5.25" F/8.8
This telescope was built around the second mirror that I made, a refigured
5.25". The glass was actually etched by something, possibly related
to the remains of a mouse that were found on the mirror. It was originally
put in version one of the scope, but performed very poorly. When I
finally pulled it out of the box in 2003 (after being packed away since 1991)
I tested it and saw the effect of the etching on the figure - it looked like
the Rockies under the Focault test. After 2 hours of polishing, the
roughness was gone and then figured the mirror.
The tube is made of 1/2" and 1/4" poplar plywood, with walnut trim strips
on the corners. The bottom side of the tube is held on with brass screws,
and is removeable for access. There are several baffles in the tube,
as can be seen in the third picture. The diagonal is a 3/4" that I
have had for a while, and I made the three-vane spider. I also made
the mirror cell. The mount is 3/4" poplar plywood.
I made a solar filter for this scope with Baader film, and it provides
very nice planetary and solar views. My parents enjoyed viewing the
Venus transit with it.
