Watson Telescope Restoration

As 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

The photos below show the initially removal of the scope from the Watson dome and its disassembly.

Watson Restoration Photos Step-by-Step

In its original home the telescope was covered by black paint, in an effort to minimize reflections of stray light. Unfortunately, this masked its many beautiful surfaces, including extensive brass, and even some copper. After the telescope was disassembled in 1988, BAS members removed the black paint from the individual pieces and painted all non-brass surfaces a light blue. In 2005, HAL members completed the restoration process and reassembled the telescope.

July 23, 2005 Session

August 20, 2005 Session

November 20, 2005 Session

March 2011 - Company Seven Motorized Drive Installation and Refurb

Many thanks and mega-kudos to Marty and team at Company Seven for performing the tasks listed below so that we are ready to mount the Watson Telescope as soon as the observatory construction is completed. (Photos below text.).

- Full cleaning, repairing, and refurbishing of the mount
- Lap and adjust drive gears
- Repair broken tooth on main drive gear
- Repair right ascension tangent arm assembly
- Remove, replace, and repair non-operational hand knobs and shafts
- Provide 120v AC powered synchronous drive system to provide object tracking
- Motor can accept an optional third party Drive Corrector to modify the tracking rate (for Solar, etc.)

Public Debut

It is our hope that this stunning example of beauty, engineering and craftsmanship will soon have a home and, for the first time ever, be shared with the public. That has been the goal of the dozens of amateur astronomers who have labored on the project.