Primary questionPosted By Pierre Tournay |
Hello Al
I own a 12.5 inch F5 primary that Normand grounded and parabolised completly. He told me he would give me a very nice one and it hits 1/17 lamda P-V (Interferometer tested)with an incredible smooth surface. The Foucault showed even better results. The Ronchi diagrams showed absolutly no turn down edges and no weird wiggles anywhere on the surface of the mirror. It' s now been 3 years that I have this mirror in a gorgeous Rosewood wodden masterpiece of his that won first prize in craftsmenship in the 2004 Stellafane contest. I can guarantee you that his mirrors will blow your mind because I am able to split double stars with 1 arc second seperation at 400X magnification. Remember that Epsilon Lyrae (The double-double)has seperations of 2.2 and 2.8 arc seconds. Each time I observe with it, I try a tighter double star and so far, the seeing is the limiting factor. I also have a list of double stars that go even tighter...as tight as 0.1 arc second....so I have plenty to push this mirror and see just how far I can go based on seeing conditions. I know it will never split 0.1 arc second but my list is more than complete to show me how far I can go. I also see 6 stars in the Trapezium at ONLY 27 X magnification !!! Try that test at a star party when looking at M42 !! Nobody needs to know but you
) You should see Jupiter and Saturn with his mirrors !! I have pushed this 12.5 inch to 700 X magnification on Saturn and it' s solid. Most telescopes will show you the Cassini division on the sides of Saturn...but it' s harder to see the Cassini Div in front of Saturn' s globe....Try that test !! Obviously, the seeing was better than average that night. I live in the Montreal area and the weather conditions are not as good as those of Arizona ) I also own a 20 inch Obsession and the 20 inch was nowere near the amount of details that the 12.5 gave me.....so I asked Normand to re-figure me the 20 inch and he did it ) I will receive the alumisised mirror this week. It had a nasty turn down edge that was clearly visible with the Ronchi test. That TDE is GONE !!! The 20 inch has a 1/15 lamba P-V and the mirror was tested by two different guys with foucault testers with one measuring 1/15 P-V and the other guy tested 1/17 P-V.
I can' t tell you how much I look forward to put the 20 inch back together and it' s finer resolution at work (A 20 inch can resolve more details than a 12.5 inch)....Imagine what' s coming)
I have seen many mirrors that Normand did for many astronomers locally and at various star parties.....No one is dissapointed. He even did a 6 ou 8 inch F10 !!!
Yes, Normand is my friend (Known him for about 4 years) but he is truly gifted. Met him thru astronomy. But there is no denying what people can "see" when they observe with one of his mirrors and/or telescopes. As they say....The proof is in the pudding) Remember to colimate properly and preciselly. Give your telescope optics the best chances of performing at their best...and enjoy the Universe )
Sincerely
Pierre Tournay
I own a 12.5 inch F5 primary that Normand grounded and parabolised completly. He told me he would give me a very nice one and it hits 1/17 lamda P-V (Interferometer tested)with an incredible smooth surface. The Foucault showed even better results. The Ronchi diagrams showed absolutly no turn down edges and no weird wiggles anywhere on the surface of the mirror. It' s now been 3 years that I have this mirror in a gorgeous Rosewood wodden masterpiece of his that won first prize in craftsmenship in the 2004 Stellafane contest. I can guarantee you that his mirrors will blow your mind because I am able to split double stars with 1 arc second seperation at 400X magnification. Remember that Epsilon Lyrae (The double-double)has seperations of 2.2 and 2.8 arc seconds. Each time I observe with it, I try a tighter double star and so far, the seeing is the limiting factor. I also have a list of double stars that go even tighter...as tight as 0.1 arc second....so I have plenty to push this mirror and see just how far I can go based on seeing conditions. I know it will never split 0.1 arc second but my list is more than complete to show me how far I can go. I also see 6 stars in the Trapezium at ONLY 27 X magnification !!! Try that test at a star party when looking at M42 !! Nobody needs to know but you
) You should see Jupiter and Saturn with his mirrors !! I have pushed this 12.5 inch to 700 X magnification on Saturn and it' s solid. Most telescopes will show you the Cassini division on the sides of Saturn...but it' s harder to see the Cassini Div in front of Saturn' s globe....Try that test !! Obviously, the seeing was better than average that night. I live in the Montreal area and the weather conditions are not as good as those of Arizona ) I also own a 20 inch Obsession and the 20 inch was nowere near the amount of details that the 12.5 gave me.....so I asked Normand to re-figure me the 20 inch and he did it ) I will receive the alumisised mirror this week. It had a nasty turn down edge that was clearly visible with the Ronchi test. That TDE is GONE !!! The 20 inch has a 1/15 lamba P-V and the mirror was tested by two different guys with foucault testers with one measuring 1/15 P-V and the other guy tested 1/17 P-V.I can' t tell you how much I look forward to put the 20 inch back together and it' s finer resolution at work (A 20 inch can resolve more details than a 12.5 inch)....Imagine what' s coming
)I have seen many mirrors that Normand did for many astronomers locally and at various star parties.....No one is dissapointed. He even did a 6 ou 8 inch F10 !!!
Yes, Normand is my friend (Known him for about 4 years) but he is truly gifted. Met him thru astronomy. But there is no denying what people can "see" when they observe with one of his mirrors and/or telescopes. As they say....The proof is in the pudding
) Remember to colimate properly and preciselly. Give your telescope optics the best chances of performing at their best...and enjoy the Universe )Sincerely
Pierre Tournay
