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APPENDIX ONE
ObservatoryManufacturers
Here are details of some observatory manufacturers in Europe, North Americaand Australia, and a summary of the products they offer, at the time of writing.
Ash-Dome, USA: Metal domes from 2.4 to 9.2 m (8–31 ft) diameter with “upand over” shutters. http://www.ashdome.com
Astro Domes, Australia: Domes from 2.9 to 6.5 m diameter. Electric shutter andautomatic dome tracking options. http://www.astrodomes.com
Astro Haven, USA: Manufacture fibreglass “clamshell” domes in sizes 7, 12, 16and 20 ft diameter, and non-circular ones as well. http://www.astrohaven.com
Alexanders Observatories, England: Build and install run-off roof observa-tories in timber from 6 ft square to 16 × 10 ft. Also observatory piers.http://www.alexandersobservatories.com
Gambato, Italy: Domes made to measure in steel, aluminium, copper, alsosliding roof observatories, and planetarium domes. http://www.gambato.com
Pulsar Optical, England: Fibreglass domed observatories at 7 ft and 9 ft diameter.Will sell domes and tracks separately. http://www.pulsar-optical.co.uk
Sirius Observatories, Australia: Fibreglass observatories, diameters 2.3 m (7.5 ft),3.5 m (11.5 ft), 6.7 m (22 ft). Motorising and automation options available.http://www.siriusobservatories.com
219
220 Setting-up a Small Observatory
Sirius Observatories, UK: Agents for the Australian company. http://www.siriusobservatoriesuk.com/
SkyShed, Canada: Build and install run-off roof observatories from 6 to 16 ft2.Also provide plans, kits and piers; make the SkyShed POD (Personal ObservatoryDome). http://www.skyshed.com
Technical Innovations, USA: Fibreglass domes at 6, 10 and 15 ft diameter,motorisation and remote control; robo-dome, a very small dome, not largeenough for a person, for robotic operation. http://www.homedome.com
UK Observatories, European agents for SkyShed of Canada. http://www.ukobservatories.co.uk/index.html
APPENDIX TWO
Useful Web Links
This lists both commercial and non-commercial sites in order of their subjects’occurrence in this book.
Chapter 1The ATM site: http://www.atmsite.org/ATM webring: http://l.webring.com/hub?ring=telescopemakingATM group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/atm_free/Amateur Telescope Makers’ Resource List: http://www.tfn.net/˜blombard/Stellafane ATM pages: http:// www.stellafane.com/atmPop Outside Observatory: http://www.popoutside.comKendrick Observing Tents: http://www.kendrickastro.comAstroGazer portable observatory http://www.astrogizmos.comSky Window mirrored binsocular mount:http://www.tricomachine.com/ skywindow/sandt.htmlStrathspey binoculars http://www.strathspey.co.uk/Orion telescopes and binoculars http://www.telescope.com/QCUIAG: http;//tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/QCUIAG/UK Astro Imaging Forum: http://ukastroimaging.co.ukRegistax software: http://www.astronomie.be/registax/K3CCDTools software: http://www.pk3.org/Astro/index.htm?k3ccdtools.htm
221
222 Setting-up a Small Observatory
Chapter 2BAA Campaign for Dark Skies: http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/index.htmlInternational Dark-Sky Association: http://www.darksky.orgInformation on planning permission in the UK:http:// www.planningportal.gov.uk
Chapter 3Scope Armor, US makers of telescope covers: http://scopearmor.comGroup for information on observatory roof and dome automation:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatory_RoofandDome_Automation/Group for advice on observatory design and construction:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Astronomical_Observatories/Group dedicated to run-off (roll-off) roof observatories:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/roll_off_roof/Amateur Astronomical Observatories: list of links to web articles on a largenumber of observatories: http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html
Chapter 7The Webb Society - sell very nice laminated star-charts:http:// www.webbsociety.org
Chapter 8Mel Bartels: products and designs for customised telescope control (US):http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/AWR Technology: drive and computer control systems, including retrofitting ofold mounts (UK):http://www.awrtech.co.ukJMI Telescopes (Jim’s Mobile Inc.): focus control systems:http:// www.jimsmobile.comTechnical Innovations: Robo-Focus: http://www.homedome.comSwitched Systems (UK): focus motors: http://www.switchedsystems.co.uk
Chapter 9Les Granges: http://www.lesgrangesastro.talktalk.net/Dave Tyler: http://www.david-tyler.comDamian Peach: http://www.damianpeach.com
Useful Web Links 223
Chapter 10Howie Glatter’s laser collimation products, including Barlowed collimators andcollimation plugs: http://www.collimator.comAberrator software: http://aberrator.astronomy.net/Astronomy Boy has instructions for servicing some common mountings:http://www.astronomyboy.comAstrozap dew shields: http://www.astrozap.comParallax Instruments: Tube rings for all telescopes:http:// www.parallaxinstruments.comAndy Homeyer: Heavy-duty tube cradles and dovetail systems:http://www.intint.com/andy/index.htmlRobin Casady: Telescope dovetail systems, multiple telescope mounting systems,counterweights: http://www.robincasady.comComprehensive listing of planetarium software available for different platforms:http://astro.nineplanets.org/astrosoftware.htmlStellarium Open-source planetarium software:http://www.stellarium.orgEquinox planetarium and telescope-control software for Mac:http://www.microprojects.ca/Software Bisque: TheSky and associated software, also manufacture theParamount ME mounting: http://www.bisque.comStarry Night Pro planetarium and telescope-control software:http://shop.avanquest.com/Earth Centered Universe planetarium and telescope-control software:http:// www.nova-astro.comSkyMap Pro planetarium and telescope-control software: http://www.skymap.comSkyTools observing software: http://www.skyhound.comCartes du Ciel free planetarium and telescope-control software:http://www.ap-i.net/skychart/index.phpDiffraction Limited: MaxPoint software for telescope mount modelling andMaxIm DL software for image acquisition and processing:http://www.cyanogen.comDeepSkyStacker image processing softwarehttp://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/index.htmlIRIS image acquisition and processing software:http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/ us/iris/iris.htmAstroart image acquisition and processing software:http://www.msb-astroart.com/Astronomiser: Astro-imaging equipment including guide interfaces:http://www.astronomiser.co.uk/Shoestring Astronomy: astro-imaging accessories including guide interfaces:http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/GuideDog autoguiding software: http:www.barkosoftware.comPHD Guiding software: http://www.stark-labs.com/ASCOM: Standards initiative for astronomical software/hardwarecommunication: http://ascom-standards.org/index.html
Index
Note: Principle occurrences of important topics are given in bold type
Aberrations, 100, 111, 160, 195Aberrator, 195Absorption, atmospheric, 31Accessories, storage of, 96, 129, 134, 142,
144, 171Adaptor threads, lubrication of, 199Adaptors
camera, 199, 214telescope, 164, 199USB to serial, 105, 124webcam, 198
Air-conditioning, 86Airy limit, 124Airy, George Biddell, 2, 19Airy diffraction pattern, 196Alarms, 88Alcock, George, 4Algae, 158Aluminising, 8Aluminium paint, 80, 83Andromeda Galaxy, 28Animal life, incursion of, 47, 122, 179Aperture, telescope, 164Architects, 63, 66
Arnett, Bill, 66Artificial star, 127, 159Asbestos, 114ASCOM, 217Asteroids. see Minor planetsAstigmatism, 195Astro Accessories, 214Astroart, 29, 119, 217Astro-Engineering, 13, 124, 127AstroGazer, 5Astrographs, 27Astrometry, 23, 47, 187Astronomical Equipment (company), 145Astroparts, 173Astro-Physics, 105, 106, 108, 109, 145, 152,
166, 216Astrovid, 24Atik Instruments, 26, 45, 163, 164Atlux, 182Aurorae, 12, 29, 48Autoguiding, 27, 107, 111, 217Automation, 35, 58, 61, 104, 121Autostar, 216AWR Technology, 105, 118, 173
225
226 Index
BAA, 164Backlash (focusing), 109Backlash (gears), 199Baffling, 46, 164Bailey, H. Paige, 20Balancing, 15, 22, 30, 118, 159, 204
See also CounterweightingBalconies, 45, 46Ballast, 71Balustrade, 169Bandwidth, 106, 107, 152Bar, dovetail, 207–209Barbados, 164Bartels, Mel, 105Base-ring, dome, 57, 165Batteries, 44, 48, 90, 94, 96, 109Bayer colour matrix, 177Beacon Hill Telescopes, 173Bedrock, 71Beer observing chair, 102Bench, optical, 174Berrevoets, Cor, 25, 163, 195Berry, Richard, 117Binary stars. see Stars, doubleBinning, 27Binoculars, 12, 13, 29, 31Birr, 2Bitumen, 80Blacksmiths, 57, 62, 179Blades, razor, 177Blinds, 87Block, concrete, 70, 75Blower brush, 197Blu-Tack, 177Boards, 75, 79
See also TimberBob’s Knobs, 193Boles, Tom, 58Bolt-cases, 96, 142Bolts
cane, 122coach, 77, 139, 140, 151draw, 142tower, 141, 152
Books, storage of, 97Bracing, 51, 65, 129, 151Brackets, 76, 115, 120, 133
finder, 215Brands (of telescope), 6Brick, 34, 56, 59, 73, 75, 138, 143
Bricklaying, 75Brooks, Brian, 173Buffers, 122Building codes, 41Building permits, 41Bulbs, 95, 96
Cable ties, 98, 108, 145Cables, 91, 97, 104, 108, 111, 124, 127, 142Cambridge, University of, 2, 19Camcorders, 24Cameras, 97, 106, 107, 108, 111
CCD, 26, 29, 104, 108, 117, 118, 121, 123Guide, 107, 111, 152monochrome, 177SLR, 27, 29DSLR, 28, 29, 111, 198surveillance, 24, 104video, 24, 44, 104, 120See also Webcams and modified
webcamsCamouflage, 37, 39, 88Campaign for Dark Skies, 34Canon, 29Cap, mirror, 118Capacity, electrical, 91Car cover, 147Carabiners, 131Carlin, Nils Olof, 188Carpentry, 138Carpets, 86, 141Cartes du Ciel, 216Casady, Robin, 166, 213Castors, 49, 78, 101, 115, 126, 129, 156Catalyst (glass fibre), 82Catches, ball, 141Catenary wire, 91CCD chips, 23, 25, 27, 29, 116–118, 127,
163, 211cleaning of, 198frost on, 117, 182
Celestron, 9, 11, 15, 121, 147, 158, 182, 216Cement, 71, 73Centre spot, mirror, 188Chains, 131, 132Chairs, 23, 49, 99, 133, 134, 141, 152Charts, 97, 152Chemicals (preservation), 85Chimney effect, 57, 87Chipboard, 75, 79, 150
Index 227
Plugs, cigarette-lighter, 89, 93, 201Circuit-breaker, 92Circuits, electrical, 91Cladding, 65, 75, 78, 138Clamps, 78Clay, 71, 144Cleaning liquid, optical, 197Climate, 87, 124, 128
See also Observatories, temperaturecontrol in
Clutch, slip, 22, 161Clutches, mounting, 205CMOS, 23, 28, 29
sensor cleaning, 198Coating, anti-reflection, 198Coil system, moving, 176Collars, counterweight, 209Collimator
Barlowed laser, 188–192laser, 188holographic laser, 193
Collimating tools, 189Columns. see PiersComets, 26, 31, 109, 183, 196Comfort, 99Compass, magnetic, 202Compression, data, 164Computer control, 20, 22, 29, 58
See also Remote control and automationComputer-aided design (CAD), 155Computers, 97, 104–109, 111, 124, 152
desktop, 24, 93, 117, 118, 124laptop, 24, 46, 49, 90, 93, 96, 98, 107,
142, 144Mac platform, 215–217PC platform, 215
Concrete, 32, 34, 43, 47, 49, 56, 64, 69, 86,71, 91, 121, 126, 129, 131, 143, 146, 155
mixer, 71Condensation. see DewingConduit, 91, 123, 126, 152, 172Connectors, 89. 93, 97, 109, 111, 201Conservatories, adaptation of, 60Converter, serial to USB, 106, 107Coronado, 175Corrector plate, 124Corrosion, 47, 52, 57, 152, 158Costs, 34, 116Coudé focus, 172Counterweight rail, 205, 213
Counterweighting, 101, 118, 159, 160,167, 209
See also BalancingCrab Nebula, 26Cradles, 15, 100, 118Craig telescope, 2Creosote, 85, 86, 139Cross-hairs. see ReticleCurrent, electric, 93, 94CS2, 217
Dall, Horace, 174Damp, 21, 24, 46, 47, 87, 93, 96, 147, 152Damp-course, 71, 92, 126Dark adaptation, 142Dark frames, 183Daystar, 159, 160, 175Decay (timber), 71, 75, 85, 126Decking, 46, 49, 86, 148, 152, 169Deep-sky observing, 14, 26, 28, 30, 87DeepSkyStacker, 217Dehumidifiers, 88, 142, 144, 152, 166Device manager, 105Dew controllers, 124, 201Dew heaters, 90, 93, 96–98, 107, 124, 200Dewing, 49, 52, 56, 61, 86, 95, 101, 107,
124, 200Dew-shields, 36, 107, 124, 200Diagonals, 100, 198Diffraction patterns, 194–196Diffraction unit, 175Digging. see ExcavationsDigitalSky Voice, 216Disk, computer, 24Disorientation (in domes), 172Dispersion, 174Displays, 24Dividing engine, 161DIY, 47, 56, 63, 121, 163Dome control software, 217Doors, 59, 80, 116, 126, 150, 165Dorpat refractor, 17Dovetail shoe, finder bracket, 215Dovetails, mounting, 15, 207–210
tightening of, 209Doughnut diffraction pattern, 194Dowels, 163Drawing, 136, 170Drift, 27, 111
See also Guiding and autoguiding
228 Index
Drift method of polar alignment, 73, 202Drill, electric, 70, 141, 159, 164Drilling (wood), 77Drives (telescope), 22, 89, 104, 107,
111, 161clockwork, 21weight-driven, 21See also Motors
Duralumin, 57DVD recorders, 24
Earth Centred Universe, 216Earthing, 21, 89, 91–93, 170Eaves-fillers, 140Eclipses, 32Effective focal length (EFL), 27, 111,
127, 145Electrical codes, 91Electricians, 91 93Electricity, 89
low-voltage, 89, 96, 97, 109, 152mains 48, 69, 90–94, 123, 126, 152, 161
Emerson Optical, 159Encoders, position, 22, 105End grain, 75Energy rejection filter (ERF), 160Ephemerides, 97Equinox, 216Etalon, 11, 159, 175Ethernet, 104, 182ETX, 10European Southern Observatory, 62Eaves, 80Excavations, 71, 91Extension cables
mains, 48low-voltage, 97data, 97
Eyepiece position, 15, 74, 100Eyepieces, 23, 96, 200
cleaning of, 197
Fans, 45, 87, 88, 97, 158Felt, roofing, 80, 121, 126, 150Fencing panels, 79Ferrous metals, treatment of, 86Fibreboard, 75, 79Fibreglass, 57, 59, 62, 64, 81, 86, 155, 157
crazing of, 158
Field curvature, 111Field of view, 106, 111, 182Field rotation, 16Figuring, 159Fillets, wood, 76Film, 23, 2729, 111, 114, 116, 124, 158Filter wheels, 97, 108, 117Filters, 26, 28, 102, 108, 117, 153, 160, 164
neutral, 183photometric, 182solar, 59, 175
Fire extinguishers, 152Firewire, 25, 46, 104Firmware, 105Fittings on wooden structures, 81Flashlights. see TorchesFlat fields, 117Floors, observatory, 79, 86Floorboards, 138, 142, 153Flooring, 86Flooring compound, 179Fluorescent tubes, 94Focal length. see Effective focal lengthFocal reducers, 28, 111Focusers
adjustment of, 199electric, 97, 107, 109, 121, 124, 127, 152cleaning and lubrication of, 199collimation of, 189, 191Crayford, 109, 110, 199slop and backlash in, 109, 191, 199
Focusing, 15, 44, 97, 104, 108, 152Forming gas, 116Forms. see MouldsForums (Internet), 24, 88Foucault tester, 163Foundations, 32, 70, 155Frame grabber, 104Frame rates, 164Frameworks
steel, 77, 81, 128timber, 75, 139
Fraunhofer, Joseph von, 17Fullerscopes, 114, 118, 120Furniture, 35, 59, 96, 117, 133, 152
Galaxies, 16, 26, 27, 109Galileo, 1Gamma-ray bursters, 182Garages, adaptation of, 32, 65, 114–116
Index 229
Garner, Bob, 14, 28, 113Gavin, Maurice, 57Geology, local, 71GIMP, 217Glazing, 60, 66, 87Globular clusters, 30, 87Glue, 140, 141Go, Christopher, 25, 46Gores, 57GOTO, 6, 16, 17, 21, 47, 90, 106, 109, 118,
161, 215See also Mountings
Grating, diffraction, 176Gravel, 71, 129, 130, 134Gravelboards, 138, 141Great Red Spot, 164Grease. see LubricantsGreat storm (1987, England), 114, 158Greenhouse effect, 60, 66, 87Greenwich, 2Grinders, 78, 129Groom, Norman, 176Grounding. see EarthingGuests, 23, 153Guide, 182Guide chip, 27, 111Guide interfaces, 111, 217GuideDog, 217Guider, off-axis or radial, 112Guidescopes, 27, 105, 108, 111, 114, 116,
118, 153, 209Guiding, 27, 116Guttering, 80
Hairdryers, 93, 200Hale Telescope, 20Hammerite paint, 129Handles (on telescopes), 100hard drives, external, 183Hardboard, 33, 65, 75, 123, 142, 155Headphones Nebula, 117Heaters
convection, 88electric, 152paraffin (kerosene), 152
Heliostat, 172, 175Hibernate mode, 183, 216Hinges, 52, 62, 80, 141, 142, 151Hobbing, 161Hole-boring machine, 71
Homeyer, Andy, 208Hooks, 122, 142, 144Hose-clamps, 124, 209Hubs, USB, 97, 106, 145, 152Humidity, 86Huygens, Christiaan, 172Hydrogen alpha filters, 11, 158–161Hype, advertising, 8Hypering, 116
Icron, 123IEE 1394. see FireWireIEE regulations, 91Illumination (field), 111Image scale, 27, 109, 146, 164Imaging, 15, 21, 23 30, 47, 61, 104, 112,
116, 128afocal, 28, 163Barlow projection, 28cometary, 120, 121, 124, 146deep-sky, 45, 114, 117, 119, 124, 146eyepiece projection, 28high-resolution, 196lunar, 45, 145, 162narrowband, 26, 28, 117piggyback, 27, 29, 214planetary, 45, 49, 109, 124, 127, 145,
153, 158prime focus, 28solar, 49, 158, 159–162, 175–178very long exposure, 111widefield, 27
Indefinite boundary, 39Infrared radiation, 34, 44, 160Ingress protection (IP), 92, 93, 95Insulation, thermal, 180Interface, autoguiding, 111Interference, thin-layer 197International Darksky Association, 34Intes Micro, 10Inversion, temperature, 135Inverter, 89IRIS, 217Irving, Ronald, 159, 161
Jack plugs, 109J-bolts, 73Jet-stream, 87JMI, 109, 124, 127Jointing, 76, 80, 141
230 Index
Joists, 79Jubilee Clip, 209Junction-boxes, 92Jupiter, 16, 24, 164
K3CCDTools, 26, 217Kanto, Veikko, 117Katreniak, Peter, 26Kendrick observing tent, 4
Labour, 64Ladders, 59. 74, 99, 133Lamination (of charts), 97Large Binocular Telescope, 3Latches, 131, 132Lathes, 159, 161, 164Lead sheet, 180Leads. see CablesLEDs, 96Legality of electrical work, 91Lenses
Barlow, 30, 111, 124, 160camera, 27. 29, 31, 214cleaning, 197collimating, 176doublet, oil-spaced, 174negative, 175Powermate, 30, 111relay, 30singlet, 178telephoto, 211, 214zoom, 214
Les Granges, 51, 128Lewis, Norm, 165Light box, 117Light, colour of, 95Light pollution, 14, 24, 28, 31–33, 114, 116,
119, 128Lightning, 169Linux, 217Local authorities, 33Locks, 81, 88
See also Observatories, security ofLosmandy, 105, 166Lowell, Percival, 172Lubricants, 199Lumenera, 160, 164Luminance layer, 164LX200, 128, 173
protocol, 216
M42 thread, 214Mac OS X, 217Magazines, reviews in, 6Magellanic Clouds, 12, 28Manning, Brian, 176marine ply, 78Mars, 24, 171Masonry, 59
See also Brick and bricklayingMastic, 80Mats, glass fibre, 81MaxIm DL, 217MaxPoint, 217Meade, 9, 10, 11, 15, 89, 167, 173, 201, 216Mercury, 16, 32Meridian, 32, 52, 61, 74, 107, 114, 137,
161, 196offset, 108See also Normalisation
Mesh, wire, 81Meteors, 12, 23, 29Mewlon, 10, 166Microphone, 107Miles, Richard, 179Milky Way, 12, 27Milling cutter, 159Minitron, 104Minor planets, 24, 109, 182Mirror flop, 196, 217Miyazaki, Isao, 25Mobberley, Martin, 120, 217Molybdenum grease, 199Monitors, 24, 159Moon, 14–16, 24, 110Moonlight, 28Moore, Patrick, 49, 57, 62Morrison-Smith, Mike, 183Mortar, 69, 75Mosaics (imaging), 161Motors
DC, 21dome, 58electric, 20, 89servo, 21, 97, 104stepper, 21,105, 118, 120synchronous, 21, 89, 93, 104, 114, 118,
145, 161Moulds (for fibreglass), 81, 155Moulds (for piers), 72, 146
Index 231
Mount Palomar Observatory, 20, 157Mountings, 97, 104, 109, 111, 154
access to pole with, 19accuracy of, 105, 110, 111, 118adjustment of, 199altazimuth, 13, 22, 104, 173, 204backlash in, 199cleaning and lubrication of, 199cross-axis, 18, 20Dobsonian, 15, 22, 44, 105English equatorial, 8, 18, 19, 20, 30fork, 15, 18, 20, 44, 47, 61friction in, 161, 205gears in, 110, 199German equatorial (GEM), 6, 13, 15–20,
35, 44, 47, 61, 74, 100, 105–108, 125,128, 145, 158, 161–163
Gibraltar, 128Horseshoe, 18, 20interchanging telescopes on, 146, 158levelling of, 73, 202lubrication of, 199parallelogram, 13polar alignment of, 30, 43, 46, 73, 111,
125, 162, 202resonance of, 19, 21slewing of, 98, 104, 108, 110, 118,
121, 161split-ring, 18, 20size of, 6, 147yoke, 8, 19See also GOTO
Multivibrator, astable, 201Munger, John, 117Mylar film, 160
Nailing, 65, 76, 80Nebulae, 16, 26, 27
planetary, 15, 30, 87, 117Neighbours, relations with, 33, 37, 120Networks, computer 24, 182Newsgroups, Internet, 88NexRemote, 216NexStar, 216Nikon, 29Nipples, pipe, 168Noctilucent clouds, 12, 29Noise, thermal, 26, 28Normalisation, 19, 107, 116, 118, 162, 196North America Nebula, 27
Northumberland telescope, 2, 19, 100Nuts and bolts, 77
Observatoire de Haute-Provence, 128Observatories
aesthetics of, 66, 87, 154clamshell, 62colour of, 37, 85costs of, 56, 63, 64, 65, 121, 127construction methods for, 69dismantling, 77, 139, 144dome, 35, 39, 41, 56, 61, 62, 66, 87, 97,
107, 121, 136, 155–158drum, 58ease of use of, 128, 154, 182foundations for, 70height of, 39, 40, 52horizon from, 62, 65, 125, 136, 153intrusiveness of, 120, 125, 154, 179lighting in, 92, 94, 143, 171materials for, 37, 74pepper-pot, 57, 62polygonal, 58–60preservation of, 47, 85rooftop, 31risks in, 41, 48, 91 95, 100, 107, 133,
152, 209run-off roof, 37, 39, 51, 58, 104, 121,
136, 146, 149, 154run-off, 37, 39, 48, 62, 87, 120, 121–124,
128–133, 148–152, 154screening of, 32, 33security of, 39, 47, 88, 122, 152size of, 35, 53, 59, 61, 153, 167temperature control in, 86, 127, 154totally-rotating, 59ventilation of, 47, 49, 61, 87, 133, 158very small, 35, 179waterproofing of, 49, 52, 55, 58, 60,
66, 157Observing diary, 23Observing position, 74Observing, visual, 23, 25, 29, 109, 116, 118,
128, 158, 170Obstructed telescopes, 12, 195Occultations, 24Oil (decking), 86OMC, 10Optics, cleaning of, 196Orchestrate, 108
232 Index
Orion Nebula, 45Orion Optics, 10, 118, 125, 146Orion Telescope & Binocular, 12Oscillator, 161
variable frequency, 21Outbuildings, adaptation of, 32, 152Overwhelmingly Large Telescope, 62Oxide (primer), 86
Packaging (of accessories), 96Paint, 80, 85, 87, 124, 129, 142, 146, 154
electrically-conducting, 83, 170Paintshop Pro, 217Panels, fencing, 79Papier-mâché, 81Parallel interface, 104, 111Paramount ME, 107, 108, 121, 123Parker, Don, 25, 124Patios, 91, 125, 136, 143, 146Patterns. see Moulds (for fibreglass)PC. see ComputersP-clips, 100, 213Peach, Damian, 25, 124, 155, 163Peltier cooling, 117, 142, 182Penrice, Olly, 51, 128Periodic error (PE), 21, 26PHD Guiding, 217Phono plugs, 201Photography, 23, 27–29, 111, 114
See also ImagingPhotometry, 23, 47, 182, 187PHOTO-PAINT, 29, 217Photoshop, 29, 163, 164, 217Picostar, 127Piers, telescope, 35, 46, 49, 64, 66, 70, 86,
93, 96, 104, 118, 121, 133, 138,143–147, 149, 153
height of, 74, 161levelness of, 73
Pigment, silver, 155Pinching, optical, 195Pipes
drainage, 121plastic, 142, 174steel, 144
Planetarium software, 22, 105, 111, 215Planets, observation of, 1416, 30Planning permission, procedures, 40Plants, use of, 33, 37, 56, 88, 136Plastic, corrugated, 80, 129, 140
Platforms, observing, 74, 99, 134Platforms, computer, 215Pleiades, 28Plunger, counterweight, 209Plywood, 65, 78, 115, 126, 128, 129,
144, 155POD, 60Pointer, laser, 215Polar frame, 19Polar scope, 202Polaris, 193, 195
See also Mountings, polar alignment ofPole, celestial, 196Polycarbonate sheeting, 80Polyurethane sheets, 180Pop Outside Observatory, 4Porter, Russell W., 20POTH driver, 218Power losses, 90, 91Power supplies, 90, 93, 117, 142, 152,
159, 171Power-packs, 90Poyner, Gary, 14Preservatives, timber, 79, 85Priming, 86Processing
photographic, 23, 28, 29digital, 163See also Software
ProDome, 165Projection, solar, 175Protective equipment, 69, 77Protractor, 202PTFE, 157, 161Ptolemy’s Café, 66Pulley-blocks, 121PulseGuide, 216Pump, aquarium, 117Push-to, 22PVC sheet, 185
QCUIAG, 24
RA, determining, 161Radians, 158Rail, camera, 214Rail, guidescope, 211Rails, 39, 4851, 56, 58, 65, 115, 122, 126,
129, 131, 137–140, 150, 156Railways, vibration from, 32
Index 233
Rainwater, 70, 80, 115, 152, 157RCD, 92RCX400, 201Refraction, atmospheric, 27, 31, 111,
175, 204Registax, 25, 163, 164, 217Reid, Es, 172Remote-control, 23, 44, 97, 104, 123,
152, 182See also Automation
Repeater cables, 97, 104, 106, 107, 124, 152Resin, epoxy, 179Resin, fibreglass, 155Resin-bonded paper, 161Resolution, 25, 125Resonance, telescope 177Reticle, 194, 203Rings, guidescope, 209Roads, vibration from, 32, 114, 119Robo-Focus, 109, 182Rock-wool, 177Rods, threaded, 73, 146, 174Rogers, John, 164Rollers, 58, 157, 168Roofs, observatory, 80, 114, 129, 138,
140, 151Rosse, Earl of, 2Rot. see DecayRotating tube (Newtonian telescope),
100, 195Royal Observatory, 1RS-232. see Serial interfaceRust. see Corrosion
Sack barrow, 184Saddle, dovetail, 207Saddle-plate, 15, 158–160, 182Sadolin, 155Safety. see Observatories, risks inSand, 71, 91, 133, 136Satellites, artificial, 48Saturn, 24Saws, 70, 75, 114, 156, 164SBIG, 26, 111, 117, 124Schott glass, 160Scope cradles, 208Scope-covers, 47Screw heads, 77Screwdrivers, electric, 70, 77Screws, 76, 153
Secondary offset, Newtonian, 192Security lights, 33Seeing, 25, 70, 87, 124, 135, 164, 195Serial interface, 104–107, 109, 111, 123Setting-circles, 96, 114, 161
digital, 22, 161Shaft, counterweight, 182, 209Sheds, adaptation of, 32, 56, 65, 87,
121, 174Shelving, 23, 96, 142, 147Shutters, dome, 157, 165Side-by-side telescope mounting, 213Sigma Octani, 194Signal-to-noise ratio, 25, 164Silica gel, 96, 180Sky at Night, 163Sky Map Pro, 119Sky-camps, 4, 30Skyglow, 34, 86SkyTools, 216Slabs, concrete, 121, 136, 186Sleepers, 130Slip wax, 155Slip-bands, 100Slits, oscillating, 176Snagging (wires), 98, 107Societies, 67, 88Sockets, 92, 127, 143, 144, 152
See also ElectricitySoftware, 24, 97, 105–109, 124, 164, 215Software Bisque, 105, 108, 121Soldering, 100Spectrohelioscopes, 172–178Spectroscopes, 172, 175Spectrum, solar, 176Spherochromaticism, 160Sphinx, 125Spider, Newtonian, 147Splashback, 80Spray, optical, 197Springs, 115, 210Spry, Reg, 70ST-4 autoguider, 111ST80 refractor, 210Stability
mechanical, 31, 70, 104thermal, 31, 39, 56, 87, 104, 142, 158
Stacking (images), 25, 28, 119,124, 164
Star 2000 system, 111, 118
234 Index
Star charts, 215Star clusters, 28
See also globular clustersStar collimation, 193–195Starlight Xpress, 26, 111, 117, 182StarryNight Pro, 216Stars
comparison, 182double, 14, 30, 87, 145guide, 111variable, 14, 29, 109, 182
Statutory requirements, 40, 91Steel
corrugated, 129galvanised, 57, 78, 158stainless, 72
Stellarium, 216Sticky-backed plastic, 97Stools, 101
See also chairsStop, drawtube, 188Storage of equipment, 96Streaks (on optics), 197Streetlights. see Light pollutionStructural engineers, 71Structures, adjustment of, 81Struts, dome, 157Studs, mounting, 158STV autoguider, 111Subsurface, 71Summer houses, adaptation of, 65,
87, 152Sun, observing, 16, 24, 159See also Filters, solarSupernovae, 26, 58, 121, 124Survey astronomy, 108, 121, 187S-video, 104Switches, 93, 142, 143, 152
See also ElectricitySwitch-fuse, 92
T-thread couplings, 27, 28, 215Takahashi, 10, 105, 166, 182, 208, 216Tal, 10Tandem bar, 213Tandem Guidescope Aiming Device, 209Taps, screw, 161Tape, waterproof, 156Technical Innovations, 109, 165Teflon grease, 199
Telrad finder, 215Telescope pointing software, 217Telescope-making, amateur, 5, 6, 13,
22, 163Telescopes
Cassegrain, 12, 30, 59, 99, 141, 146catadioptric, 11, 30, 87, 107, 124,
127, 163Cape Newise, 11Cassegrain-Newtonian, 11collimation of 30, 46, 108, 116, 125, 127,
162, 187compactness of, 183cooling down of, 45, 47, 52, 57, 125, 158Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain, 10, 145Dall-Kirkham-Dall Cassegrain, 11, 100Dobsonian, 7, 22, 128, 131, 133, 183flexure of, 27, 105, 112, 204finder, 105, 116, 200, 215Galilean, 175guide. see GuidescopeKletzov-Cassegrain, 10Maksutov-Cassegrain, 10Maksutov-Newtonian, 10Newtonian, 7, 8, 30, 100, 103, 114, 117,
120, 124–126, 136, 143, 146–148off-axis reflector, 12reflector, 87, 121, 127, 139, 158, 163refractor, 8, 27, 30, 45, 47, 59, 87, 99,
124, 145, 158–161, 163, 196, 200achromatic, 128apochromatic, 8, 27, 128, 211fluorite, 182folded, 163long-focus, 8short-focus, 8, 188
Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain, 11Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT), 9, 19, 36,
109, 120, 124, 128, 130, 134, 146,158, 196
Schmidt-Newtonian, 10skeleton-tubed, 15, 158solar, 11, 175vibration of, 177
Televue, 128Tents, observing, 4, 62Terminal blocks, 90Terminals, post, 93Testing, double-pass, 177Theodolite, 162
Index 235
Thermometers, 127TheSky, 124, 216Timber
cutting of, 75featheredge, 78, 138, 141, 150fixings for, 76grades of, 75joining techniques, 76moulding, 79, 140shiplap, 78, 128sizing of, 75tongue-and-groove 79, 82, 151treated 75, 138warping of, 141
Time, Equation of, 202Time, sidereal, 161Tines, telescope fork, 19Tissues, 197Tools, 64, 69
hand, 69, 76, 142maintenance of, 70power, 70, 141
Torches, 96, 142Torque, drive, 20ToUcam, 163, 164, 177Tpoint, 217Track, dome, 58, 156Tracking. see Guiding and autoguidingTransformer, step-up, 161Treatment (timber), 85Trees, 33, 39, 45, 52, 136Trellis, 33, 38, 149Triad bar, 214Tripods,
photographic, 13telescope, 43, 133, 201
Tube rings, 15, 146, 158, 208Tube, cardboard, 174Tubing, copper, 100TV, 24, 104Tycho Brahe, 1Tyler, Dave, 25, 57, 154, 155, 172
Ultraviolet light, effect on plastics, 66, 86Uraniborg, 1USB, 25, 97, 104–107, 109, 111, 123, 142,
152, 160, 164
Varnish, 86, 128polyurethane, 86yacht, 86
Vaseline, 199Venus, 16, 24, 32, 136, 175, 183Vibration, 21, 31, 32, 34, 71, 119Video recorders, 24Vignetting, 111Virtual COM ports, 105Vision, persistence of, 177Vixen, 125, 182Voyager, 164
Wall plugs, 122, 125Wall rings, 168Wandsworth Common, 2Warm rooms, 24, 97, 104, 152Watec, 24, 104Water cooling of CCDs, 117Water, distilled, 197Water table, 4Wax, timber, 86Weatherboarding, 37Web groups. see Forums, InternetWebb Society, 97Webcams, 15, 24, 106, 124, 163
modified, 26, 29, 104scanning rate of, 177
Wedge, equatorial, 15Wedge, Herschel solar, 160Welding, 51, 57, 77, 129, 133, 135Wheels, 49, 54, 56, 58, 129, 134, 140,
148, 150jockey, 150
Worms, 20, 161Winches, 54Wind, 14, 29, 31, 34, 39, 48, 52, 56, 57, 62,
122, 141, 152, 166Windows. see GlazingWindows (operating system), 105, 182Windows, optical, 11Wires. see CablesWiring, 52, 64, 91, 93, 96, 107, 123, 145
See also ElectricityWith, George, 158Wood. see TimberWood-stain, 126Woodworking, 58Workbenches, 70Worms, drive, 20Worton, Tommi, 14Wren, Christopher, 1
Zenith, access to, 19, 56, 60Zoning ordinances, 41