Re: ATM Sept issue / Pantratz

[astrojoe@erols.com]

astrojoe@erols.com wrote:
> 
> Well Mike,
> 
> I don't think it's as hard as you make it out to be. Fabricating a 5-6"
> parabola ( mirror over tool ) and checking it through the polished back
> really should not scare off too many glass pushers. Granted it's not as
> easy as buying a pair of flats to complete this project; but it's
> certainly doable. More so than the other suggestion of an SPT design. I
> wish Mel or Mike Pantratz would add their opinions.
> 
> Joe Castoro
> 
> SNIP>
> > Why do you think that? In its classical form the Mersenne is just a
> > cassegrain (or gregory) telescope that happens to be afocal, which is done
> > using a pair of confocal paraboloidal mirrors. Even advanced ATMs by and
> > large fear tackling convex aspheric elements, and unless that changes
> > you're not likely to see a lot of Mersennes at your neighborhood star party
> > in the foreseeable future.