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6/29/2007 - First PUBLIC Light

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Before I continue, no I'm not obsessed (pun intended) with "First Light" but there will be one more....what I consider a fully functional First Light and that will be on FRIDAY JULY 13th OR SATURDAY JULY 14th at the Northeast Astronomers Conjunction in Northfield, MA. All the odds and ends will be complete and the light shroud will have arrived. Anyway, with the scope home I needed to put it together a couple times to continue with things like trimming the pole seat cams, installing felt furniture pads in the Rocker Box to keep the Mirror Box centered, etc. I figured I'd take the scope up to Mt. Pollux in South Amherst, do a basic collimation for the first time and see how it does on Jupiter and Venus and Saturn as they were nearing a conjunction on June 30th. These objects would also allow me to keep the scope far from vertical; without a light shroud NO ONE (not even me) was climbing the ladder!

ENTRY PICTURES

Sean helps remove the Wheel-barrow handles. Sean and I install the truss poles. Everyone looks at Jupiter! There were LOTS of oohs and aaahs! From both ends of the scope, look at the Mirror, Cell and Tailgate! Tom Whitney takes a look at Jupiter....Having him enjoy this real, collimated "First Light" was very important to me. Thanks for all your encouragement Tom!

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