Re: Reflection from primary to secondary mirror

a couple of things could be happening here.

first only on axis light should be reflected to the secondary and on to the
eyepiece. if there was considerable off axis light (the moon was out last
night) then your hand may have been illuminated by that.

second even with on axis light some of it always misses the secondary unless
the secondary is unusually large.

have fun

jtm


"Jim English" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I have a dobsonian telescope.  Last night while I was observing the
moon,I put my hand behind the secondary mirror about 3 or so inches
and noticed light apparently passing by the secondary and reflecting
onto my hand.  I am a novice and assumed that the all the light from
the primary should be reflected back to the secondary in a cone shape.
 Is this normal.

Thanks