[ATM] More thoughts on the 'challenge'

[vorblesnak@peak.org]

I suspect other than bragging rights, little thought is put into what one
would do with giant aperture.  The care and feeding of such a beast.  I
have little enough time to get out the old 8 inch on a clear night and do
some quick viewing.  I have a 6" f7 in the tube, but lacking much of the
structure to make it quick and easy.  That is the rub, quick and easy. 
Other than trailer mounted, it takes time to set up a giant and line it
up.  Tweaking to keep it going.

16 inch, 20 inch glass catches alot of light, and can be heaved into the
back of the ??? to take it to dark skys.

But, in answer to some of the challenge.  The 16 inch ultra thin is going
back to Mel, so he can do a bit of figuring and put it in a proper mount. 
The ceramic mirror will go into the kiln on the 23rd to fuse the glass to
the front.  It is a 21 incher, I will post the specs as I get them.

Glass has been acquired and the form is done to slump another 16 inch
blank out of 1/4 plate glass.  This will be an f6, though I am tempted to
do the f2 thing and build a Gregorian.  I've always wanted a Gregorian. 
The next on the list of headaches is the 24 inch+ slumped blank out of 1/2
inch plate.  This will probably be an f4 machine, maybe longer with a
camera,  It is still in the dream stage.  The main problem has been solved
though.  I have access to a kiln and some expertise and some excited
people.

David Davis
Toledo, OR  97391

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