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Posts Made By: dan gieruszak

September 11, 2002 09:50 PM Forum: Telescope Making

primary mirror size

Posted By dan gieruszak
What is the largest primary mirror size you would recommend for a galvanized tube ID 10 7/8th"? Kreige and Barry recommend 2" smaller than ID, or 8 7/8th". what problems would I have if I tried to go 10"?

Thanks for all your help.

Dan

October 1, 2002 12:13 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Wheels on top or bottom?

Posted By dan gieruszak
Why do the wheels on observatories always go below the base ring and face up? I'm thinking of attaching them to the top of the ring on the dome, on a hinge, so they can be pushed down through the base ring to ride on a ring attached to the knee wall. When not engaged, the dome will be sitting flat on the base ring not on the wheels. This should help to keep the weather out while not in use, and make it easier to tie down during the rare toronado that passses by. that is attached to the dome.

Am I missing something? Confidence tend to be the feeling I get when I've overlooked something.

Thanks for all you help.

Dan

October 9, 2002 03:03 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Garage door dome power

Posted By dan gieruszak
Hello,

Has anyone used or seen a garage door opener used for rotating a dome. I have a couple but have not figured out how they can be used to turn the dome.

thanks for all of your suggestions.

Dan

October 29, 2002 05:07 PM Forum: Home Observatories

pier size

Posted By dan gieruszak
Hello,

I've poured a pier base ... about a meter of concrete, and set bolts in the concrete so that I can bolt a pier to it. The telescope will be on the second floor of the observatory ... about 9' off the ground. I found a 10' 6" pipe probably 3/8th"- 1/2" thick, with 10" square 1/2" plates welded to either end of the 10' pipe. Will this pipe be sufficeint? what experience have you had with pipe piers?

thanks dan

November 5, 2002 03:00 AM Forum: Telescope Making

equitorial platform

Posted By dan gieruszak
Hello,

Can anyone point me in the right direction re: making an equitorial platform for a 16" dob?

thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions,

dan

January 8, 2003 02:59 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Polystar Weathering the Storm

Posted By dan gieruszak
Hello Tom,

How has the weather been down your way? It has been snowing here for about four days, and only two clear nights in the last five weeks.

Not much snow on the ground as it has been flying parallel to the ground. I was wondering how your Polystar weather seals are holding up.

Hope your knees are doing well.

Dan

February 6, 2003 02:50 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Size of Bottom board

Posted By dan gieruszak

Hi,

In Kriege and Berry page 65, table 3.1 says to increase ease of movement of the the bottom bearing, reduce the size. Does this mean to move the teflon closer to the center bolt?

I was going to make the bottom board 22" diameter, but I have an extra 20" diameter board I could use for the bottom board.

thanks in advance for all your advice.

Dan

February 16, 2003 04:18 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Re: permanent outdoor housing for scope and concer

Posted By dan gieruszak

Hi,

I've seen some interesting small plastic sheds, the Home depo type, just big enogth to fit over the scope. If you add a pad and wheels to the small plastic shed you just wheel it out of the way when you want to observe. It seems like an inexpensive compromise, not much work, not much if any protection from the weather when viewing, but it achieves your goal of not having to lug the dob and set up. This is especially helpful if your dob needs collimation ever time you move it.

Dan

February 17, 2003 01:56 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Re: permanent outdoor housing for scope and concer

Posted By dan gieruszak
Hi eric,

From the posts I've read, acid in the air, which settles onmirrors when condensation forms, is the biggest problem with coatings.

Other than that I think all the conditions you face in an observatory will be the same in a small storage shed.

Hope you fiind a solution that works.

Dan

April 2, 2003 09:10 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Ground Effects of Seeing

Posted By dan gieruszak

Does anyone know about the ground effects on seeing ... aparently locaing a telescope/dome at least ten feet of the ground has a significant affect. Can anybody quantify the affect ... say on limitimg magnitude?

Dan

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