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Post by Admin on Nov 6, 2014 16:41:01 GMT -5
Well it is official. I have acquired the 16" Cave Cassegrain from Wilmington collage. I will be going there in the next few weeks to begin removing it from it's dome high atop the science center. More to follow . . . .
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Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2014 9:57:55 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2014 10:01:32 GMT -5
Here is a link to the video of my team taking the telescope off the third story roof of Kettering hall. Click here! |
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Post by Admin on Jan 28, 2015 9:36:25 GMT -5
So what are the plans for the 16" telescope? Well, I want to restore the entire scope to it's original condition. This will take some time. Everything that makes up the telescope is just larger then I've previously worked with. As an example, the OTA with aluminum rings probably weighs in at 150 lbs.! It is difficult to work with and requires two people to move. The mount has to come in at 500 lbs. I'm using my backhoe with rear 17' shovel, just to move it in my workshop/barn. The counter weights are massive.
Slowly I will bring her back to life. I plan on mounting the pedestal to the garage floor with 4 large bolts I'll put in the concrete. From there I can assemble the telescope in an upright condition. I have to clear an area in the corner of my barn (barn is 35 x 65) that will become dedicated to the restoration. Once things get going in the spring, I will post pictures and narrative on the restoration here and on Cloudy nights. For now, I have plastic wrapped most of the parts and boxed everything up so none of the components gets lost.
More later . . . .
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