Me and Mars Scope

Here's me with my new, homemade Mars scope, finished this July, just in time for the opposition. This is the scope I used for the Mars observations I made and posted to the Solar System Observing forum.

It is an 8-inch f/8. I made the primary mirror myself (thanks to Mark Harry and others for advice freely given in the Telescope Making forum), coated by Spectrum, and housed in a Novak cell. The 1.3" MA secondary is in a Novak holder, mounted in a 4 vane Novak spider, all in a 72 inch Sonotube, with plywood trim rings. I also added a blow-across cooling fan. The GEM is primitive, but very solid, made from 3" pipe fittings with nicely machined brass sleeve bearings. I can't take credit for the mounting, it was given to me when I was in my teens. But I did make the plywood cradle. All it really needs is an RA drive - at 400x objects don't stay in the FOV for long!

More close-ups to follow.

Doug Scobel

Attached Image:

Here's the top/rear, showing the fan vents and light/dirt/dew shield, and the plywood trim ring that does double duty as a reinforcing ring and annular baffle to block stray light from sneaking around the primary. The tube is painted with three coats of Krylon polyurethane (brush-on) enamel, which provides a completely waterproof, plastic-like coating.

Attached Image:

Doug,

Thank you for sharing with us your beautiful instrument which has provided you with memorable images of Mars and other planets. I look forward to your future observations in the Solar System Observing forum. The best of luck.

Carlos

Doug,

Go Blue! Nice looking scope. Great job. Clear skies,

Bill

Thanks for all the nice comments, everyone.

Too bad we're all strewn across the planet. It would be cool to get everyone together in one place to look through everyone else's scopes n stuff. Still, it's cool to share in this venue.

Regards,
Doug