Re: [ATM] shrouds, baffles, and tubes

[NGC704@aol.com]

Hah, a GREAT post, sir, and one after me own heart...

I use two exceedingly wonderful telescopes, a 13" f/4.5 and a 16" f/5. I have 
both, but especially the 16, souped up for ultra high performance planetary 
viewing in concert with an EQ platform and built-in filter slides. I also 
observe in oft-windy conditions (west Texas) that absolutely preclude the use of a 
shroud (in fact I rebuilt my 16 specifically to deal with wind, see my 
website).

Baffles, yessir. Can't have too many. Besides the focuser baffle, I use the 
opposite-the-diagonal baffle, and that's pretty much it. Heheheheh. But while I 
have become something of a real connoisseur, I also insist upon utility -- 
and that means simplicity in my world. Besides being geared towards ultra-high 
precision, my equipment is robustly rough and ready since I must be able to use 
it at any time, in any place, and have it routinely survive the bouncing 
travel involved in what I call instant use.

I have always said that telescopes (and now that I make sea kayaks, kayaks 
too) are like airplanes -- any particular specimen is an engineered aggregate of 
compromises.

The textured side of Kydex is state of the art for my purposes, since it is 
easily cleaned of light-reflecting particles with a shirttail. I abjectly 
refuse to fuss with velvet, flocking, or light traps, as none of them comform to my 
more general style (read: my scope doesn't live a comfortable, dedicated life 
in an observatory). But make no mistake about it: if astronomy was my one and 
only thing, I'd perhaps do 'em all, and endeavor to improve upon it, and then 
share my results with the world (such as we are).

But my short answer -- oops, too late! -- is that the old cloth-over-the-head 
trick is the most effective baffle of them all (next to the focuser baffle), 
by far. Also, I use my scopes in my light-polluted yard, as well as "out 
west", and all my comments apply there (here?) as well.

Hope this makes sense; I'm on pain meds (but I'm getting better, thank you).

Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
http://members.aol.com/NGC704/


In a message dated 1/11/2005 2:18:47 PM Central Standard Time, 
jaykirk2@compusmart.ab.ca writes:

> the now standard baffles behind the 
>  primary and at the bottom of the focuser tube, and velvet or flocking 
>  opposite the focuser, but also a baffled tube extension about twice the 
>  apeture in length extending in front of the focuser, as well as a 
>  baffled tube, and an observing cloth for over your head.
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