Re: ATM Astroscan Houghton

[Gary Seronik <gseronik@netway.com>]

Hi Bob:

At 09:24 AM 12/9/2002 -0800, Bob May wrote:
>
>Yep, the Astroscan primary mirror is indeed a spherical mirror.  The scope
>is a Schmidt Newtonian and the glass plate on the front should be a Schmidt
>corrector plate.  If it isn't then there is a problem with the production
>line there at Edmund.

I don't think this is correct Bob.  I believe the Astroscan has a parabolic
primary mirror and that the glass plate is simply a window.  (If I remember
right, this is what Edmund says too.) I took one a part and tested it and
can assure you that the primary was a paraboloid -- at least in that one.
(Actually, it was pretty good too, for that matter.)  That's not to say
they haven't changed the design, but your post is the first I've heard of
it being s Schmidt Newt.

Gary Seronik