Re: Leaving scope outdoors...?


"adm" <adm1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ys2dnb8RvP5sLbDeRVnyug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Pierre" <pgirard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1126990537.930873.296410@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> You did not state whether the scope is pier-mounted or on the field
>> tripod. If pier-mounted, it would be easy to build a dropdown louvred
>> box to protect the scope from heat and weather. The box can be hinged
>> to be taken down in a matter of seconds for observations and raised ina
>> similar fashion. The scope is always in thermal equilibrium.
>> If the tripod is used, a different solution as suggested by others must
>> be applied but with the same goal in mind.
>> Pierre MK-UK
>
> It's tripod mounted right now - but I think I will build a pier for
> sure. I'd like to have a nice sundial on it during the day (wife thinks
> telescopes are ugly), and also cut out the time of leveling and aligning
> the mount.
I have an armillary sphere brass sundial on mine. Three screws, of which
two are 'dummies'. The third is a stainless allen bolt. 5 seconds with the
right 'T' bar allen key, removes it. Under the base of the dial, there are
the bolt holes for the scope mount, and a milled alignment block, which
allows repositioning to a couple of arc seconds repeatability. The dial
was custom made for me by 'Westwood dials' in the UK, to have a slightly
larger than normal base to cover these fittings. My column, is seamless
stainless tube 6 3/4" OD, 5/8" wall thickness, just over 7 feet long. The
bottom 4 feet, are set into concrete, and the tube was adjusted with an
engineers level (accurate to 1/20000th degree), to be level before the
concrete was set (there is a tiny amount of adjustment in the top plate,
in case I got this wrong!...).

Best Wishes


.

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