Re: [ATM] the future of amateur telescope making and amateur astronomy

["Jerry P. Reddell" <jerry.p.reddell63@sbcglobal.net>]

What the future holds for ATMs? Hmmmmm.

Computers will be used more and more in the or use of telescopes, to control
the scope, to capture and process data, to enhance the visuals. The ATMer
will be at the forefront when it comes to the practical application and
fitting of the computer to each of the tasks.

New and better materials have been and will continue to add to the variety
of mirrors and lenses available.  It is likely that extremely light yet
strong materials able to hold the required figure will be produced which
will allowed even larger amatuer scopes to be fabricated. I expect much of
the fabrication will be computer controlled, computer tested, etc such that
much of the ATM work is primarily computer aided design.

On the other hand, fuel and materials may become so expensive and light
pollution so great that the ATM will be hand grinding the modest 6-inch
mirrors blanks of exotic new material, mounting them in paper tubes and
hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon and its craters..

Jerry Reddell

-----Original Message-----
From: atm-bounces@atmlist.net [mailto:atm-bounces@atmlist.net]On Behalf
Of Mel Bartels
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 8:59 PM
To: 'ATM List'
Subject: [ATM] the future of amateur telescope making and amateur
astronomy


What do you think the future of telescope making and amateur astronomy will
be like?

I'm giving a presentation this summer at ALCON07 and wish very much to
supplant my ideas with yours.

Mel Bartels


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