Telrad Tip

[TopHouse]

I bought some transparency film today to print a primary mirror centering template. I also have a laminator, so, I drew out a scale telrad reticle in my graphics package, then copy pasted six of them onto A4 and printed the design onto a transparency, cut them out and then laminated them to give me six of these, very useful and easy to make :-

[RikM]

Magic idea. I know what I'm doing tomorrow

Rik

[Moonshane]

very cool! what's the book please? I fancy a 'proper' star book

[tomys]

I probably really need better eyepieces and a sky atlas. GAHHH!!!!! ME NEED NICE OBSERVATIONS! :\

[TopHouse]

That particular book is Sky & Telescopes Pocket Sky Atlas.

Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas: Amazon.co.uk: Roger W. Sinnott: Books

[TopHouse]

Oh, and if you do it, make sure you print them in black, these were my second attempt, authentic though it may look, red ones completely disappear under red light!

[TopHouse]

To make it easier for anyone wanting to do this, here's a template, upladed as a bitmap so it doesn't get jpeg itus! :-

telradtemplate.bmp

[barkis]

That's a very nice touch TH, and very useful to have in the field, and Obsy.

Ron.

[Space Beagle]

Nice one Mr TopHouse!

Doc

[TopHouse]

I've had a couple of messages from people who don't have laminators etc to ask if I'll make some of these up and pass on for a fee. When I made mine, I basically cut up a couple of A4 laminating pouches but if enough people want them I'll pick up some ID card pouches and do it with those. I'll work out a price and repost but in the meantime, anyone iterested, please add a note here so i can get an idea of numbers.

EDIT

Priced up credit card sized laminating pouches etc and combined with transparency cost and time taken, I reckon a fair price is 3.00 for six of these including postage. I get six to an A4 sheet and it allows for spares/loss etc.

[TopHouse]

Anyone?

[TopHouse]

Forgot to mention, the scale of these is bang on for Sky & Telescopes Pocket Sky Guide and also for these :-

Messier Maps

Obviously it's not feasable to do them for such as stellarium or Cartes Du Ciel as they have zoom/print options.

I use the above linked charts and have a set of those laminated so they are weatherproof. Great for planning a nights looking, if I can remember what that's like with all this damn cloud.