[APML] 16" Refractor

[Daryn Baker <odomari2001@yahoo.com>]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share with everybody a nice experience I had this morning.

I'm sure some of you already know about this, but for anyone that doesn't,
especially S.F. Bay Area people, you might find this interesting:

This morning I got a brief tour of the 16" doublet refractor that is housed in
one of 4 domes located on Santa Clara University's grounds, right in the heart
of Silicon Valley. The telescope was made by Alvin Clark and was completed in
1882 and was originally used on Mt. Echo in So. Cal. That facility was
destroyed in a storm, but the scope was spared and eventually acquired by the
university for $2,000. It's in good shape and occaisionally used by students,
and has since had certain modern upgrades to keep up with the times, including
adaptation for a CCD unit acquired from Axiom (?). The surrounding area now
suffers tremendously from light pollution and some building obstructions, but
they are still able to do some good work and get nice images. It is currently
housed in a 50' diameter dome that was originally intended to house a 60"
reflector. The mirror had been ordered from an outfit in Canada and shipped to
San Francisco. But upon opening the heavy crate, only a block of concrete was
where there should have been a mirror! Needless to say, the contractors were
nowhere to be found at that point and the project was never completed, so the
16" has a spacious home. There is also another Alvin Clark 8" refractor housed
in another dome, but I didn't get a look at it. Rumor has it that a university
group (physics dept.?) is doing refurbishing work of the facility in hopes that
someday they may offer some sort of public viewing. Some interesting/related
links follow.

http://rainfly.com/mount_lowe_rr/ch9.html

http://www.willbell.com/tm/AlvinClark.htm

http://www.clifford.org/drbill/astro/index.html

http://www.axres.com/technotes.html





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