SPAC Mirror Lab rafflescope page

Founder

Paul McNabb founded the mirror lab in 1997 in order to create the best amateur telecopes possible. Inch for inch our mirrors surpass store bought or commercial grade scopes.

Lab Members

Allen Maroney has completed three mirrors in the lab between 8 and 18 inches. Allen is also buiding a second robo foucault tester based on James design.

Ralph Craig is a lab instructor and has made mirrors from 6 inches to his recently completed 16 inch f5 mirror.

Charlie Mullen ground the mirrors for two years worth of rafflescopes but now has moved on the clear skys of New Mexico.

James Lerch built our robo foucault tester and in house aluminizing chamber as well as a laser interferometry testing setup.

Ron Jones AKA the figurer is about the best mirror maker this side of the mississippi. You can see things in his 8 inch mirror that would impress a takahashi devotee.

Lab T-Shirts Available

Lab Graduates

Bruce and his
English Yoke

Irv Nadelhaft

Lenny Remetta

Keevy McAlavy

Paul Krisle

Matt Terry

Telescope Software
Newt
Ray tracing program for determining all required dimensions for a newtonian reflector. (New Website)

Plop
Program for designing mirror cells.

Observing Software
Celestia
3-D interactive simulation of the solar system and beyond.

JupSat95
Plots the jovian satellites.

Lunar Phase
Shows all the phases of the move and more.

Links
tampabayastronomy.com
SPAC news site

Stellafane
The birthplace of amateur astronomy.

Mel Bartels Website
Amateur Astronomer and innovator.

Stardate Website
Good overall observation site.

Southwest Florida
Astronomical Society
A nearby Astronomy club.

The Planet Table
Interactive table of planets and moons.

Lab Rafflescopes

Every year since 2002 the Mirror Lab has contructed a telescope that is raffled off at the St Pete Astronomy Clubs annual Orange Blossom Special (OBS) star party. We grind, polish, figure and aluminize every mirror and construct the mounts (usually dobsonian). All proceeds go to help the lab pay for supplies and building rent.

Year	Mount	Mirror	Winner	Notes
2007	dobsonian	10 inch	Bill Huff	tested 1/15th wave
2006	dobsonian truss tube	12.5 inch f/4.5	Robert Bruce Sinclair	man in the moon rocker box
2005	dobsonian	12.5inch f/5	Fayrene and Randy Wilson from Georgia	signed by John Dobson!
2004	equitorian split ring design with motor drive	10 inch f/5	Richard Hickman
2003	dobsonian	10 inch f/5	Steve H. only bought one ticket	Walnut mount made by Ray and Don
2002	dobsonian	8 inch	Steve Sherod	Sold it to someone else the same day :(

2005 12.5 inch Dobsonian

The St Petersburgs Astronomy has raffled off this beautiful 12.5 inch telescope at this years star party, the 2005 Orange Blossom Special Star Party.

Ticket cost was $5 each. The 2006 Rafflescope is just around the corner.

Dobson was on hand to sign the scope and draw the winner's name from the box.

This telescope was constructed by members of the SPAC mirror lab. The mirror was donated but we tested it to 1/8th wave accuracy and recoated the aluminized surface ourselves.

Specifications:
Dobsonian Mount
12.5" mirror, f/5
2 inch focuser
3.0" secondary
Novak mirror cell
9 x 50 finder
3 Orion eyepieces

Construction pictures

2005 OBS Star Party

WIN THIS SCOPE!
2004 10inch f/5

The St Petersburgs Astronomy will be raffling off this beautiful split ring telescope at our upcoming star party, the 2004 Orange Blossom Special Star Party.

$5 a ticket, winner does not need to be present to win.

This telescope was constructed by members of the SPAC mirror lab. The mirror was ground, polished, figured, and aluminized by us.

Specifications:
Equatorial Split Ring Mount - Oak wood and finish
Truss tube design rotatable tube
10" mirror, f/5
2 inch focuser
2.4" secondary
Motor drive - 12v or 120v

2004 OBS Star Party

2003 Raffle Scope
10inch F5

The rafflescope for the 2003 Orange Blossom Special Star Party was completed on October 12, 2002 and saw first light that night at our monthly public observing. This scope was won on Feb 2, 2003.

The completed optical tube assembly

The sighting scope was assembled by Paul McNabb
utilizing optics from surplus shed.

During polishing, the mirror next to its pitch lap.
Notice the reflection of the overhead light

Paul was volunteered this year to do the grinding and polishing This was the first mirror to be coated by our own custom built aluminizing chamber.

Adjustable trunnion allows variable balancing

2002 Raffle Scope

2002 star party featured an 8 inch rafflescope
(pictured above with it's proud new owner)