Re: ATM "New" S&T

[astillma@nit.AirTouch.COM (Anthony Stillman)]

First, I would like to apology for my rantings.  Gary Seronik has rightly pointed out to 
me that I have exaggerated the statments make by the editorial staff of S&T regarding 
ATMing.  In a desire to make the most of the current situation, to encourage others to 
tell S&T and their advertiser that we would appreciate more ATM articles, both binginner 
and advance, I have let my passion effect my memory.  I was worng to say S&T has 
"clearly" said they will de-emphasize ATMing.  They did not clearly say this.  I continue 
to believe however, that they are.

In the latest issue, Telescope Techniques provides four pages on how to care for optics.  
Two of these pages discuss cleaning mirrors and lens. My advice regarding this issue is a 
bit shorter, don't.  Fairly, the advice Mr. MacRoberts gives, while incomplete, will 
minimize the damage you will do when following it.  One more thing, the whole article 
reads like the social section of a newpaper.

To test my belief that the content of S&Ts Gleanings for ATM's, or by any other name, has 
generally wained.  I randomly pulled a few yearly indexes.

1981  from the annual index
Gleanings for ATM's

An Apochromatic Triplet Objective
Arizona Amateur's Photoelectric Photometer
Decentering a Lens for Comet Photography
Further Notes on Riverside
Image Orientation at a Coude or Springfield Focus
Maksutovs with Subaperature Correctors
Modifying a Reflector for Planetary Observation
The Saga of a 24-inch Reflector
A 10-inch Reflector and Unusual Dome in Surrey

1988 from the annual index
Gleanings for ATM's

The Amateur as Telescope Pioneer
Bycycle + Conduit + Formica = Tripod Mount
Equarorial Tables Without a Pivot
Lightweight Mirrors
Making Your Own Illuminated Reticle
Mist-Filled Crater on Mars?
More on Half-Stepping a Drive Motor
An Observatory Built for Good Seeing
Optical Bench Talk
A Practical Yolo Telescope
A Pulsating Telrad Finder
Skywaker - A Finder for Two
Update on the Lick 36-inch Lens
Where Is the Telescope Mount Headed?


1995 from the annual index
Telescope Making

Dmitri Maksutov's Scientific Legacy
The Double-Pass Knife-edge Test
Fun with a Folded Reflector
A Mammoth Maksutov in Arizona
Optical Bench Talk
Potrait of the Artist
Ralph K. Dakin (1920-95)
A Versatile Desktop Polisher

1996 from the annual index
Telescope Making

Bowling Balls for Telescope Mounts
Introducing Tele-Tips
More Thoughts on Mirror-Cell Design
The Observatory That Never Was
Optical Bench Talk
Refigure Your Mirror While You Observe
Telescope in a Window
Tele-Tips
What It takes to Bend a Mirror

Of course titles can be misleading, so let me review two issues of Gleanings.  The first 
issue was picked at random, then I went forward ten years.

Sepetember 1982
Gleanings for ATM's

Constructing a Measuring Engine
4 pages,  large color pictures, great detail in the text, suppliers names

one page of editor's notes to put things in context with plenty of references
(half the page is an add)

a full page entitled
How to Reduce Plate Measurements
one drawing with caption
text includes complete mathamatical deravations

Sepetember 1992
Gleanings for ATM's

Making "The Beast"
4 pages on the construction of a 33.4 inch  reflector on a Dobsonian mounting
7 medium sized pictures one in black and white all others in color
one graphic with caption showing the knife edge readings and required tolerence
the text is mostly a history about the mirrors creation with a few useful hints which 
could help others with large mirror projects
nothing on the telescope proper, but three of the pictures show it.


One page split between  a half page graphic to be photocopied (don't forget to pay your 
fee of 25 cents  to the Copywrite Clearence Center), a quarter page of  text entit
led
Make Your Own Telrad Pole Finder
and a quarter page of editor's notes to explain how to use it and in general some helpful 
hints.



Ten years ago Sky & Telescope was still mostly publishing construction articles designed 
to be starting points, inspirational, and informative.  Ten years later there are still a 
few construction articles, though many are fairly rudimentary.  I can't complain about 
Mr. Sinnott.  Despite the shift toward "Soft" ATMing the articles continue to be 
entertaining, well edited and useful.  Further, the editor's notes always include what is 
needed to understand subtle points and how best to implement what is discussed.

Of course, other columns have been added and removed over the years and some of these 
have explored issues previously presented in Gleanings.  I continue to believe, however, 
that the general trend has been torward the "Fluffafacation" of Amateur Telescope Making. 
 Leif J. Robinson said in a letter from the editor published in the Janurary 1993 issue 
"You have indicated in overwhelming numbers that you want more information about 
telescopes, accessories and other astronomical products, so we introduce New Product 
Showcase."  Now I would have interprted overwelming interest in telescopes to include 
telescope making, not just telescope products.  

This is the same issue in which name Gleanings for ATM's was "expired", and while I was a 
bit miffed over the name of my favorite column changing, I could live with "Telescope 
Making". What I find grating is the slow subtle reduction in content.

I want Gleanings, by any other name, to challenge me.  I don't expect this in every 
column, though it would be nice.  I don't expect to be interested in every topic, though 
I'll make an effort.  I do expect to have to ask questions, look stuff up and be left 
wanting more.  This is the Gleanings of the past and hopefully the future.

Anthony