RE: ATM "more normal" scope pix

[Bob Prabowo <BOB@bahana.co.id>]

Hi Kent,
> Or would I be better off using this for what it's
> worth now and get a better mirror in a year, to make a lighter truss
> tube
> with?
> 
I would suggest you build the truss tube now. You can still use the
Coulter while you're still in the process of making the truss tube. When
the truss tube is finished, you can simply get rid of the old scope and
put the mirror in your new, compact and portable scope.
If in the future you decided to grind another mirror, maybe you can make
a larger scope.  

Forgive my ignorance, but a Coulter scope uses is a solid tube
Dobsonian, right? I assume it is. I've never seen a solid tube Dobsonian
(the one using Sonotube, or other similar material), but is it possible
for you to cut the upper end of the tube, just a few inches below the
focuser, and use it as the upper cage? Maybe it's not practical because
maybe you still have to make an upper ring to attach the upper clamps
to. 

Bob P. Sumitro
Jakarta, Indonesia

visit my still-under-construction astronomy and telescope making page:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2670/