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Re: [ATM] ritchey cretians
Mikhail,
We spoke by telephone a couple of weeks ago and we discussed my potential
purchase of an 800 mm fused silica blank. You seem like a very nice guy and
quite sincere. I will vouch for you to the list as I believe that I am the
one who referred you here.
As far as I am concerned you are a welcome addition to the list and a
gentleman.
A 48 inch RC is an ambitious project to say the least. I am impressed with
your ambition. I am considering an RC project as well, but my abilities are
limited as are my available finances. I might suggest that if you intend to
go forward with such a project, you fully research tha availability of
machines to assist you in grinding, polishing and figuring. I suggest that
for a start, you look at Dennis Rech's Mirror-O-Matic, which has plans for
various sizes. I would also suggest that before putting a 48 inch piece of
glass at risk, you might want to start with a smaller project to see how it
goes.
I am just finishing a 12.5 inch f/7 and that has about reached the limit of
the strength in my arms. I don't think at this time that I could propelry
handle a larger piece of glass in an adequate manner to whip it into a good
mirror. I may need to spend more time at the gym in order to be able to
undertake such a project. As my 50th birthday approaches, an asteroid was
due to hit Mars on my birthday, I now understand that that day may never
come. With that reality in mind, I now must reassess my goals.
As I do further research, I find that an RC is most appropriate for
astrophotography. I am not an astrophotographer and therefore I am
reconsidering my next project. I just purchased an old Meade 8" f/6 with a
badly chipped primary and a secondary that is in pieces. I may make a mirror
for that scope and put it back together. I also have some old projects that
I should complete before starting a new more ambitious project.
The commercial telescope makers have their place, and for the money, they
make acceptable telescopes. They could be better, but then they would be
more expensive, placing them out of reach of many people. I for one respect
the work that they do and I am content to know that they open astronomy to
many who otherwise would go without seeing the wonders of the universe.
Best regards,
Francis J. O'Reilly
(Can you believe that after wining just two regular season games, the NY
Giants, who are really from New Jersey and don't seem to understand that,
are in the second round of the playoffs?)
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