ATM Flashback 1998
60cm mirror blank
This is the original 60cm glass blank, to be ground down to form a telescope mirror.
It took the better part of a year to do the rough grinding and more time on a grinding machine to do the fine grinding, figuring and polishing.
The telescope itself was being built in the meantime, a 10′ long dobsonian design.
Primary Mirror: 616 mm ( 24.25″).
The mirror is a little out of round, with the optical surface varying from about
616 to 619 mm.
Focal Length: 2820mm (282 cm = 111″) (measured on optical bench)
F-ratio: f5.6 (2820 mm / 616 mm = 4.57)
60cm mirror grinding tool
This is the full scale grinding tool, a load of dental cement formed to the rough shape of the mirror and then ceramic tiles were glued on.
The telescope was completed and saw first light in 2002 April. A small ceremony took place at the Kingston waterfront.
The 60cm Venor telescope