Author Topic: Any Telescope Geeks in the Building? (Read 582 times)

JCLerch · « **on:** February 20, 2005, 11:53:56 AM »

All

Just curious if there were any other fellow telescope geeks that also liked to fly in AH2

Here's some pictures from a recent star party I attended, to get things rolling (my scope is the home made Purple / Gold 16" Bino-Scope)

Dial Up users:
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm/WSP_05/

Broad Band Users
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm/WSP_05_Hi-Res/

Furball · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2005, 12:06:44 PM »

i think its 'Gremlin' that is an actual astronomer.

JB88 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2005, 12:58:30 PM »

lerch,

interesting that you should ask that. i am currently doing drawings for a small body of artwork (installational) which use a telescope as a metaphor for forward thinking perspective.

i first started working with the concept in graduate school and it has been sticking in the que since, so i started making sketches about them again.

if youd like, i can scan some of the sketches and post them for you to see, perhaps you will find them interesting.
perhaps not.

one example is a telescope which forks into two opposite directions. (looks like a "Y"). i am currently working out the schematics to make it work in such a way that two viewpoints will actually be visible when looking through the lens. (mirrors)

the difficulty that i had come across was creating tubes that could be made maliable and bendable but remained rigid. in past experiments have collapsed or buckled compressed during the bending process.

i discovered that it can only work by filling it with silica sand first which essentially allows it to remain enough rigidity that it stretches rather than collapses.

too much information?

perhaps.

but i found the question exciting.

one of the best gifts that i ever got as a child was a tasco telescope. the first time i saw the moon like that...ho boy.

i have thought it would be interesting to build my own functional telescope as a byproduct of the project.

one of the hard parts is going to be to find the right lens' i think.

anyways, i am very interested in the subject.

: )

88

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2005, 01:20:27 PM »

88,
How can a telescope be considered forward looking when astronomers consider it a tool to look into the past?

ChickenHawk · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2005, 01:36:48 PM »

I have a 90mm Meade but haven't been real serious about it. I've looked into building a dobsinion mount scope but the tracking hardware looks quite complicated and expensive. How do you track for photographs with your scope? I've heard some people do it by hand but I can't imagine how that would be very acurate. Thats a beautiful scope by the way. I can tell you put a lot of work into it.

JB88 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:30:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Maverick
88,
How can a telescope be considered forward looking when astronomers consider it a tool to look into the past?

an interesting perspective!

of course, all thinks being relative, all things observed really are from that viewpoint.

in this case, perhaps the properties would been better stated as looking outward rather than forward, but the essence is the core and why your observation is also interesting and true.

good point.

its the metaphor that interests me and your observation actually serves to deepen the observation and the conceptual idea. what is looking forward without looking backwards?!

Meatwad · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:30:08 PM »

I havent used mine in a while, no good looking women nearby

JB88 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:32:56 PM »

another piece in the series involves infrared. (and voyeurism)

exiting stuff afoot i think.

Nash · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:33:58 PM »

Conceptual art is so flexible, isn't it 88?

I mean... sometimes when you get thrown a curve ball you really gotta think quick on your feet.

JB88 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:41:31 PM »

lol.

yes nash, you might look at it from that viewpoint.

however, as you know, art is an evolution of a concept (the cornerstone). all ideas are conceptual until brought forth whole and complete. (and even then, if they are good, they are wholly incomplete.) glad to see that you speak the language! lol!

5 things that must be taken into account in artmaking.

1. concept
2. context
3. content
4. composition
5. construction

if these five things can be accounted for and perfected without excess, the whole can exist on its own without explaination. in the best cases, the result of this endeavor leaves one with questions such as the one which was raised. thats what i love about it.

which reminds me. you take pictures yes?

curious as to what of...and what format.

88

p.s. - (edited) its interesting to note that the point was made that astronomers see the telescope as a tool for looking into the past... but what we are talking about here are lenses, much like the eye, trained to observe the target in front of it... to reveal by amplifying light waves, that which is hidden. that is where the telescope lies for me...yes, you can see the past, but you are also seeking evidence in a desire to divine the future. the linear quality of a telescope naturally conveys that peering out and forward, much as a gun points forward, but without the effect.

a microscope is only different in the relative size of its quandry.

Nash · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:45:35 PM »

Oh, no.... I'm a pretty lousy photographer. You must be thinking about MiniD?

JB88 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:49:02 PM »

didnt you recently say that you make pictures?

i took you as a photographer for some reason.

what kind of pictures?

Nash · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:51:00 PM »

Oh, heh I see. No, I'm a graphic designer. But you can call me Crayolla Boy.

JB88 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:52:08 PM »

LOL! crayola boy!

portfolio on line?

do you freelance?

web/ print?

i am currently looking for a designer to build a site to house my work. no matter how i try, and no matter how well i may or may not have done it for others...i cannot seem to do it on my own.

to frigging critical of everything that i do with it.

ya know?

NUKE · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2005, 03:02:52 PM »

Nice telescope! A few years ago, I bought this 3 volume book set " Amateur Telescope Making 1,2 and 3

You probably have heard of it. It's a collection of telescope making artciles going back to the early 1900's.

Well, I was getting ramped up to order a mirror blank and hand grind my my own mirror. Then I got a different job and didn't want to take the time ( lazy)

I'd love to try and make a telescope like yours, but I doubt I could make one that nice. That's some great work!

P.S. JB88, why would you hi-jack this thread? Geeze, you are so freaking anoying. You infect a cool post about telescopes and try to divert the thread into a discussion about you and trying to sound intelectual and artistic. You sound like a knob. Get lost, please.