ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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I've been consumed of late with a personal project, so haven't been buying much...I've also been neglecting my small (but perfectly formed) personal collection...however, after a long drive today, this recent addition may change that.
The only place I can find this scope from Mizar is in one of Galakuma's catalogues (the 1988 version), and unfortunately, my Japanese is...ahem...poor. Otherwise, this telescope seems to just not exist online. I wonder why the disappeaing act? Has anyone seen this scope before? Is it that rare? 
Here's the link to the catalogue (page 5):
http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp/retrokan/Mizar1988.pdf
It's mostly metal, pretty heavy, and very dusty, although the optics are fairly clear. I've not looked through it yet, but have vague hopes for this evening.
It's a 150mm catadioptric, and upon first (brief) imspection, the correcting lens in front of the focuser suggest it might be a corrected Dall-Kirkham (although I'm open to other suggestions). I'll post more pictures later, but here's the label for starters:
Any information or feedback would be welcome...
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1072
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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That is an interesting catalogue, the front page is in English and then not a word after. Only thing I could gather was the pricing in yen. Of course who knows what the pricing is for, the scopes or the mounts?  I'm certainly looking forward to more photos. Did it come with the tremendous mount shown in the catalogue?
Rich
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Did it come with the tremendous mount shown in the catalogue?
Sadly no, it came with one of the lighter weight (well, I say lighter, it doesn't feel lighter) models shown on the previous pages.
Back home now, and I've had a real fast look...star images are a total spider's web, so serious collimation will be needed. I love collimating.  
I've had a chance to take a few more pictures. Here's the entire set up. The mount is strong & heavy, but needs a bit of attention. It has a very nice polar scope too...
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Thick dust & grime over the exterior...I don't think this has been used for some time.
Mount close up:
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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The whole construction is very solid, with the secondary collimation screws neatly covered underneath a metal threaded cap. Although you can't see it, the corrector lens is buried deep inside the baffle tube at the focus end.
Tube interior:
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Rear of the ota:
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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...and another picture of some bonus items I was not expecting. 
So, does it ring any bells? Has anyone seen this before? Uncle Rod...Galakuma, any input or thoughts you may have would be gratefully accepted!
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1112
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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Nice Score Rich. I love the EP's. Are the 3 large slotted screws in the rear cell for collimating the mirror?
Cool find.
James
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James
(Thanks to Attilla for the Clear Sky charts)
Current Projects : Tasco 15TEA - 3 inch pier mounted planetary scope
Priorities : Wife, Kids
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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2926
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It's not a DK, it's probably supposed to have a Mangin corrector, like a Klevtsov. These are good candidates for small scopes because all the surfaces are spherical, but the corrector lenses are usually up front and the secondary is a rear-surfaced mirror (Mangin corrector). The Russian company TAL makes large Klevtsovs.
-drl
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Are the 3 large slotted screws in the rear cell for collimating the mirror?
James
I believe so, but a slight tweak of the secondary adjustment screws improved things alot last night, so I haven't moved the three rear ones yet.
Quote:
It's not a DK, it's probably supposed to have a Mangin corrector, like a Klevtsov. These are good candidates for small scopes because all the surfaces are spherical, but the corrector lenses are usually up front and the secondary is a rear-surfaced mirror (Mangin corrector). The Russian company TAL makes large Klevtsovs.
drl
I'm familiar with the Tal Klevtsovs, and I did think about that. However, unlike the corrector in the Klevtsov, this scope has it at the rear of the baffle tube, right in front of the focuser. The optical diagram in the catalogue actually shows a set of 2 correcting lenses in this place...
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2926
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Does it have a back-surface secondary?
-drl
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Does it have a back-surface secondary?
-drl
Sorry, not 100% on what a back surface secondary is...  
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2926
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A sub-aperture cat usually has a Mangin mirror, which is both mirror and lens because the coating is on the back side.
-drl
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
A sub-aperture cat usually has a Mangin mirror, which is both mirror and lens because the coating is on the back side.
-drl
I'm with you.
Without actually removing the secondary holder & mirror, it's not immediately apparent whether the secondary is a mirror, or mirror/lens. The housing is not vented from the rear in any way, and does not provide any clues...meanwhile the secondary itself is buried inside a fairly deep baffle tube.
I think the next step is to try and find someone who can read the catalogue...hopefully that will shed some light on it.
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1215
Loc: Arizona
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Are those .965" eyepieces?
That AR40 Circle T looks exactly like a .965 I have - one with a narrow FOV, but razor sharp, contrasty views.
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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wfj
sage
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 259
Loc: California, Santa Cruz County
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The 40mm and 25mm look identical to the original EP's that came with an ancient C5. I use them on 0.965 scopes.
AH = Achromatic Hyugens.
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DAVIDG
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 1985
Loc: Hockessin, De
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On page 7 of the catalog is a picture of the optical layout and spot diagram. It uses a two lens coma corrector/field flattener located in the buffle tube. It most likely is a Dall Kirkham with the coma corrector since they are easier to fabricate then a Classic Cass.
- Dave
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Homemade 'scopes 8"f/7,6" f/5", 6"f/4, 4.25" Schief. 60mm Coronagraph,60mm H-alpha system, 4.25" White-light Solar Newtonian,solar spectroscope, 4.5" f/16 Schupmann Medial refractor, 14 Stellafane awards 7 in optics
Engineering = Taking what you have and making what you need.
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1215
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
AH = Achromatic Hyugens.
Yup. I typo'ed the type. Thanks for the correction. I don't know why, but I'm just surprised that big ole scope used .965" EPs.
A very nice acquisition, by the way.
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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TimD
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/05
Posts: 900
Loc: CA USA
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Neat scope. have never seen one exactly like it, it is definitely something different.
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Takahashi TSC 225
WO Megrez 102
Meade ETX 90, ETX 125
Meade LX90
Classic Orange tube C14, C90, C5+
Etc,Etc,Etc!!
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1440
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Drop a webcam in the drawtube and show us the moon or Jupiter! 
-Tim.
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"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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The eyepieces are .965". I've seen the longer focal length versions before on various Japanese scopes too, but have never come across anything like these high power orthos before.
Collimation is still not perfect, but the star image is pretty good, but with wicked diffraction spikes (although I haven't looked through anything with vanes for awhile, could be I've just forgotten!)
As I recall, the intra focus diffraction rings were pretty clear, while the extra focal rings were almost non-existant...just a black void. Although it could have been the other way around! I'll look again tonight.
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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DaveTinning
member
Reged: 01/03/09
Posts: 44
Loc: Central England
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Hi Richard,
I saw your scope on ebay and like you was fascinated by it..I couldn't find anything on the net either, and the vendors' description of it as an "astrological" scope  didn't encourage me to ask them questions about it!
In the end I passed as I have bought other scopes recently and am in the serious "doghouse" with SWMBO!
The scope certainly looks solidly built and should give you some good views..I recently made my first venture away from refractors ( ) and bought an OMC140 Mak OTA. At 140mm aperture F14 I have been impressed with its' lunar and planetary (Jupiter, Io transit) views, and your Mizar at 150mm when properly collimated (have fun with that  ) should be similarly impressive.
Would be interested to hear about your detailed first light opinion.
By the way, congratulations on your new Skylight refractor, a thing of beauty and I'm sure creating a lot of interest in the UK Astro community.
best wishes,
Dave
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Tal 125R F9 refractor on CG-5
Tal 100RS F10 on Bresser Meade Mon-2
Meade AR6 152mm F8 refractor
Topic (Towa)D80mm F1200mm F15 Refractor 1970s
Tasco 14-Te Refractor 1969
Prinz Astral 500 D60mm F910mm Refractor c1980
I like refractors..:-)
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AaronM
super member
Reged: 02/02/06
Posts: 340
Loc: NRW, Germany
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This old Mizar AR mount looks ident to the actually GSO SkyView mount - So I guess, Mizar has sold the constructionsheets to GSO ?!
CS Michael
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1215
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
This old Mizar AR mount looks ident to the actually GSO SkyView mount
I agree. I was thinking that it looked a lot like an Orion Sky View Deluxe mount that I had.
I'm sure the resemblance is no cooncidence.
No matter the mount, the OTA is still intriguing and the information supplied by Ross (deSitter) bears out the unusual nature of this piece.
Hope you've gotten it collimated now.
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)
Reged: 11/07/06
Posts: 738
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Hope you've gotten it collimated now.
Nope, it got sidelined...I'm actually looking at it now.
Collimation is actually not too bad, but signs are that there's something either wrong with the optical train, or it's a poor mirror. Given the maker, both seem unlikely, but I was hoping Galakuma had some thoughts on this...
It could be someone has gotten their hands dirty on it in the past...
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Richard
A few nice telescopes.
...but most importantly, a beautiful son who fills my days with sunshine, and my nights with stars.
THE SKYLIGHT F15
Skylight Gallery
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dougspeterson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1041
Loc: Murrieta, CA
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I believe University Optics imported these a decade or more ago. My recollection was that it was an all-spherical cassegrain with corrector lenses that was offered as a cheap alternative. The star test sounds like a lens is missing or reversed, either at the secondary or in the focuser.
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18" Dob
12" SCT
8" TMB F6 + Chromacor
6" F6 APM/LZOS Fluorite triplet, 32", 32lbs
2ea. 6mm singlets, one blind
"--Granted, that's a worse case scenario. The destruction might in fact be ... limited to our own galaxy."
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