have checked with a few of the local observatories around here, and glass manufacturers. The universties dont have a clue, and the only observatory here in AUS that has a 40" newtonian got their blank from the US. the thickest glass i can get fabbed here is 25mm (1")

some have said that i am crazy for attempting this(a local astro club) , and i will never get it to work, well ive made a 8" and a 12" without "many" probs. if i apply all the same principals to the construction of the 40, i should be ok..(i hope!!).

I have finished the cell (without the flotation), the dob mount, the truss tubes and spider are done, and i am currently working on the electronics for tracking and the CCD. it is a huge beast and i have nicknamed him "Goliath".
will be putting up a site for it soon, with pics and plans and stuff. but i wont be seeing first
light for a while due to this mirror problem.
i am going to use my 8" as a guide scope.

a lot of negative ATM`s here in the clubs. think ill start an ATM club here myself, with the emphasis on "apeture fever"

any sydney people interested, please post.

• RE: RE: 40 - bobmay - September 21, 2000 - 17:20 UTC