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[ATM] More on first light
December 31, 2007 Tonight I had first light with my Eigth inch f/6 telescope. I had to re mount the mirror twice, further up the tube so that I could focus the telescope, but now it works like a charm. My wife and stepson have joined me in the endeavor and enjoyed the telescope with me. I look forward to showing my children tomorrow night, if the weather holds out. If not, this weekend.
Stars are pinpoint as they should be. The Star test comes in very well. Mars is great with more surface detail than my 49 year old eyes can discern. The Orion nebula is wonderful!
My cat, Fortunado, the Contaminator's sister, also known as "The Floof" (she has no other name) has been hovering around the telescope all night. I flatter myself that she wants to be part of first light, but in reality, she wants to go inside where it is warm and eat.
I re-started this project, which had laid abandoned for ten tears or more, with a ground but not polished blank and nothing else in February 2007 when I first attended Dick Parker's telescope making workshop in Tolland CT. With Dick's able and indispensable assistance and helpful hints from the members of the list, and then a delightful evening in September at the Chevy Chase Community Center in Chevy Chase, DC where Guy Brandenburg assisted me greatly in aluminizing the mirror, I now have my own telescope that I have made with my own hands (And trhe borrowed hands of others). I cannot forget the excellent plans provided by Ray Cash based on John Dobson's design and the help of a really nice guy at The Home Depot who cut my wood to order and did not charge for the 20 or so cuts he made that evening. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Richard Beasley for his assistance with the sideboards and bearings. Most importantly, I also had the patience of my wife who allowed me time in the evenings in the basement to work.
It has been a wonderful year.
Francis J. O'Reilly
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