Anyone for a 20” Mak 😁

[johninderby]

Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope 500 mm f/8.5 ( focal length 4250 mm )

https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/maksutov-cassegrain-telescope-500-mm-f85-focal-length-4250-mm-

A mere €83193.28 ex  tax    Eeeek. 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

Wonder how many weeks it takes to cool down. 😁

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by johninderby

[Robindonne]

I thought about buying this scope.  But that was it. 

[dweller25]

Is that “finder” a Takahashi TOA150 ? 😱

Edited January 26, 2022 by dweller25

[Sunshine]

Insanity, by the time it cools the sun is coming up.

[neil phillips]

7 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Insanity, by the time it cools the sun is coming up.

Exactly what i was thinking 🤣 Should use it in the Antarctic stored outside

Edited January 26, 2022 by neil phillips

[Pete Presland]

There is a very nice Lunt LS80THa/B1200/FTBT, H-alpha Telescope + LS80FHa/DSII on there as well 🙂 

[tomato]

What I like is that it appears to be installed in somebody’s urban back garden.

I must show the photo to Mrs Tomato as part of my campaign to acquire a Planewave 17” CDK.😉

[Peter Drew]

I was building a 16" Mak in the late 70's but unfortunately the corrector shattered during fine grinding due to an annealing issue.  The project eventually became a Dall-Kirkham with an optical window, the aperture increased to 17" as the primary was oversize to suit the Mak.  The telescope was made for and still owned and used by noted amateur David Gray.

There is a very large Maksutov variant at St Andrew's University.     🙂

[bomberbaz]

it literally will have to be kept in an air conditioned room.

bet the planetary views are incredible

[Sunshine]

3 hours ago, bomberbaz said:

it literally will have to be kept in an air conditioned room.

bet the planetary views are incredible

My thoughts exactly, any challengers in the planetary views department would be left defeated, exiled, and left for dead 😂

Edited January 26, 2022 by Sunshine

[johninderby]

An APM 1.2 metre cassegrain perhaps. 😁

 

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by johninderby

[Sunshine]

57 minutes ago, johninderby said:

An APM 1.2 metre cassegrain perhaps. 😁

 

 

I’m puzzled by the three finder scopes (or they seem to be) on that monster, why three?

[tomato]

Would you  use finder scopes on a set up like that? I’m guessing they are used for outreach or teaching purposes.

[johninderby]

Think that pic is of an installation at a university. 🤔

[Carbon Brush]

10 hours ago, tomato said:

What I like is that it appears to be installed in somebody’s urban back garden.

Don't you ever borrow anything form work?

[neil phillips]

4 hours ago, johninderby said:

An APM 1.2 metre cassegrain perhaps. 😁

 

 

I can imagine getting up, getting a cup of coffee. And getting ready to see whats happening on Uranus and Neptune. (Actually a 12" will do that) But not as effectively. Bet jupiter is bright. And the moon painful sign me up. When we leaving 

[Adam J]

22 hours ago, johninderby said:

Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope 500 mm f/8.5 ( focal length 4250 mm )

https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/maksutov-cassegrain-telescope-500-mm-f85-focal-length-4250-mm-

A mere €83193.28 ex  tax    Eeeek. 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

Wonder how many weeks it takes to cool down. 😁

 

Well if you keep it outside in an obsy it's always ambient, if you don't then your crazy. 

[neil phillips]

5 hours ago, Adam J said:

Well if you keep it outside in an obsy it's always ambient, if you don't then your crazy. 

Dont forget about summer and falling night temperatures. Some kind of air conditioning needed during the day most likely 

[stuy]

Nice scope !! But cooling issues are easily solved with maksutov scopes of 12” and under with the correct insulation 👍my 12” maksutov Is good to go straight away , don’t know about a 20” tho but I’m sure there are ways 😉 

[stuy]

On 27/01/2022 at 03:20, neil phillips said:

Dont forget about summer and falling night temperatures. Some kind of air conditioning needed during the day most likely 

Insulate the observatory is the way to go on this Neil , there’s never more than a couple of degrees difference between inside and out , I’ve also got the roof vented on the sides , will be interesting to see how the big  9” apo does when it arrives in a couple of weeks 🤔stu 

[neil phillips]

3 hours ago, stuy said:

Insulate the observatory is the way to go on this Neil , there’s never more than a couple of degrees difference between inside and out , I’ve also got the roof vented on the sides , will be interesting to see how the big  9” apo does when it arrives in a couple of weeks 🤔stu 

Fair enough  you will know more about this than me. Was just thinking if the ob gets warm during summer day. The scope would store that. And struggle to release it with falling night temperature. I have no direct experience keeping scopes outside though. My old 12" Newt was a nightmare. But wasnt stored outside Hence your knowledge will be better. Theres also the insulate scope question. Has that ever been proven to be effective ?

[stuy]

Insulation on a scope slows the temperature drop mate massively makes a high difference on maksutov design I had my doubts like every one else BUT it’s a revelation!!! Wish I knew this years ago to be fair 

[neil phillips]

5 minutes ago, stuy said:

Insulation on a scope slows the temperature drop mate massively makes a high difference on maksutov design I had my doubts like every one else BUT it’s a revelation!!! Wish I knew this years ago to be fair 

Never tried it. But  Everyone that has, says exactly what you just did. Seen others do it with open tubes. But sealed apparently is more effective.  Im all open now apart from refractors

[stuy]

Yes I’m internet to see how the big 9” lzos will do being a air spaced triplet on temperature issues 🤔 they do take longer than oil spaced to reach thermal equilibrium , I will also test it on Mars and Jupiter come late summer against the 10” maknewt, will be interesting to see 

stu 

[neil phillips]

9 hours ago, stuy said:

Yes I’m internet to see how the big 9” lzos will do being a air spaced triplet on temperature issues 🤔 they do take longer than oil spaced to reach thermal equilibrium , I will also test it on Mars and Jupiter come late summer against the 10” maknewt, will be interesting to see 

stu 

The summer is going to be great for planets in the Uk. Those with decent optics should do very well. Both visually and imaging. Hoping to get venus in the morning soon. Didnt see the point in a dedicated UV Filter it wont last long. before Venus is very poorly placed again, But got a W47 BG39 together. And a UG1 BG39. Combo. See  if can get any UV.

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by neil phillips