Proposed New Telescope
(The proposed new telescope)
The initial proposal is the construction of a 36 inch cassegrain telescope. The telescope is to be the sister telescope to this identical instrument located at the chabot observatory in oakland california. After viewing this telescope, the new 36 inch mirror was purchased. The mirror is already ground and polished.
A private visit was |
 |
The telescope mount is colossal and weighs approximately 12,000 pounds.
 |
 |
The telescope can be moved with relative ease to many different positions. It is entirely computer controlled and extremely accurate.
The author poses with the 36 inch telescope. Note the ten inch telescope in the background. Moving to a 36 inch provides a huge increase in mirror size.
Lee inscpects the mount of the 36 inch. it is a classical fork mount, facilitating great ease of use, and rapid slewing to individual objects.
 |
The telescope has been aimed directly south in this photograph. our plans call for extreme motion to the south, such that the great globular cluster, omega centauri, can be easily viewed. |
The truly massive size of the 36 inch cassegrain is evident in this photograph. Steven is stainding under the eyepiece where there is 6 foot headroom. The alternating yellow and black stripes are actually individual 20 pound counterweights. There is extensive room for ccd cameras, spectroscopes and turret eyepieces.