[ATM] Portrait of a giant 42 inch Dobsonian telescope in Germany

[Robert Houdart]

Dan Bakken's 41.2 inch Hercules is no longer the largest portable
amateur telescope in the world – in fact has not been since 2003!
 
Some 5 years ago German amateur Erhard Hänssgen built a huge 42 inch
(107 cm) dobsonian telescope. Unfortunately this scope has pretty much
been ignored outside Germany for the simple reason that it's very hard
to find any facts about or pictures of this telescope. 
 
Actually I did not know about this telescope until last month when I
stumbled by chance on a few pictures of the giant. With some assistance
from members of the German Astrotreff forum I managed to contact Erhard,
and after some exchanges we agreed to create a web page about his giant
telescope with the hard facts and figures and a lot of pictures.
 
I thought it would be nice to share this information because this really
is a very well built telescope that must be about the ultimate
Obsession-like dobsonian telescope! The design is largely based on a 30
inch AstroSystems Telekit. Weighing in total 350 kg (780 lbs), and with
an upper cage of about 30 kg (66 lbs) it's marginally manageable by a
single person.
 
If you've never had a WOW experience seeing a telescope, now is the time
and here's the place: www.cruxis.com/scope/scope1070.htm .
 
Cheers,
Robert Houdart