Amateur Telescope Maker Software
Heads up out there, all you
amateur telescope makers out there! Here's some free software
that you will find very helpful as you attempt to make the perfect
telescope mirror or lens system.
NEWT
- by David Keller:
Newt
is a newtonian telescope design program. It ray traces the telescope
checking for vignetting, optimizes diagonal size, calculates baffle
size and position, and a lot more. It allows you to easily and quickly
change any of the design parameters of the telescope and to see the
results immediately.
NEWT
features:
- Display a side view of a
Newtonian telescope.
- Modify parameters like
mirror diameter, diagonal minor axis, focuser height, focuser inside
diameter, tube inside diameter and thickness, and many more.
- Use inches, centimeters,
or millimeters as the unit of measure.
- Calculate baffle size
and placement.
- Calculate diagonal
offset.
- Calculate fields of 100%
and 75% illumination.
- Load and Save files.
- Eyepiece table includes
focal length, power, exit pupil, apparent field, and true field.
- Check for minimum
useable diagonal minor axis.
- Check for vignetting at
the focuser.
- Check for vignetting of
true field by top of tube.
- Calculate obstruction
percentages for light loss and contrast reduction.
- Cast three rays through
telescope - an on-center ray, a 100% light zone ray, and a 75% light
zone ray. Use these to check for vignetting at focuser, true field
cutoff, etc.
- Print specifications and
dimensions to a printer (see note).
Note:There
is a bug in the printer code. It will probably not print correctly on
most modern printers.
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TELECALC
:
For
anyone desiring a simple utility to calculate various telescope
characteristics, the telescope program is offered free for
download. Handy!
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SIXTEST
- Jim Burrows :
A
wide variety of formulae, calculations and test procedures for the
amateur telescope maker.
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MODAS
:
Modas
is the most powerful software available for telescope design, analysis
and testing support. Modas delivers the excellent design and
analysis features you need in telescope design software, combined with
an easy-to-use interface. Libraries of known designs,
different lenses and glasses catalogs simplify your design
process.
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RONCHI for WINDOWS :
* NOTE: This
software is no longer available through the author's website.
Ronchi
for Windows is a Windows® 95/98/NT simulation program for Amateur
Telescope Makers (ATMs.) It simulates the appearance of a
mirror while undergoing the Ronchi Test. Ronchi for Windows
is designed to be very easy to use and understand. Most
operations will seem very natural and intuitive to the average user who
already has some familiarity with performing the Ronchi Test.
Ronchi
for Windows comes with an extensive, indexed Windows Help File and
reference guide. All program features and functions are fully
explained and cross-referenced. A short tutorial on
performing the Ronchi Test is also included.
The
best feature of Ronchi for Windows is that everyone is free to use it
without charge. The program is distributed as Freeware to all
ATMs who wish to use it.
Key Program Features:
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