|
|
||
|
Optics for My Telescopes DISCUSSION: The question sometimes arise about the quality of the optics used in some of my telescopes. When building complete telescopes, I always make sure I use mirrors from a known and quantifiable source. Meade's older Pyrex mirrors, for example, usually have an excellent figure, and with good coatings, perform nicely. I've been using Hubble Optics mirrors in my 8" - 16" telescopes. |
||
 |
Hubble Optics is a
relatively new mirror vendor in the market with very competitive
pricing. Given the aggressive pricing, many
folks are asking about the quality of these mirrors.
This
photo is a 14" Hubble Optics sandwich mirror. "Prior to building a telescope around my newly acquired Hubble Optics 14 inch Sandwich Mirror, I wanted to get it professionally tested (to make sure it was worth the effort). I sent the mirror to Steve Swayze and he tested it. Well the results are in: smooth, correction is very good, very straight ronchi bands on both sides of focus, good edge, no TDE, and no need to reconfigure. Please understand this is a sample of one...not sure what it implies about other HO mirrors...but I am quite pleased...." |
|
 |
Hubble Optics 14" sandwich mirror. You can see other comments on the Hubble Optics website here. | |
 |
Discovery. Discovery telescope mirrors are usually excellent
and I've found their mirrors to be full-thickness, or very
close. They are made in the U.S. I've build a number of these
into ultra-light telescopes, and in every instant, the images
have been excellent. Put your mouse over the image for a comparison. |
|
 |
Coulter Optical: This is a
photo of a 13.1" mirror from a Coulter Odyssey I telescope. The
Odyssey telescopes were first built in the 1980's, and the
mirrors as were advertised as Pyrex with an 1/8 wave
correction.. The mirrors were 1.1" thick, so I always use
a 6-point floatation mirror cell. Additionally, there were 8", 10" and 17.5" mirrors and telescopes available. Put your mouse over the image for a comparison. |
|
 |
Meade: Meade telescope mirrors are usually very good. I don't have any specific test results except to say that, when using them, the image quality of these brands have been excellent. |
|
 |
Other vendors: When I can find them, I like to use mirrors from Orion, DSO and other commercially available Newtonian telescopes on a Dobsonian base. These telescopes use optics that are quite good as well. Many of these "brand names" use optics that are made in the same factory! | |
|
Here's a list of optics
vendors. If you have any other, let me know and I'll add them: -- Parks Optical -- RF Royce Optical -- e-scopes (partial kits) -- Swayze Optical -- Nova Optical -- Galaxy Optics -- Optic Wave Labs -- Hubble Optics -- Stahowski Optics -- Stevens Optical Good sources for used optics: -- Astromart Classifieds -- Cloudy Nights Classifieds -- eBay (search for "telescope mirrors) |
||
For more information about
your requirements: |
||
|
Copyright © 2007-2013 -- DobSTUFF.COM. All rights reserved |
||
