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16"
Dream Astrograph - featuring Dream's Filtered Air System |
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"Just
absolutely beautiful Shane! It is indeed a wonderful work of
both science and art!"
Jim Fly - Catseye Collimation
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The 16"
f3.75 Dream Astrograph now comes standard with a 5.75"
cellular secondary mirror that weighs only 1.4 lbs., compared
to a 5.5" monolithic secondary that weighs 3.7 lbs. |
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This telescope uses carbon fiber and carbon fiber
skinned sandwich core technology extensively in the following
areas: |
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- focuser platform |
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- central secondary mirror column |
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- secondary mirror cell |
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- filter cap/retainer |
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- back plate |
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- primary mirror cell and sub cells |
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- internal cabling conduits |
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- main OTA tube |
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Dream has developed and manufacturers all of the carbon
fiber components in house. |
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The remaining hardware and assemblies, except the
focuser and dovetail plates, are all stainless steel. From washers
and nuts to spherical bearings. |
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This ground-breaking telescope has many unique features.
One of the most visually dramatic is the large filter design
at the back of the telescope. |
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The use of a large diameter filter means the air flow
the fans take in is restricted far less than traditional methods.
This is due to the filter's enormous surface area. |
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The high volume, low vibration and low noise fans
pump large volumes of air into this telescope. They not only
allow the primary mirror to follow ambient temperatures far more
rapidly but they also push air past the secondary mirror. The
latter is typically the first optic to face dew issues. Moving
air does not allow dew formation. |
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Another unique advantage of the Dream Filtered Air
System is that it fills the telescope tube with clean air. It
is like having the benefits of a closed optical system without
the thermal penalties. |
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These fans are very efficient, using less than 10
watts altogether. |
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The two cables coming out of one pass through port
are temperature sensors (optional accessory for any Dream telescope).
One is measuring the ambient temperature inside the back of the
telescope and the other is measuring the back of the primary
mirror. A third sensor can be used to measure ambient air temperatures
appoximately 75mm off the exterior surface of the telescope tube.
Click on the image to the right
to see a second page of photographs. |
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