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Astronomy/building a telescope

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Expert: - 10/28/2007


Question
Do you think you could give me some direction on building a 10 to 12 inch telescope?  Where should I buy or order a telescope glass eye.  I will need a lot of help since I have never done this before.

Answer
Hi Shannon,
Thanks for the question, but unfortunately, I don't build
telescopes, I only know how to USE one.  So could you
please re-direct your question to allexperts.com  person Paul
Wagner as he is the super-expert on building telescopes.
I believe it even says on his front page that he's built many,
and all types of scopes....I've always paid another person
to build my scopes, and grind my mirrors, so I only know
how to use one, not build one.
Thanks, and hope this helps you,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie PA

PS...just remember, equipment (scopes) come last in our
great hobby....knowledge of the night sky comes first.

Any scope is worthless to you unless you know exactly where to point it first.  Plus, what do you want to specialize in?...lunar/planetary details, Deep Sky Objects, comet hunting, variable stars, double/multiple stars, etc etc. and you WILL specialize as there is just too much out there to view.

There is a scope out there that maximizes EACH of these
activities above, so that's the scope you want to get....scopes are like airplanes...all airplanes fly, but you don't send a bomber to do a fighters job....scopes are exactly the same way...(Otherwise, we'd all have the exact same type scope, wouldn't we? But we don't,  because of the above information....there are different scopes for different folks).
.....So be sure to tell Paul ahead of time what your main interest will be in....otherwise, no one will know what kind of ....."airplane" you want or are looking for!!!
Tom

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Tom Whiting

Expertise

Astronomy has been my hobby/pasttime for over 50 years.  Currently own 3 telescopes, the largest of which is a 30 inch Newtonian truss Dob that is portable.I taught Astronomy/Meteorology at the University Level for 13 years before retiring in 1995. Being retired and home most of the time, I am able to answer all questions relatively quickly, unless it's a new moon weekend with good observing conditions.  No astrology questions please, or questions about alleged UFO picture identifications.

Experience

Experience: Astronomy has been my hobby and study for over 50 years. We currently now own a 30 inch portable telescope (Updated - Pennsylvania`s largest portable telescope). It can be seen on our website at:http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting and also attend several regional starparties during the year, and have been on 5 total solar eclipse expeditions.

Organizations: President, Erie County Mobile Observers Group for over 15 years.

Publications: Wrote the "Over Erie Skies" newspaper article in our local newspaper for 11 years (1975-86).

Education: Masters Degree- Taught at the University level for 13 years. Retired 20 years -USAF Pilot - KC-135 with 180 combat missions;  Also Eagle Scout, Philmont staff 2 Yrs, Order of Arrow Lodge Chief, Ham Radio (inactive).

Awards: two discoveries: The mini-coathanger asterism in Ursa Minor (the little dipper) And the mini-ladle- another asterism in the bowl of Ursa Minor. Clients: Currently President of the ECMOG as mentioned above.

Education/Credentials
BS  Metallurgical Engineering Grove City College, PAMaster's Degree, Gannon University, Erie, PA Also retired USAF pilot, 20 years.

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