Thank you Tom for this e-mail!
Tom Dey, is a retired engineer who spent the better part of his career with Harris Precision Optics. He is also an avid and expert stargazer. He recently acquired a unique New Moon telescope equipped with a 36” Techno-Fusion® F3.5 mirror made by Optiques Fullum. As a manufacturer it is always great to receive an email with the following performance report, especially from someone with such an extensive experience and knowledge of high quality optics :
FIRST LIGHT:
The 1st good-seeing opportunity was on the night of October 09/11. [couple of previous nights had moonlight and terrible atmosphere]
The performance of the New Moon 36 is WONDERFUL !
Here, transcribed from my Observing Log: >>>
>muggy, almost warm
>went up at 7pm & opened up the dome; Box Fans going full-blow at the door, intend to go back up around 9pm & see what I can accomplish
>10pm arrive at dome
>align on Alpheratz and Polaris, Warp +0.08 (good!)
>OK, now eyepieces… warm and muggy
>10:15 pm RESOLUTION IS WONDERFUL !
>the moment I ran the eyep out of focus, thermals are GOOD! (Box fans blowing thru door must have helped a LOT!)
>31mm Nagler + Paracorr 2 @ 127x 7.2mm pupil – Pinpoint stars
>17mm Ethos + Paracorr @ 232x 3.9mm pupil – Very Sharp
>13mm Nagler T0 @ 303x 3.0mm pupil SHARP !
>Sharp! WAY outperforms toe old 29-incher.
>star focus is “SNAP” sharp. No signs of astig, coma, sph, zones, turned edge… all wavefront seems fine
>the dimmest stars look like tiny pinpoint dots
>NOW check out a few Deep Sky targets:
>M57 YIPPEE! Superb with 13mm Nagler T0 + PC… Really Quite Sharp! Central Star is easy. Only limit is the atmosphere, not the scope.
>this scope can probably handle 500x no problem, when the sky allows it
>NGC7479 Phenomenal! 13mm + PC Very obvious loopy spiral arms going this way; super, performing Magnificently!
>M15 Spectacular 13mm nice dot stars
>SUPERB ALL
>Galaxy 7814 Nice! 13mm very straight, long dust lane, very thin, nice!
>M76 Baby Dumbbell MAGNIFICENT! Every bit ag good as e.g. M27 in a 12-inch; super, very sharp stars 13mm + PC all that exterior puffy structure shows wonderfully and WAY OUT!
>Perseus Galaxy Cluster 1279 etc. Fabulous! Loaded with galaxies all over & they are BRIGHT! 17mm (could have gone 13) Very good resol
>NGC 909 etc. & 891 (BIG!) Great!
>M74 Vy Big face-on spiral, going this way, obvious
>so, the scope is WONDERFUL!
>sky darkness SQM 21.35 (decent, but not great… for here) & the sky “looks bright” but placid so good seeing tonight…
>Oh yeah, the Night Vision also focuses right where I want and the NV star images are spectacularly pinpoint. Tom
About Techno-Fusion® mirrors: By using a unique fusing process developed by Optiques Fullum in partnership with the Université Laval, Optiques Fullum can build very light and affordable optic mirrors given their diameter with an increased rigidity.
About Optiques Fullum: Optiques Fullum is leader in custom-made high precision optics. Through world class optical fabrication techniques, custom equipment and strong partnerships with universities and research institutes, Optiques Fullum can meet even the most challenging requirements. In many projects, Optiques Fullum is involved at the early stages of development and will work hand in hand with the clients to transition towards manufacturable solutions that will fulfill or even exceed all the expectations.
Through the use of innovative techniques like the Techno-Fusion Technology® or the Fullum-Folded Newtonian Telescope®, Optiques Fullum is able to bring to the market high-end large telescopes and optical mirrors at an affordable cost.
All large diameter telescopes are built to order and are fully customized to the specific needs and objectives of each client: for visual observation, for research, for imaging.
For more information: info@optiquesfullum.com