Udder Nonsense

This scope was originally made as a travel scope using an eight inch mirror that I ground and polished at the St Pete Astronomy Clubs Mirror Lab. The scope including the optics, truss tubes, and eye pieces all stored in a single box making it easy to store and transport by car, but it was a little too big to fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat on most aircraft.

In the Fall of 2013 I remade the scope as a "grab and go" Dobsonian using the mirrors from the original scope.

After sanding, painting, and more sanding of the cardboard tube the spiral seam was still visible so I covered the tube with some cow print material.

The cowbell serves as a counterweight when lighter eyepieces are used.

I now get more use out of it this way, and it seems to be popular with many of the kids that have used it at outreach events.

I copied Gary Seronik's very clever and easy to make curved vane diagonal holder. See a descripton of his holder on Stellafane's telescope making site.

Crayford style focuser made from plywood scraps and surplus bearings.

More info here.