Re: [ATM] 40" mirror

["Jerry B. Hillman" <JBHillman@ev1.net>]

Hi Jay,
I can set my 15" up in about 5 minutes.  That is how long it take me to put
the two wheel dolly under it and wheel it out of the garage into the yard.
Of course, if I want to take it anywhere, I have to put it in the back of my
pickup. That circumstance hasn't come up.  I have nice dark skies right here
in my back yard. I had the electric company remove their supplied
yard/security light and I put in one of my own so that I could turn it off
if I wanted to. The only time the lights from Houston bother me is when it
is cloudy ovrer Houston but clear here.  That just means a portion of the
southern sky is light plouted.

Obsession discontinued their 30 " scopes.  They actually built a couple of
40" scopes.

I have gotten a lot of negative feedback on this project.  You are right. I
have to be insane.  After having so much trouble with my first two mirrors,
even I wonder why I still try.

As far as being 4" thick.  I don't want to do another thin mirror.  Most of
the last two years were investing in a project that ultimately was a
failure.  All of the problems can be directly traced to the thickness of the
glass.  A 40" is going to be nearly impossible under the best of conditions.
I don't want to place more hurdles in my path just to make it cool quicker.
This monster isn't going to be stored in the house anyway.  Most of the time
it will be in an observatory out in my pasture. So the only temperature
problems will be the fluctuations during the night, which everyone has to
deal with.
No scope ever reaches equilibrium unless it is stored in a controlled
environment.

Clear skies, Jerry

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