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Sandwick Astronomy Group

The astronomy group now meets on Monday nights - outside if it is clear! Ask Mr. Bicket or Mr.McGinlay for times and to check that observing will be going ahead. New members always welcome.

Now painted a lovely blue and day-glo yellow, it is unlikely that anyone will trip over the stand, even in the glorious darkness of a Shetland winter. The scope is now ready for use. We are adding a friction plate and clutch to help keep the scope on target. The mount is dead hefty with no perceptible kick-back (we used two Ford Fiesta drum brake assemblies for the altitude and azimuth bearings.

The painted finished telescope and makers The painted finished telescope and makers

Now the 6 inch reflecting telescope is complete, along with the mount. Here are the final stages of construction.

Cutting a hole to accommodate the altitude bearing Filing down the connector betweent the altitude and azimuth bearings Filing down the connector betweent the altitude and azimuth bearings The finished telescope, close up from the front The finished telescope, showing the mirror cell at the back The finished telescope and mount Filing down the connector betweent the altitude and azimuth bearings

The mount is a simple alt-azimuth affair. Here are a few photographs taken during the construction process. The group would like to thank Mr. Bill Kay of Lerwick for kindly donating a six inch mirror which he fashioned some time ago.

Designing the spider and flat holder Soldering the spider together Soldering the spider onto the base plate Inspecting the completed spider and flat holder Tension in the air as the mirror is carefully secured in the cell Cell with mirror in position, awaiting restraining cleats Inserting the mirror cell into the tube Inserting the mirror cell into the tube Cell and mirror mounted in the tube. Note the reflection of the photographer's fingers group1_tn.jpg - 4kb A toast to the completed tube Another toast to the completed tube Looking along the barrel of the tube - the poster photographed in the next image is just visible in the display cabinet First photo taken through the telescope - of an aptly captioned poster. The double image is due to multiple reflection from the glass in the display cabinet