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I pulled my telescope out of storage the other day and set it up. The family and I had a great time with it. It is a relatively cheap telescope with a hand held controller and it tracks objects once you align it to a couple of stars.
When I was a kid, it was challenging to be interested with out the computer guidance, so I'd like to make it easier for them to stay interested. Being a number of years old, I think it is standing on its last leg as the controller is acting flaky and the motors seem to get lost when turning to an object. So I'm asking the nerds out there: who makes a decent telescope today? Where should I shop for one? I'd like something with similar features that I have now. Computer guidance and tracking is the must-have. Perhaps GPS. I would like to spend less than $600, but I'm open to more expensive options.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday April 28 2015, @08:03AM
I ground three mirrors, a 6", 10" and 8". I wasn't happy with the 10 so I took it back to fine grinding then repolished it.
Mirror making is fascinating work.
There is some guy on the amateur telescope making list who sells kits.
Try making a travel scope - one that you can take in airline carry-on.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday April 28 2015, @08:30PM
A first-time amateur will take about a year of occasional spare time to grind, polish and figure an 8" mirror. A seasoned pro could do it in a couple 8-hour days but you really need quite a lot of experience. The main thing is you need a lot of patience, grinding a mirror is quite a lot like watching the grass grow. On the other hand it is peaceful, pleasant and meditative work.
The most thorough text is "Amateur Telescope Making" volumes I-III, edited by Albert Ingalls and published by Scientific American. However these cover a lot of material for advanced workers, and can be confusing. There is a revised two-volume set, I don't recall who the editor is, it has all the same material but in a sensible order rather than the organically-grown historical order.
For your very first scope "How to Make a Telecope" 2nd Edition by Jean Texereau is very, very good.
Mike's amateur telescope making volume 0: MAKE YOUR MOUNT FIRST! Use a cement steppingstone or something as a weight, where the mirror will later go. If, as the books imply, you make your mirror first, then your mount, you will be rushed in the end and won't be satisfied. If you start your first mount then try pointing it, checking how the balance goes, whether it vibrates in the wind &c. in the end you're likely to be far more happy. (I only figured this out recently.)
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]