The D.S.McNamara Telescope
By Damien McNamara
PledgeMe.Project
Technology,
NZ $100 pledged
2 people pledged
Closed
NZ $5,000 minimum target
This campaign failed to reach its target by 24/07/2014 at 10:00 PM (NZST) and is now closed.
Make a PledgeAbout
The D.S.McNamara Telescope
Project 2014-06-13 23:12:40 +1200
In the early 90's my father started building a 20 inch (510mm) telescope. He had the blank, made a cradle for it, even started to grind it.
Then Shoemaker Levy 9 decided to collide with Jupiter and kind of took priority. It was an exciting time, my father was the second person in NZ to photograph the imapct sites, only 6 minutes behind Mt John in Tekapo, NZ.
Now I want to complete that telescope and dedicate it in his name. The telescope once finished will be located in Oamaru, hopefully in a purpose built observatory, but that is another project all together, wtahc this space!
I can't really offer a lot in the way of rewards except for other amateur astronomers and skygazers the opportunity to have an image taken through The D.S.McNamara Telescope.
This is something I've dreamt about doing for many years, but now, with next month being the 20th anniversary of Shoemaker Levy 9 hitting Jupiter, I feel it a fitting tribute to a great man that spent a good portion of his life looking to the stars.
PLEASE help me finish this project that has been 20 years in the making! The project will close at 10pm on the 22nd of July 2014, 20 years to the day of the last fragment, fragment "W" from Shoemaker Levy 9 hitting Jupiter.
This one telescope will hopefully reignite interest in Astronomy in the North Otago area again, and inspire the next generation of Star Gazers to think big!
Comments
Updates 1
New mirror
16/07/2014 at 9:30 PM
Hi everyone, we have had a minor change in this project, nothing major, just added another 2 inches! Whilst picking out an appropriate new blank for the D.S.McNamara telescope, we stumbled across a right gem in the dust, literally! A 100% ready to install 22 inch telescope mirror. So we have decided rather than wait months and months for the 20 inch blank to be ground, polished, figured, and then silvered, we purchased the 22 inch mirror on the spot. We can now jump 25 odd steps in the build and start sourcing the actual materials needed for the telescope tube, and mount.
Pledgers 2
09/07/2014 at 1:24am
02/07/2014 at 8:14pm
Followers
Followers of The D.S.McNamara Telescope
The D.S.McNamara Telescope
Project 2014-06-13 23:12:40 +1200
In the early 90's my father started building a 20 inch (510mm) telescope. He had the blank, made a cradle for it, even started to grind it.
Then Shoemaker Levy 9 decided to collide with Jupiter and kind of took priority. It was an exciting time, my father was the second person in NZ to photograph the imapct sites, only 6 minutes behind Mt John in Tekapo, NZ.
Now I want to complete that telescope and dedicate it in his name. The telescope once finished will be located in Oamaru, hopefully in a purpose built observatory, but that is another project all together, wtahc this space!
I can't really offer a lot in the way of rewards except for other amateur astronomers and skygazers the opportunity to have an image taken through The D.S.McNamara Telescope.
This is something I've dreamt about doing for many years, but now, with next month being the 20th anniversary of Shoemaker Levy 9 hitting Jupiter, I feel it a fitting tribute to a great man that spent a good portion of his life looking to the stars.
PLEASE help me finish this project that has been 20 years in the making! The project will close at 10pm on the 22nd of July 2014, 20 years to the day of the last fragment, fragment "W" from Shoemaker Levy 9 hitting Jupiter.
This one telescope will hopefully reignite interest in Astronomy in the North Otago area again, and inspire the next generation of Star Gazers to think big!
Comments
New mirror
16/07/2014 at 9:30 PM
Hi everyone, we have had a minor change in this project, nothing major, just added another 2 inches! Whilst picking out an appropriate new blank for the D.S.McNamara telescope, we stumbled across a right gem in the dust, literally! A 100% ready to install 22 inch telescope mirror. So we have decided rather than wait months and months for the 20 inch blank to be ground, polished, figured, and then silvered, we purchased the 22 inch mirror on the spot. We can now jump 25 odd steps in the build and start sourcing the actual materials needed for the telescope tube, and mount.