this takes time.
Ultimately, this hobby is about enriching my life by teaching me more about the Universe.

Future Projects

    Make a 6" travel scope. Someone gave me a 6" primary that they had ground, polished, and figured many years ago. I would like to build a travel scope around this that so that I could easily take it with me on trips to dark sky sites around New Mexico. We have some of the darkest skies around.

    Build a 12" or larger scope. Having just listed the rules above, I must say that I would like to build a larger telescope, probably in the 12" range. My computer-controlled altazimuth mount would be relatively easy to modify to accommodate a larger scope.

    Build an observatory. I currently store most of my astronomy equipment in a storage shed. It should be relatively easy to modify this into a rolling roof observatory. It would be nice to just roll the roof off and be ready to go. I would have some protection from the winds, it would obstruct some of the light from nearby streetlights, and everything would be at my fingertips.

Links

Ed Ting's Scope Reviews

Books

"Build Your Own Telescope" by Richard Berry

"How to Make a Telescope" by Jean Texereau

"The Dobsonian Telescope" by David Kriege and Richard Berry

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All images are copyrighted by Thomas Williamson. No images may be used without permission.        
Contact me: [abqtom@unm.edu].
Last updated: September 16, 2003.