20 inch Dobsonian Telescope construction

[@amitkaushik7209]

Hi Peter, Awesome Job.. i was wondering how good it would be showing planets and nebulas..i have a 12 inch...wouldyou mind sharing some pics of its observation?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hi Amit. Many thanks for your positive comment. heres my instagram page. theres some images there taken with my Phone through the eyepiece. instagram.com/astropete/

[@acefan2trekninja]

That telescope is amazing. Congratulations on the build.

[@celia788]

I am so envious! I am fascinated by astronomy and would love to build my own telescope with as much craftsmanship as yours. It is absolutely gorgeous!

[@KURTrek]

This is a lot harder than it looks. Dovetail for the mirror box takes courage my friend, and those side bearings are some of the best looking plywood bearings I have ever seen.

[@DrRussPhd]

Nice work . . . I like the idea of it starting out looking like a wheelbarrow then putting it together. I hope it is still serving you well. Thanks for posting this.

[@caseykelso1]

2 minutes in and i feel like im on an Acid trip, Thank you, its been awhile. Window pain😂

[@patriotastronomer6780]

Clear skies to you sir! I am amazed that I am just now seeing this post! I have a Meade Lightbridge 16 that I really enjoy using. I finally have many of the tools needed to be able to build a scope similar to yours, the bigger the better. Great video!

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thanks for the Comment. I highly Recommendation this book if you haven't heard of it. www.willbell.com/tm/dobtel.htm It is truly a great book. Good luck with your build. Pete

[@patriotastronomer6780]

@@PeterSmithwoodsmith, thanks for the book recommendation!

[@YTMegiddo]

What an absolutely wonderful job! I'm just building a piece just to move my mirror up the tube for better astrophotography and that's a job. Your's blows me away. Enjoy those wonderful views!

[@trevorb7645]

This is thing is awesome..Top notch craftsmanship and attention to detail

[@juandavidbarrada]

Beautiful piece of art! Hope one day, when I finish mine, looks at least half as good as yours!

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

Great job. I have a 16" Nightsky Dobsonian. It is fantastic. The only difficult thing about it, is moving it. I have wheel barrow handles to move it, but it would be nice if I had other options.

[@davepastern]

what's the website for nightsky dobs? I can't find it via a Google search...

[@InstantLightning]

This is awesome. I just took an optics class and I kinda wanna build one of these one day to apply that knowledge

[@moussaemad]

What a wonderful skill! Fantastic job, mate!

[@IanSmithKSP]

You're clearly a genius sir, keep it up.

[@andrewwilson8317]

I am assuming the next step will be to add some form of precision position adjustment to it? Perhaps an Ardunio based servo motor system to allow fine tuning? Should be fairly easy,in theory anyway,to add to such a strong structure?

[@andrewwilson8317]

Beautiful work,very impressive.

[@franktrough6065]

Great stuff would you mind sharing a parts list and maybe drawing?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thank you Frank. I don't have drawings at hand, but i highly recommend this book. It is all you need to build a great scope. www.obsessiontelescopes.com/publications/index.php

[@FAMUCHOLLY]

Super creative. Oh... and the music is COOL too!

[@piyushkr1991]

Beautiful job! And I have to say - the music was very interesting.

[@markusaurelius777]

That's a beauty of a scope Peter! Clear Skies! :)

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thank you Markus

[@satyris410]

Fantastic video and awesome music. What genre would you describe it? Gentle house / psytrance / 4am comedown music?

[@juandavidbarrada]

Wow! That's a beauty! I would definitely use this video (and the blog of course!) as a guide to build my own one...your telescope looks exactly like my dream one! (I have almost everything ready for mine but, it'll be smaller..."just" 12 inches)

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

+Juan David Barrada Thank you Juan. I hope your build goes well.

[@pault5947]

Beautiful. Proper job!

[@telescopiosmedellin1647]

Hola muy buenas tardes, pregunta, de casualidad no fabricas estos telescopios bajo pedido? para enviar a Miami / Florida?

[@honoriosergio5454]

hello Peter Smith very beautiful and neat his telescope, congratulations!

[@Mypersonalyoutube123]

How much did the supplies cost?

[@SandLeopard003]

where u can buy the mirror ?

[@ferguzonfm5980]

Woow I think the MOST expensive part of the telescope is the mirror 🤑 with that you must see better than a commercial telescope

[@dwculp]

Very nice! I wish I had the woodworking skills to build something like this!

[@davepastern]

wow! nice work mate!

[@kshitijsaini6006]

can you tell the meassurements of the mirrors which you used.

[@thomasthomas2073]

awesome are you making them now like to buy one

[@dwculp]

This is amazing! I wish I had the woodworking skills to be able to build something like this!

[@1kthompson123456789]

Could you tell us the specifics of the secondary?

[@chipperson3123]

Peter fantastic job. Question about the secondary cage. You seem to show some kind of sheet of wood forming the inner cylinder cage. What is that stuff? It seems awful thick to be regular veneer. Did you have to steam it to make the round cylinder?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hi Chip53 Do. The Secondary cage is made from 3mm (1/8") BIrch Flexiply. Lovely bendy and easy to work with.

[@chipperson3123]

Thanks for your reply. I did not know about that bendy plywood. This is great stuff. I can use this stuff for all kinds of other projects now.

[@rajanasir129]

Hey good job but I was wondering how it is 20 inches it is about 8 feet tall

[@lawrencethompson3805]

Hi could you tell me the pros and cons between a tube and the frame type? the reason I ask is I was gifted a Dobsonian 10inch that works fine but it had an accident that cracked the tube it has gafa tape on and I did think of buying a tube to make it look better but wondered about putting all the gubbins on a frame like this. Cheers for any advice plus I looked at your pics, pretty cool and Hadrians wall up my area

[@squids]

Hi, The primary mirror has to be parabolic?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

peterdaniel. Indeed yes you are correct. The Primary mirror is Parabolic.

[@squids]

Thanks for your answer!

[@squids]

Sorry one more question. The 20 inch is the diameter of the primary mirror?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

peterdaniel 20 inches is the Diameter of the primary mirror.

[@stavrosk9194]

Hey I was wondering from where did you got the mirror. I want to create a 14 inch dobsonian and I don't know where to get them

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hi. It all depends on where you live. I'm in the UK there are several place you can get telescope mirrors here in the UK. I got mine from nichol optical but Orion optics are good too. If you live anywhere else I suggest google searching for Telescope mirror manufacturers in you country.

[@magdanoz88]

Hi, Peter! Can I ask you - how did you mount the secondary mirror onto its base? By gluing it? If so - which type of glue you used?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hello Magdanoz88 I made an aluminium housing for my Secondary mirror like this - www.astrosystems.biz/sechold.htm If your secondary mirror is large like mine (4 inches / 100mm minor axis) then a housing is necessary. But if yours is not so big say 2 inches / 50mm then Mirror/glass silicon adhesive will do the job. It is also a good idea to place 2 cocktail sticks between the mirror and the holder with the Silicon. this will keep the mirror parallel to the holder and create a gap that will make it easier to get them apart if you need to replace your Secondary at some point. stellafane.org/tm/dob/ota/mount-diag.html Hope that helps Pete

[@Aceondrums58]

I know this is an old video but can u tell me what the black wrap is that u used on the tubes at the upper cage? Thanks & Clear skies!

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hello and thank you for your comment. That is Flocking. it comes in self-adhesive sheets

[@prakhargahlot9373]

This is maddening! How come you didn't include pictures taken through the telescope.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hello Prakhar Gahlot. Sorry the video was rather long already. Here is another video. All the moon footage is through this 20 inch. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqPRgH-BltJ1rMk

[@denisobrien2960]

Fab presentation and build Peter. Any chance to get plans for the build??

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thank you Denis. I highly recommend this book. It's all you need to build a great scope www.obsessiontelescopes.com/publications/index.php

[@denisobrien2960]

Thank you for that. Is it possible to reach you via email??

[@denyssato]

Congratulations man! Awesome!

[@DanKon75]

Great job. How do you find viewing on higher powers. Is it a pain manually tracking all the time?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hello Dan. I find viewing through higher power eyepiece are dependent on location and atmospheric conditions. I live at about 50 meters above sea level so eyepiece above 10mm on my 20 inch with a focal ratio of 4.2 are not that great. So higher altitudes are better but I drive and have a van so it's a joy to use. In regards to manually tracking, it is large and heavy so it can be a little tricky to manoeuvre when it is pointed straight up at the zenith. But besides that i find it wonderful to use.

[@tubedude54]

I saw the comment where you stated 'that moment you realize. Wrong way!!' After that I sat and waited for the comment 'Oh... it's CLOUDY' and you then take it all apart but it never came LOL!

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hey Tubedude. Cheers for your comment. The forecast was clear skies that evening and it did indeed clear up. So it wasn't a wasted exercise.

[@tubedude54]

That's great Peter! Hope it has been a good scope for you!

[@SmokeFlame1]

That is a work of art. Beautiful. Did you design your own plans or acquire them from someone else. I ask because I'm thinking of building one of these.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hi SmokeFlame1. I recommend getting a Book called The Dobsonian Telescope (A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes) by David Kriege and Richard Berry. This is a fantastic book. Those guys build Obsession Telescopes. Also Webster Telescopes are worth a look.

[@SmokeFlame1]

Thank you

[@nuclearnyanboi]

The collimation must be very hard on that one

[@nonofyourbusinessnonofyour5435]

Brother post some images with this telescope I don’t see any

[@KajoFox]

That scope looks brilliant. Only downside is the need to use a ladder to look through it haha.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

thanks for the comment. I dont see that as a down side i love every thing about it. hehehe

[@KajoFox]

I can do naught but envy you, especially if you have good skies to use it under near by. I can only imagine the views of planetary nebulae through a scope that big!

[@jasonfuqua4284]

No pictures from the telescope?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hello Jason. Here are some Video Clips using my Smartphone through this scope.kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqPRgH-BltJ1rMk

[@MartinBettler]

very well done! if I might ask: what focal ratio did you choose for your 20"?

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Martin Bettler hi. Thanks for the comment. The Mirror has a 4.2 focal ratio.

[@MartinBettler]

Peter Smith thank you Peter!

[@pabsgabs]

Amazing work

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Pablo Gabs many thanks.

[@tommywalker742]

Dude that’s bad ass. How are the views?

[@DobDude]

Classic Obsession style!

[@deathrager2404]

how much did u invest in this project?

[@JoeJoeV12]

I never would have thought The Hound was into astronomy.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

hahaha cheers. i take that as a compliment. Im thankfully not seriously scary.

[@JoeJoeV12]

Lol! Awesome build man.

[@JoeJoeV12]

+1 sub

[@laissythierry7830]

Intéressante vidéo ☺😊😀

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thank you

[@franktrough6065]

thank you much for the information I plan to keep in touch if ok to do so.

[@gary.solexa]

Fabulous. I am inspired...

[@VitaliyYutovets]

Very interesting video.

[@ricardocalderon1721]

Amazing beautiful...congratulations.

[@416pp]

dope indian music at the end!

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Two questions: WTF? why the fans? Is there motion control? Comment: amazing scope dude.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Hi there. The fans are there to cool the mirror. The mirror needs to be at a few degrees above the ambient temperature outside. If I take the telescope out from where I store it and it's much warmer it creates thermal currents which will ruin the view through the telescope. There is no motion control. The scope is used for visual observation. it is possible to motorise it but I have no need for that.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

@@PeterSmithwoodsmith Thank you! I'm hoping to start grinding a 10" mirror soon at Chabot Observatory in Oakland CA to make my own Dobber.

[@HistoryShell1786]

Peter Smith can you show a video on what you can see in the telescope

[@honoriosergio5454]

wow. amazing telescope

[@mikebenengtouncry3613]

your secondary mirror is as big as my primary mirror ahahah

[@honoriosergio5454]

amazing!

[@ahmad1080p]

amazing

[@glaysonmestre]

show planets pleas

[@TruthWillSF]

Music superb

[@soldier4christsoldier4chri90]

Cost?

[@michael_toms]

inspirational!

[@gunnarjensen5910]

Very nice

[@Mr.doomsday9000]

This look like a cannonball

[@lefablabdequoy8301]

300 mm dobson build out of a 300/1500 PDS skywatcher: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5S3gXScqb2rgbc

[@audiosteven86]

rad telescope. but music to video is too slow

[@ponnusamysaravanakumar3450]

The music is good

[@focalplane3063]

A simple image of what it sees would have been nice.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

The is a link to a video in the end credits showing what you see through it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqPRgH-BltJ1rMk

[@adyn315]

can i see exoplanets with it lol

[@АлексейАлексеев-г9ъ7б]

Молодец!!!

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Thank you

[@АлексейАлексеев-г9ъ7б]

Peter Smith вот мой телескоп old.astronomer.ru/library.php?action=2&sub=2&gid=110

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

Wow nice Scope. i like the Aluminium Mirror cell. Great build

[@АлексейАлексеев-г9ъ7б]

+Peter Smith thank you very much

[@МикитаКостюшенко]

Где достать такое главное стекло/ сколько оно стоит?

[@jeffreylebowski4927]

LIKE A BOSS.

[@vfrfoxtrott6430]

...

[@happytryfriend]

over 3000 for a mirror.thats to much

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

It is alot of money. but if you are really in to your Astronomy. it really is worth it. People spend alot more than that on Cars,Sport,Tv,Stereo,ETC. Ive seen things that really blow my mind through this Telescope.

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqPRgH-BltJ1rMk

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6uYn5mgmcuVZq8

[@iriartef1]

la media wea. Congrats

[@ptese]

Australian

[@PeterSmithwoodsmith]

English :)

[@ptese]

You sound Australian

[@reynoldfrancis6060]

Anyone seeing the clouds? Hit like

[@mountainviews5025]

music ruins videos

[@odenvalhalla4724]

Amazing