| Other
ATM Pages: |
| The
ATM Mailing List FAQ:
this title is a bit misleading (not in the Clinton style of
"misleading" <grin>). You can find a wealth
on information on how to make telescopes here. You can also
sign on to the ATM email list, a very active list dedicated
to ATM at every level. Highly recommended. |
| ATM
Email List Archives:
Search the archives for keywords and get answers. Highly usable
and worth a look. |
| The
ATM Page:
quite
literally one of the best ATM pages on the Internet. Stop by
for discussion on just about everything. They also maintain
an excellent vendors list. |
| Mel
Bartels' Home Page:
Mel
oversees the ATM list and is highly regarded in the ATM arena.
Here you can check out stuff like motorizing your Dob, and other
such stuff. |
| The
Sidewalk Astronomers:
The group founded by John Dobson, the man behind the 'Dobsonian
Revolution'. |
| Individual
Projects and Examples: |
| Build
Your Own Dobsonian Telescope:
good page to see some ideas on building
your own Dobsonian scope. |
| Ed
Steven's 12.5" "Suitcase Dob" |
| Vendors:
|
| AstroSystems:
Produce full telescope kits or all components of those kits.
Highly recommended. |
| Newport
Glass Works:
highly recognized in the ATM world as a producer and supplier
of telescope blanks, grinding compounds, mirrors, secondaries
and other stuff. |
| Salem
Distributing: an excellent source of grits and other
polishing materials for mirror making. Highly recommended. |
| Obsession
Telescopes:
Makers
of fine Dobsonian Style telescopes and components. |
| Willmann-Bell
Publishers:
While they don't advertise their ATM supplies such as mirror
blanks, etc., they do sell them (give them a call at 804-320-7016
for more info). On their web site they list their astronomy
books, including some fantastic ATM resources. Highly recommended.
|
| Got
Grit?: Offering Microgrit grinding and polishing
compounds in small amounts or in kits. |
| McMaster-Carr
Supply Company: excellent
source of Teflon (and just about anything else) for your bearings.
No minimum purchase amount. I bought a 2'x1" of 3/16"
strip for $15.18 and it was shipped same day. |
| Optics:
|
| Swayze
Optical: high
quality mirrors with a very good reputation. |
| Pegasus
Optical:
another
high quality manufacturer of mirrors. |
| Nova
Optics: good
reputation, but I have not seen their product. |
| QSP
Mirror Coatings: excellent
reputation in coating mirror blanks, among other astronomical
products. |
| Software:
|
| ATM
Software:
fairly complete collection of PC compatible ATM software for
equations, Foucault reduction, telescope performance, etc. |
| PLOP:
Written by David Lewis this software is designed to show the
user the design optimization of mirror cells. |
| Newt
for Windows 2.5.
This handy program for Windows 3.1 or higher helps display
complex ideas graphically, allowing you to make changes to telescope
parameters and see how those changes will affect such things
as vignetting and diagonal sizing. Shareware. |
| ATM
Classes & Workshops: |
<please
email with
yours> |
| SDAA
Telescope Making Classes:
Located
in San Diego. Check out the classes and come on in if you're
in the area. |
| Bellingham
Telescope Optics Workshop:
Located in Bellingham, Washington. Get in quick. This class
fills up in a hurry! |
| Amateur
Telescope Makers of Boston:
Located in Boston. Very active group with meetings. |
| STAR
Astronomy Club: Located
in New Jersey. This group meets every once in a while to help
each other out, but it sounds like there might be a budding
class there somewhere. |
| National
Capital Astronomers:
Located in Washington D.C. The NCA holds mirror-making classes
on Friday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 at American University,
in Washington D.C. at Ward Circle (Nebraska & Massachusetts
Avenues NW). For more information, call or email
Guy Brandenburg at 202-635-1860. |
| Stellafane:
Located in Springfield, Vermont. Long known for being a
world famous star party, this event also hosts some ATM workshops
as well. |
| Delmarva
Stargazers:
Located in Delmarva, Delaware. Currently grinding 6" blanks.
|
| Raleigh
Astronomy Club:
Located
in North Carolina. The page describes the class and there's
a $76 fee to attend. |
| Miscellaneous: |
| Eyepiece
Ideas: Making your own eyepieces with basic tools
and materials. |
| Perfect
Pitch Laps: rubber molds for easily making pitch laps.
No channeling, fuss or muss... |
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