05/05/2010
New Jersey Institute of Technology's (NJIT) new 1.6-meter unobstructed aperture solar telescope - the largest of its kind in the world - is now operational.
The New Solar Telescope was officially dedicated on October 3, 2009 at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. This DFM telescope is said to be the pathfinder for all future, large ground-based telescopes. The Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), is located at Big Bear Lake, California high in the San Bernardino Mountains.
• NJIT Solar Telescope installation details
• NJIT New Solar Telescope Manufacturing Documentation
• BBSO Latest Halpha Images
01/29/2010
University of Utah establishes the "High Altitude Southern Utah Observatory" featuring a new 32-inch DFM telescope!
DFM installed a new 32-inch CCT telescope, the heart of the new Southern Utah Observatory providing the University of Utah's Physics Department full membership of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - III Collaboration Project.
Another successful install!
• University of Utah installation details
01/08/2010
DFM Engineering has completed the LA Valley College 16 inch Celestron telescope retrofit and new DFM control system installation.
DFM also provided handicapped access to the telescope eyepiece with the Articulated Relay Eyepiece™.
The new planetarium building, with the addition of the new elevator and retrofitted telescope now brings LA Valley College up to ADA standards, allowing wheelchair access so that disabled students may participate in the telescope experience on the roof; a successful install!
• LA Valley College installation details
08/16/2009
DFM Engineering has completed the construction and installation of the new 36 inch
telescope for Brigham Young University at West Mountain Observatory (WMO)!
BYU’s West Mountain Observatory
south of Utah Lake now hosts the DFM 36 inch telescope, an unprecedented size telescope in the Rocky Mountain West.
It establishes an inter-mountain facility that can be used for dissertations, stand-alone research projects, and research
projects that support the work done on larger telescopes elsewhere.
• BYU West Mountain Observatory installation details
10/01/2008
DFM Engineering has completed the construction of the new 1.6 meter solar telescope! The Big Bear Solar Observatory
is providing live coverage of the installation!
DFM
shipped the solar telescope on 9/26/08 to Big Bear Solar Observatory
(BBSO)
located at Big Bear Lake, CA. The Observatory is
operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
An active webcam and domecam are capturing the events.
Assembly of a 1.6 meter telescope is quite fascinating, requiring expert technicians
and planning.
• Big
Bear Solar Observatory
NOTE: In the navigational menu, click on the word "images" then click on webcam
or domecam. Enjoy!
05/09/2008
The Big Bear Solar Observatory has awarded DFM Engineering
with the construction of a new 1.6 meter solar telescope!
Production is underway at DFM Engineering of the new 1.6
meter solar telescope for Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO)
located at Big Bear Lake, California. The Observatory is operated
by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
The progress of the telescope manufacturing has been documented
with interesting online photos.
• Big
Bear Solar Telescope
11/26/2007
Supporting direct imaging and spectroscopy, DFM announces
the next generation of Guide Acquire Modules: the Smart Auto
Guider™!
DFM Engineering has made many Guide-Acquire-Modules (GAMs)
for Cassegrain telescopes. Usually these GAMs include a X-Y
stage for off axis guiding.
Recently, there has been a demand for a different GAM that
incorporates off axis guiding from a remote location. DFM
has defined this next generation GAM and has trademarked the
name "Smart Auto Guider™" and "SAG™".
• Smart
Auto Guider™
11/02/2007
Florida Tech's 32" telescope installation is in
process by DFM team!
Mark Kelley, Vice President, Don Groff and Justus Drake of
DFM Engineering are currently
on site at Florida Institute of Technology.
Florida Tech’s F.W. Olin Physical Science Building
in Melbourne, Florida now hosts the largest telescope in the
state, a DFM 32-inch F/8 Cassegrain with Ritchey-Chretien
optics.
• Florida
Tech installation details
05/22/2007
DFM team installs Westmont College's 24" telescope
A new DFM 24-inch computer controlled telescope was installed
into Westmont College’s Carroll Observatory in Santa
Barbara, California in April.
Westmont College hosts the most powerful telescope on California's
Central Coast, a DFM 24-inch F/8 Cassegrain with Ritchey-Chretien
optics.
• Westmont
College installation details
12/22/2006
Mr. Mark Kelley P.E., Vice President Engineering
Celebrating 25 Years of Service at DFM Engineering
Mr. Mark Kelley, vice president of Longmont based DFM Engineering,
Inc., celebrates his twenty-fifth anniversary on January 2,
2007.
Mr. Kelley is highly experienced in photonics engineering
and is instrumental in designing, building, testing and retrofitting
telescopes at DFM Engineering. His many years of service and
expertise are greatly appreciated by DFM Staff and the DFM
customers!
• Celebrating
Mark Kelley - 25 Years
9/20/2006
Westmont College awards DFM with CCT-24 Telescope order.
Westmont
College has recently completed a major expansion and remodel
of the Carroll Observatory. The new 24-inch DFM telescope
will replace the original 16.5 inch reflector telescope.
The new DFM telescope is expected to be a magnet for astronomy
enthusiasts around Santa Barbara and the South West Coast.
• Westmont
College
• CCT-24
• DFM
Telescope Control Systems
8/25/2006
Berea College of Berea, Kentucky orders retrofit from
DFM Engineering, Inc.
Berea
College in central Kentucky features the Charles
Martin Hall Science Building which has been made ready
for the computer controlled dome and the retrofitted B&C
16" research grade telescope.
The Gilbert Roberts Observatory in the Science Building
has also recently been renovated to provide the Physics Department
with the necessary technology of today.
The expert technicians at DFM Engineering were chosen because
of many proven retrofitting capabilities, extensive experience
and service.
• Berea
College B&C Retrofit
7/14/2006
Florida Institute of Technology awards DFM with CCT-32
Telescope order.
The Florida
Institute of Technology has recently completed the F.W.
Olin Physical Sciences Center which will house the 32-inch
DFM telescope.
It will be the state's largest telescope and position Florida
Tech as a national leader in astronomy and space sciences.
DFM Engineering was chosen because of proven capabilities,
extensive experience and commitment to their high quality
product.
• Florida
Institute of Technology
3/24/2006
College of Southern Idaho - Update
A critical review of the 24" telescope installation by
Chris Anderson of CSI and Dr. Frank Melsheimer of DFM Engineering.
The DFM Engineering, Inc. CCT-24 telescope was installed in April, 2004 at the Herrett
Center for Arts and Science located on the north edge
of the College
of Southern Idaho (CSI) campus.
Now, almost two years later, this report looks at the design
of the observatory and also is an update describing the telescope
activities since the installation. We review the things that
were done correctly and those items that could have been done
better.
• CSI
update
3/16/2006
Mr. Ian Huss, Production Manager
Celebrating 25 Years of Service at DFM Engineering
Mr. Ian Huss, production manager of Longmont based DFM Engineering,
Inc., celebrates his twenty-fifth anniversary on March 16th,
2006.
Mr. Ian Huss is highly trained and qualified as the Production
Manager for DFM Engineering. His many years of service and
expertise are greatly appreciated by DFM Staff and the DFM
customers!
• Celebrating
Ian Huss - 25 Years
3/10/2006
DFM presents a thorough analysis of observatory design
and construction!
Dr. Frank Melsheimer addresses the design and construction
of the observatory pier, dome, and control room for a small
college observatory.
This includes a suggested floor plan, elevation plan, control
room location, traffic flow patterns, and other factors. These
criteria are discussed in respect to how they affect the efficiency
of using the observatory for student use, research use, and
for public nights.
The required performance of the telescope, instruments,
and related auxiliary equipment is presented.
• Observatory
Design and Construction
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