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HOWARD ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE |
A MULTIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES |
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Alpha Ridge CSC
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Watson Telescope RestorationAs described in HALs history, our organization was entrusted with a custom built telescope from the estate of Paul S. Watson, a professional astronomer with Johns Hopkins University. Little is known about its manufacture and early use, except that it was made sometime in the 1930's or 1940's. This telescope was the primary instrument used by Paul Watson for his astronomical research and was located on his property overlooking the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.The Watson telescope is a 12-inch, F6.0 Newtonian on a German equatorial mount. Although the optical and mechanical configuration of the telescope is not unusual, its unique construction makes it one of a kind. Its mechanical and optical components were machined to the most precise level of accuracy. The amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail surpasses the capabilities of modern mass produced telecopes. One of the most striking features of all, is the one that isn't there. Not a single manufacturers' name is engraved on any one of the telescope's 200+ individual parts. The telescope, it would seem, was constructed entirely of custom-machined pieces. As a professional instrument in its day, its optical and mechanical accuracy rivals the best telescopes currently being made. To bring this telescope completely up to modern standards, the orignal mechanical "clock drive" will be replaced with a computer controlled electronic tracking mechanism. However, the original clock drive was an amazing device for its day. For more information on that device click here. Optical accuracy also rivals the best current telescopes. Optical testing in 2005 revealed the 12-inch primary mirror to be accurate to within 1/12th the width of a wave of light. Photos of the Watson Scope Before Restoration
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