Craig…
Tom is still here in Fresno and we see him from time-to-time. Last summer Tom gave our astronomy club (Central Valley Astronomers) a tour of his shop. He did say that he was scaling back and even thinking about getting out altogether after he finished his then current projects. I think he was working on a 20" and a 24". I haven't seen him since August, so I don't know exactly what he decided to do.
If you want to see Tom's shop, I posted some photos on our club website. Go to http://www.cvafresno.org/ …on the menu on the left-hand side, click on Photographs, then click on 2004-07-31 Mirror Grinding. (the direct link to this page is: http://pictures.cvafresno.org/2004/2004-07-31%20Mirror%20Grinding%20with%20Tom%20Scott/pics.html )
The 24" that Arthur mentioned, if it's the same scope we know as "Big Blue" and "The Blue Marvel," is a phenominal scope: conical mirror, lightweight blue fiberglass/foam tube, and a GEM that I am told weighs about 1000 lbs. Last summer, Tom and the owner brought it up to Courtright Reservoir (8200') for one of our primitive campout/star party outings (see http://pictures.cvafresno.org/2004/2004-08-12%20Courtright/pics.html ). They also take it to Glacier Point, Kennedy Meadows, etc. In this scope, the Veil Nebula looks like a shear silk scarf. I have never seen so much structure.
Fred
Tom is still here in Fresno and we see him from time-to-time. Last summer Tom gave our astronomy club (Central Valley Astronomers) a tour of his shop. He did say that he was scaling back and even thinking about getting out altogether after he finished his then current projects. I think he was working on a 20" and a 24". I haven't seen him since August, so I don't know exactly what he decided to do.
If you want to see Tom's shop, I posted some photos on our club website. Go to http://www.cvafresno.org/ …on the menu on the left-hand side, click on Photographs, then click on 2004-07-31 Mirror Grinding. (the direct link to this page is: http://pictures.cvafresno.org/2004/2004-07-31%20Mirror%20Grinding%20with%20Tom%20Scott/pics.html )
The 24" that Arthur mentioned, if it's the same scope we know as "Big Blue" and "The Blue Marvel," is a phenominal scope: conical mirror, lightweight blue fiberglass/foam tube, and a GEM that I am told weighs about 1000 lbs. Last summer, Tom and the owner brought it up to Courtright Reservoir (8200') for one of our primitive campout/star party outings (see http://pictures.cvafresno.org/2004/2004-08-12%20Courtright/pics.html ). They also take it to Glacier Point, Kennedy Meadows, etc. In this scope, the Veil Nebula looks like a shear silk scarf. I have never seen so much structure.
Fred
