Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Apr 29, 2012 18:55:29 GMT -6
A Non-Workable Reflector on the Simpsons
Vacation Cruise Episode
April 2012
Vacation Cruise Episode
April 2012
A new episode of the Simpsons aired this weekend, (jumped the shark years ago), and in it was a telescope. This episode had the Simpsons on a cruise, where Lisa comes across a telescope set up on deck by a kid astronomer in an elite part of the ship.
Of course, any telescope catches my attention - cartoon or real and it deserves a closer examination. It's a 4.5" reflector on a rocking and rolling ship's deck, but some vital problems - for a cartoon...
A major flaw of course...is the focuser/secondary mirror location. As it's drawn, it's practically against the primary mirror. Optically, the focal point is at the far end near the far opening of the tube.
Second, It's on a simple Alt-Az mount...but no big. I have my old 4.5" reflector on such a mount - with satisfactory results.
Third...the eyepiece seems to be a 1.25", but the glass...is set in the holder at an angle - distorting the image....but since the secondary is leaning against the primary, does it really matter...? Lisa didn't discover this remarkably.
We are not amused...
But again, it's just the Simpsons....
