Horseshoe Mounts (was ATM Refractor Design)

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

John Swenson wrote:
>my favorite mount these days is the Horseshoe. They are incredibly
>stable.

I find their looks compelling.  Like having your very own Palomar.  But,
I'm torn.  I've had several conversations with Kevin Medlock on this type
of mount.  The remarks that stick in my head concern balancing the tube
assembly, and shoe size.  Unless the telescope is f/fast, so much of the
tube is forward of the trunnions that weight must be added below the
mirror.  The same issues arises with low profile alt-az mounts.  And,
ideally the shoe diameter should be 3 times the mirror diameter.  Both of
these issues get in the way of portability.

If I had a permanent site worthy of a large aperture, no doubt a horseshoe
would win.  But so long as I'm tied to hatch back dimensions, other
mounting types will continue to hold down the garage floor.

Anthony