From: John Lynch 
To: atm{at}shore.net
Cc: john_p_lynch2003{at}yahoo.com, John.P.Lynch{at}nasa.gov
Reply-To: John Lynch 


To the ATM listserv:

After several years of planning and designing, procuring parts, making
parts that I couldn't find, making test equipment, and grinding &
polishing, I finally finished my 6" f/6 reflecting telescope. This was
with the great help and advice from the ATM group (about materials,
techniques and procedures, software, etc.), and patient mentoring from Bob
Allen of the ASKC whom I am indebted to for guiding me through the final
stages of polishing and parabolization over a period of 9 months back and
forth via email.
I gained a great deal of knowledge from asking questions of you folks and
got through several technical problems as a result of your advice.

This project endured a few moves along the way and some personal traumas. 
I finally worked out the last few mechanical problems, assembled the
telescope, collimated it and took it outside last night for a test.  My
first target was the Moon-I used a 25mm Orthoscopic eyepiece and the
experience was exactly like the 1960's show "The Outer Limits"
(We can control the focus from a soft blur to crystal clarity).  The view
of the Moon at 36X was the sharpest image I've ever seen of that object
through a small telescope.  And the image quality was still impressive at
higher magnifications up to 273X using the 2.4X Dakin Barlow.  Then I used
a 12mm Brandon to look at Jupiter (76X) and observed the 4 Jovian moons and
cloud bands on the planet's surface, and then with the Barlow-still great
detail; and, a 20mm ERFLE to view M3 and the double-double in Ursa Major
(45X). All eyepieces focused with and without the Barlow within the travel
of the focuser, as planned.

I'm going to use and enjoy this instrument for awhile before starting a new
project, which will probably be an 8" f/6.25 reflecting telescope
using the same equatorial mount-in a few years.

Take care and thank you again for your invaluable help and friendship.

Regards,

John Lynch

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4