Introduction

Some 30 years ago I decided to build a large telescope. My interest in large telescope started after looking through several large telescopes, including the 30" at Stony Ridge near Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California. The images from a large telescope are unforgettable. I have had the opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes types and apertures over the years. I have also owned and still own a variety of different telescopes from 60mm refractors, to an 8" Schmidt Cassegrain to the 22" Newtonian described in this web site. I prefer to use the 22" despite the size, similar to a Honda CRX, of the telescope.  An interest in engaging in some sort of research, along with visual observing also influenced the decision to build a large telescope.

The most difficult problem in building a telescope is to design an instrument that can be used with instrumentation and detectors that have not yet be invented. The best one can do is to build a sturdy, versatile mount and versatile optical system. There are many different types of optical designs for telescopes and telescope mounting.  Different types of telescope and mounting designs can be found in the article 22" Design Musings. A description of some of the design considerations for the 22" telescope is also included in 22" Design Musings The construction of the 22" telescope is described in this web site.