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Which one is the finderscope?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 12:03 am
by deci.bel
I hope everyone can view the observatory telescope linked below. It's a very old refractor, probably with specs similar to a 7" Mak. But it also looks like it has more than one finderscope. Are there more than one finderscope, or what are all the tubes attached to the main
OTA?
http://digital.scaa.sk.ca/gallery/uofs_ ... tory_2.htm
Re: Which one is the finderscope?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 12:45 am
by SkyHiker
It looks like the Telrad is the first finder. The small tube to the right could be the next viewfinder. The second largest tube could be next but more likely it is an additional telescope. Maybe it is more practical, or better depending on the circumstances?
My astronomy club manages an observatory with a 20" RC but most people look through the two attached refractors because to look through the eyepiece of the RC you have to get down on your knees. The mount is so big that you can easily add two more scopes.
Re: Which one is the finderscope?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 2:36 am
by deci.bel
SkyHiker wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 12:45 am
It looks like the Telrad is the first finder. The small tube to the right could be the next viewfinder. The second largest tube could be next but more likely it is an additional telescope. Maybe it is more practical, or better depending on the circumstances?
My astronomy club manages an observatory with a 20" RC but most people look through the two attached refractors because to look through the eyepiece of the RC you have to get down on your knees. The mount is so big that you can easily add two more scopes.
I didn't even notice the
Telrad until you mentioned it! Okay, so there's a bar underneath the second largest tube, the one you said might be a secondary scope. What do you think the bar is for? It looks pretty thick.
EDIT : I'm referring to the white bar, but there's also a brass bar underneath that. : EDIT
And then there's what looks like a weight on the top. The counterweights are facing directly away from the camera, so can't be seen.
Re: Which one is the finderscope?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 3:00 pm
by Richard
Yes their is a optical finder and then they added the Telrad , the other is a balancing weight
Re: Which one is the finderscope?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 3:59 pm
by helicon
I would bet they use the Telrad for getting their bearings, then observing with the finder.