From: "DAVID K OESTREICH" 
To: "Michael Burr" ,
        "ATM shore" 
Reply-To: "DAVID K OESTREICH" 


> I'm not suggesting that he would shrug off the TDE on your 12.5" mirror,
but
> overall my point is that he seems more intent on getting people at the
> eyepiece than he is on creating the perfect telescope. Of course from a
> practical standpoint, an eight-foot telescope won't be all that
accessible,
> so even Mr. Dobson would have to agree that you haven't reached the
desired
> destination.
>
quite the contrary John was perfectly happy with the idea of an F8 scope.
He seems to favor longer focal lengths. There were some very fundamental
differences in his thinking and what most folks are doing today. Mirror
cells made of cardboard and friction focusers made of sink drains is
hi-tech according to John.
Truss scopes are completely out according to him. Give him carboard tube any day.
Don't expect lab grade equipment out of one of his classes. The focus is to
build a sidewalk telescope for the general public to use. The vast majority
of us probably build scopes (or at least that special scope) for our own
use.
Making the mechanism idiot proof is not our principal goal (not mine at
least) making one that work exceedingly well is.
I have a 10" Meade that frankly kicks ass but I would like a bigger
light bucket and also wanted to make one myself. Call it the pride of
creation. My goal wasn't to save money (which I didn't) It was to say when
it was all over.... I made this... kind of neat huh.
-Karlo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Burr" 
To: "ATM shore" 
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 8:49 AM Subject: Re: ATM HELP! mirror
making crossroads


>
> One point maybe worth considering, vis-a-vis John Dobson, ... I gather
that
> the main purpose of his astronomy evangelism is to get people out there
> observing. The telescope making part of it doesn't seem to really be his
> main interest, in spite of the fact that it's what he's famous for
> spreading. If you watch his video, it's obvious that he's anything _but_
> fastidious in things like testing and achieving a perfect surface. Instead
> what he's trying to make is a telescope that simply works.
>
> I'm not suggesting that he would shrug off the TDE on your 12.5" mirror,
but
> overall my point is that he seems more intent on getting people at the
> eyepiece than he is on creating the perfect telescope. Of course from a
> practical standpoint, an eight-foot telescope won't be all that
accessible,
> so even Mr. Dobson would have to agree that you haven't reached the
desired
> destination.
>
> Buck up! Learning is fun if you see it as an opportunity to gain
knowledge,
> understanding and skills. It may be hard, but in the long run every
mistake
> pays off if you learn something from it.
>
> Best Regards,
> Michael Burr
>

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