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An exploding telescope

  • TrevorDurity
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11 years 1 month ago #96629 by TrevorDurity
An exploding telescope was created by TrevorDurity
Wow. Just came across this mad story whilst refreshing myself on the procedure for accurately measuring the focal length of newt mirror. Some people were suggested pointing it towards the Sun and measuring it's focal point! One of the guys on CN linked to the story as a word of warning.

Anyway this guy left his gorgeous 14.5" Starmaster scope covered in a horizontal position before heading to work. The wind blew the cover off, and as (bad) luck would have it blew it into alignment with the Sun. Lots of flames ensued. Amazing how much solar power these mirrors can focus!

www.skyandtelescope.com/news/105515108.html

Closest I ever came to something like this was melting a 50mm Meade finderscope when I headed indoors and forgot to put the cap on it. can only imagine the heat generated by a 14.5" mirror. Mad story :ohmy:

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11 years 1 month ago #96632 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: An exploding telescope
That's pretty unlucky!

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11 years 1 month ago #96633 by dave_lillis
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: An exploding telescope
yea, certainly unlucky, Ive melted many a plastic eyepiece using my 70mm scope, great fun.

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor

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