Re: [APML] Scrubbing a Schmidt

[Robert Reeves <reeves10@swbell.net>]

> Robert,
>
> I also will be going.  Set up as usual on the North West end of the upper
> field with Jason Ware, David Lee, Kent (if he shows up), Jim Bandy, et
all.
> Look forward to seeing you again.  Also anxious to see that new mount up
> close.
>
> Fred Lusen

Fred and all...

I'm looking forward to seeing you all at the Prude Ranch.

I am arther proud of the new mount I cooked up for the Schmidt.  For 20
years it was atop an old (1960) Optical Craftsman German equatorial mount.
It had horrible periodic error... two arc minutes!  An autoguider was out of
the question.  At the ALCON in Conway, Ark. last year I tripped over an
Ultima C-11 fork assembly for super dirt cheap.  I though that possibly this
might be good enough for an autoguider, so I crossed my fingers and bought
it.  Its got to be a step up from what I had even if an ST-4 doesn't work
with it.  Since then, I fabricated the pier assembly out of pure scap at the
shop.  Now I have built the saddle assembly to mount the Schmidt and a C-8
guide scope in the C-11 forks.  Again, built from scrap left over from other
projects.  So now I have the Schmidt remounted in a better tracking system
mounted atop a killer stable pier assembly and the whole thing cost me less
than $100.  After the C-11 fork, I think the paint was the most expensive
part.  I hope to test fly the beast under the real sky in two weeks when the
moon is gone.

Robert Reeves                      reeves10@swbell.net
520 Rittiman Rd.                   www.robertreeves.com
San Antonio, Texas 78209    210-828-9036
USA                                     29.484  98.440  200 meters



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