Top of telescopes' page

18" (46 cm), F 4.5, f: 80.2" (2037 mm). A wood bar dropping from a top ring is used to move the telescope down ward: I grab it and push down when I sweep the sky vertically. A light shroud is adapted over the eyepiece.

Present secondary cage: Updated March, 2008

Initial secondary cage

Left: Enlarged view of the secondary cage.
A piggyback ride Regal Quick-Finder on a 50 mm right erect finder, and a computer for digital setting circles. The eyepiece, I usually use for comet hunting, is manufactured in Germany with focal length of 30 mm, and 88 degrees apparent field of view. It means 68x with 1.3 degrees actual field of view. Kendrick Dew Remover System is installed for the eyepiece, the secondary mirror, and the eyepiece of the 50 mm finder. The dew shield is placed on the Quick-Finder and the objective of the 50 mm finder. You cannot enjoy comet hunting without measures for dew or frost in most part of Japan.

Right: Initial secondary cage without dew remover. Telrad finder was equipped. The light shield for eyepiece is removed in this photo.

Updated March, 2008

Updated March, 2008

Left: The power line extends from the rocker box where the battery is placed to the secondary cage via the heater controller.
Right: A tailor made telescope cover. A dealer of plastic sheet in my town made it with a low price. I use the cover while I have a nap in my car in between the comet hunting sessions.

Updated March, 2008

 Left: Top view of the current telescope; Right: Initial telescope. You see the finders changed to Quick-Finder from Telrad.


Rear view of a mirror cell.
A cooling fan is operating. Two vertical wood blocks are to protect three light collimation knobs, when the mirror box is placed on the ground.


Top view of 18 point flotation cell.
A primary mirror and trusses are removed.

Top of this page

Assembling

Left: Installing truss-tube poles.
Center: Connecting truss poles and the secondary cage.
Right: Pulling on the light shroud. White counter weight, which is metal chain covered with white foam, is in the secondary cage. At this stage, it is bottom heavy. It is removed after the finders and other gears are installed on the secondary cage.



 Left: Each wedge is stuck inside of the cage using Velcro.
 Center: The wedge is screwed between a pair of poles.
Right: Inside view of the pole seats and wedge. Velcro is placed on the surface of the wedge and inside wall of the secondary cage.

Top of this page

Takedown & loading

 Left: Uninstalling a primary mirror into a wood case.
Storing a primary mirror into a wood case in which a zipped plastic bag is placed. Inside the walls and at the bottom of the wood case styrene foam plates 2 cm thick are fixed for cushions. A center mark is on the primary mirror for collimation.
Right: Vacuuming the plastic bag.
The primary mirror is covered with a thin plastic plate. You see the paper envelope on it with a circular window. Silica gel is in the envelope, and you can check its color through the window. The zippered plastic bag is closed except the last 5 cm, and from the opening the air is vacuumed by a hand cleaner.



Left: The primary mirror case. You can confirm the color of silica gel, though it is closed. This mirror storing system keeps mildew and dust out.

Home