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Large
- Aperture Aluminum Telescope System
with SlipStream GoTo Drive
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These new SpicaEyes Telescopes combine solid All-Aluminum construction
with a new GoTo drive system that integrates a Slip Clutch on both
axes for full-time manual and motorized slew control.
You can find
objects fast by using the included Argo Navis computer. The telescope
will automatically slew, or you can move it by hand. Once you
find your target, the telescope will track it for you, keeping
it centered in the field of view. The integrated SlipStream
clutches allow you to move the scope at any time by hand or with
the motorized slew control, with no levers to disengage.
Shown to the
left and below is a 28" f3.66 SpicaEyes SlipStream Telescope.
The oversized altitude bearings sit on 1"diameter stainless
steel shafts rotating in pillow block ball bearings. Both axes
are driven by Servo motors through a stand-alone computer mounted
to the telescope. The adjustable slip clutches are fully enclosed
and protected in a metal housing. Thumbscrews allow one to adjust
the drag of the clutches as needed.
A wireless
hand control gives three-speed slew control on both axes. The
fast slew will spin the scope completely around in less than a
minute, useful for going across large stretches of the sky. The
medium slew will nicely center objects in the field of view at
low and medium powers, and the slow slew will do the same at high
power. All three slew speeds can be individually calibrated to
the user's requirements.
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Chris
Ford of The San Francisco East
Bay recently brought his new 24" f3.25 SlipStream SpicaEyes
Telescope to the Golden State Star Party near Mt. Shasta. The
mirror for this telescope was made by Lockwood Custom Optics.
We had 3 great nights of excellent transparency. The telescope
drew a lot of interest during the day and a bevy of viewers
at night.
Here
are Chris's comments about the Telescope, including some
images he took using the Telescope with his new Canon 60Da camera.
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Specifications
SpicaEyes
Aluminum
Telescopes with SlipStream Drive
- Welded
Aluminum construction using stiff rectangular tubing and solid
plate or bar as needed.
All metal surfaces are powder-
coating
or anodized for long-lasting durability and beauty.
- 18-point
welded steel mirror cells with fans, switches, and battery
installed. 4-point floating mirror edge support. Nylon locking
bolts prevent mirror shift during transport.
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Primary
mirrors of the highest quality. The 24" and 28"
mirrors are from Kennedy
Optics. The smaller mirrors are from Lightholder
Optics. The short f/ratios of these exquisite optics
make for a low-profile design with no compromise in image
quality.
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Servo
motor GoTo Slew and Track system, with built-in slip clutches
that allow manual movement of the scope at any time. All
of the drive components have been designed and manufactured
by Sidereal
Technology.
- Argo
Navis computer and hi-res encoders are included, as well
as a convenient stand for the AN computer.
- The
renowned FeatherTouch
focuser is standard.
- An AstroSystems
shroud is fitted to the truss poles.
- Tight-fitting
front and back covers for the mirror box provide excellent
protection for the mirror during transport and storage.
- Convenient
handles and wheels are provided for easy transport of rocker/mirror
box assembly.
- A rotating
upper cage is available as an option.
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Pricing
for SlipStream
Telescopes
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| The SlipStream Telescopes are available
in sizes from 16" to 40" and in f/ratios from f2.8 to
f4. Please e-mail for an up-to-date price quote on any system you
might be interested in |
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EQUATORIAL
PLATFORMS
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15736
McQuiston Lane
Grass Valley, CA 95945
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530-274-9113
tomosy@nccn.net
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Steve Kennedy
standing with Tom Osypowski with Steve's new 28" SpicaEyes
All-Aluminum SlipStream GoTo Telescope custom built for him by
Equatorial Platforms.
The picture
was taken at RTMC in May. Dan Gray from Sidereal Technology was
there to do some initialization procedures on the drive the first
day, after which the Telescope performed flawlessly for two nights,
with excellent pointing accuracy and tracking. On Sunday night
a wind with 30mph gusts came up, but, even with the shroud on,
the scope was quite steady. The slip clutches can be easily tightened
to withstand moderate winds.
Views were
outstanding through Steve Kennedy's 28" f3.66 mirror. We
had a great tour of the Spring galaxies and globulars under dark
skies with moderate to good seeing. The performance of Steve K's
stunning large aperture short f/ratio mirrors are quickly breaking
down some myths and taboos surrounding the subject of sub-f4 mirrors.
There was no compromise that we could detect in the images, just
a shorter trip up the ladder (and a shorter ladder to haul around).
With the 26 Nagler and Paracorr, a bright star panned across the
field stayed sharp from one edge to the other. High power views
through a Denkmeier binoviewer of the bright Spring galaxies were
fabulous, with "best ever" heard from more than one
person. Jupiter was contrasty and as detailed as the seeing allowed.
Mirror alignment with a set of tools and a Howie Glatter laser
was easy enough to do, and the stiff telescope structure kept
it stable.
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