Wallace the 6 inch f/2.8 telescope, building it, and hiking with it

7 days ago

The author built an ultra-wide-field telescope named 'Wallace', a 153mm f/2.8 instrument, and shares the experience of combining astronomy with hiking.
The telescope is designed for ultra-wide deep-sky views, with technical details including a coma corrector and a unique construction featuring 3D-printed parts.
The author enjoyed the outdoor process of observing, despite carrying extra gear, and found that documenting the hike enhanced their focus on the environment.
Future plans include a new, lighter mirror with improved cooling and a goal of achieving a Strehl ratio above 0.95 for better optical performance.

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