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6" f/8 Criterion EQ | 76mm f/16 Refractor | 8" f/6 Dobsonian |
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It was only a matter time before I would be hit with the feeling that there is more out there to see. That bug hit a few months back when the possibility of constructing a larger scope came along. The decided size and aperture was to be a 12.5" f/5.6. This would give a significant increase in brightness of objects over my 8" f/6 and would not fall victim to 'sucking in' too much light-pollution (as a 16" might do).
While attending the Mason-Dixon starparty (York, PA) in 1998, my father and I came across a rather interesting deal. At the Saturday morning swap-meet, a fellow was selling an entire tube assembly for a 12.5" Dob for $50! Not wanting to show our enthusiam too much, we calmly walked over and checked out what was to be had. The set-up came with a spider, secondary holder (looks homemade), 9-point flotation cell, tube and Dobsonian base. The only things we would have to add would be a focuser and of course the optics. What a deal! Needless to say we snatched it up and brought it home with us.
At the time of the writing of this page, I am currently waiting for the primary mirror to arrive from India. Galileo Telescopes (based in Bombay, India) may come as a surprise for a source of mirrors for an American ATM, but the price and waiting time were right. The quoted price is $375 complete with coatings and shipping. For a mirror this size, a price like that cannot be beat!
Once the mirror does arrive, the final steps of the construction will proceed. We will mount our 2" minor axis secondary mirror and also mount our 2" helical focuser. First light will hopefully be incredible. It will also signify the passing on of my 8" f/6 Dob. With the 12.5" Dob being ready, the 8" f/6 will see fewer and fewer nights. The smaller Dob will probably see more star parties than the 12.5" (due to it's ease of transport), though. Only time will tell.
However, to combat the transport demon, plans are being drawn up to bring the scope 'full circle.' No longer will we need to deal with a solid tube, but instead a Truss-Dob design. Pictured is the upper cage assembly in it's raw state. It will be lined with thin wall aluminum and have the secondary and focuser mounted on it (also shown). Final plans will be posted as the arrival of my primary mirror becomes eminent.
