Mirror Making Class
Robo Foucault Tester
Inhouse Aluminizing
Image Gallery
Astronomy Library
Telescope Construction
Our Telescopes
  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.

Google
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.

Charlie is leaving for the clear skys of New Mexico
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2006-12-23
Charlie who is pictured of Charlie polishing his 20inch mirror has moved to New Mexico. He'll have to contend with snow drifts in the winter but at least he'll have some very good viewing. We'll miss you Charile.
| Leave a Comment
Ginger completes an 8 inch Mirror
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2006-10-28
Ginger Tiling has finished figuring her 8 inch mirror. It has an f/ratio of f/5.6 and was completed on October 28th. Congratulations.
| Leave a Comment
The first ever mother-daughter team is making a 10 inch mirror
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2006-08-26
Megan sets up the mirror for testing with Robo.
| Leave a Comment
2007 Raffle Mirror is finished.
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2006-08-26
The 2007 OBS Rafflescope Mirror was completed. On robo foucault it tested out to 1/15th wave. Of course we now have to build the scope to hold it.
| Leave a Comment
Hazel Gehlsen newest Mirror Lab graduate
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2006-06-03
Congratulations to Hazel Gehlsen who completed an 8 inch f/6 mirror that tested better than 1/9 wave! Hazel is also the first woman to complete a mirror in the lab. She did such a good job on her 8 inch we'd thought we'd get her to help out on an 18 inch as well.
| Leave a Comment
Completed Mirrors For October
contributed by Ralph on 2005-10-25
Allen 12.5 inch annual refiguring
Tom Spano 14.25 inch Black BVC Glass
Joe Colontonio 10 inch (used a special mesh for his pitch lap)
| Leave a Comment
New Mirror Graduate Steve Kane
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2005-05-28
Congratulations to Steve Kane who completed a 10inch f/5.6 mirror that tested better than 1/5 wave.
| Leave a Comment
How to paint the inside of a tube
contributed by Paul McNabb on 2005-05-25

Paul demonstrates a device he made out of plumbing parts that allows the easy spray painting of the inside of tubes.
| Leave a Comment
Two Mirror Graduates
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2005-05-21
Well done to Art Ross who completed a 10inch f/5 mirror and Richard Garner who finished a 10inch f/6.2
| Leave a Comment
2005 Orange Blossom Special with John Dobson
contributed by KMcAlavy on 2005-02-15

John inspects Ralph's and Allens work. It was fun to discuss the finer points of mirror grinding with one of the masters.

John autographs the 2005 Mirror Lab Rafflescope.
| Leave a Comment
Goto Page
 0  1  2  3 

Copyright © 2010 SPAC Inc.