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Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

ALERT! Old abandone scope found
#5572837 - 12/15/12 04:31 PM

I have found an old abandoned telescope, in the most unlikely of places: Google images.

OK, nothing new, you say, but wait! This image was a Panoramio image from Google Earth. And it showed what is unquestionably a British-made newtonian on a cast-iron german equatorial mount, sitting outside in the wilderness in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58922337

Compare with:

http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/HISTORY.html

*

Sorry if this is all old news and the scope has been rescued years ago, but I think there's a real chance it hasn't. Someone please help it out of its misery, before the local scrap metal dealer finds it.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

PS. If someone says this belongs in the "eBay" thread, I'm gonna wack them with a tripod leg from my Zenith 114mm newtonian...

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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/24/11

Loc: Chattanooga, TN

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5572925 - 12/15/12 05:50 PM

Okay, there has to be more to this story of how you " found" it? Was this purely by chance?

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Masvingo
sage

Reged: 01/10/12

Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5572934 - 12/15/12 05:57 PM

Amazing, it just seems to have been left to rust quietly in a field!

James

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: mgwhittle]
#5572943 - 12/15/12 06:00 PM

Never mind! Who's nearby who can save it??

Or at least find out what the story is behind it.

That's far too cool to let rust away!!

I'd give my right arm and up to all but one of my other appendages for a Newtonian of that vintage!

-Tim.

Edited by tim53 (12/15/12 06:04 PM)

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Mirzam
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/08

Loc: Lovettsville, VA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5572957 - 12/15/12 06:12 PM

When the world ends, the surviving creatures of the distant future will marvel at the mysterious creations of the unmarked past.

JimC

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Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: mgwhittle]
#5572965 - 12/15/12 06:20 PM

Quote:

Okay, there has to be more to this story of how you " found" it? Was this purely by chance?

Amazingly, yes. I was just Googling "old telescopes" and looking at random pictures of just that, to pass some idle time, when I happened on this one.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

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Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5572968 - 12/15/12 06:23 PM

Quote:

Never mind! Who's nearby who can save it??

I immediately contacted Neil English, who lives in Scotland. He'll probably reply tomorrow. He knows a bunch of folks over there. There must be someone who wants to save it.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

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Dan /schechter
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/21/06

Loc: Long Beach, Calif.

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5572981 - 12/15/12 06:38 PM

WOW!!!! What serendipity. Can`t wait to see how this story unfolds.
Dan

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5573027 - 12/15/12 07:13 PM

Um. I google mapped it. Is it not in Australia?

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JustinO
member

Reged: 10/08/12

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5573070 - 12/15/12 07:45 PM

Another photo:

http://hillandglen.photoshelter.com/image/I0000lDxB_Ap94Tg

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strdst
Post Laureate

Reged: 03/23/08

Loc: Oregon Territory

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5573072 - 12/15/12 07:46 PM

Quote:

Um. I google mapped it. Is it not in Australia?

Using your iPhone again?

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: strdst]
#5573088 - 12/15/12 07:54 PM

LOL!

Yep, that was the problem!

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5573091 - 12/15/12 07:57 PM

I sent an email

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tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5573094 - 12/15/12 07:58 PM

While I'm thinking about it...

You should post the links to the pictures on the Antique Telescope Society's yahoo group. Maybe someone knowledgeable and local can look into it.

-Tim.

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orion61
Vendor(Clear Edge Optical)

Reged: 10/20/07

Loc: NW Iowa BURRRR

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: tim53]
#5573298 - 12/15/12 09:51 PM

Very cool thread! I actually think that would be a very cool Oil Painting! I may get my Oils and canvas out again...
thanks for sharing it with us.
Larry

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*skyguy*
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/31/08

Loc: Western New York

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: orion61]
#5573377 - 12/15/12 11:00 PM

It's interesting to see that when the Google map location of this scope is expanded ... there is a large private home near it.

http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=55.700904&ln=-3.840243&z=-2&k=2&...

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dgreyson
sage

Reged: 11/06/12

Loc: South Carolina

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: *skyguy*]
#5573500 - 12/16/12 01:06 AM

They are likely using it as a garden statue it would seem.
Too bad the scope isnt being preserved.

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JustinO
member

Reged: 10/08/12

Re: ALERT! Old abandone scope found new

[Re: dgreyson]
#5573580 - 12/16/12 03:15 AM

I tried to upload a large version of the photo of this telescope, but when I finally found where the "Gallery" was hidden, it would not accept it -- it says "size limit 0k" in red, and when I tried anyway, it said it exceeded the 200k limit. It says there is no limit for the "Gallery".
It's a shame -- it is a really nice detailed picture.

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