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Equipment Discussions >> Refractors

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5)
#5123639 - 03/15/12 11:35 AM

Time to start a new thread.

Links to part 4, 3, 2 and of course, the original.

Post Extras:

PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5123650 - 03/15/12 11:42 AM

I'll start with another picture of my TS 152 mm Achro on CGEM - Computerized German Equatorial Mount capable of carrying 20 kilograms:

Post Extras:

buckeyestargazer
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/12/08

Loc: IN, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5123663 - 03/15/12 11:52 AM Attachment (449 downloads)

I recently acquired an APM/TMB 115mm CNC Classic refractor that I'm super excited about. I also have an AT65EDQ (pictured on top of the case in lower right corner).

Post Extras:

Jeronimo Cruz
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#5123668 - 03/15/12 11:55 AM Attachment (482 downloads)

Here's mine.

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jeronimo Cruz]
#5123755 - 03/15/12 12:45 PM Attachment (409 downloads)

Celestron Onyx with WO 2 speed retrofit on CG-5 with 7½ lb. counter weight. Long cord wired into HC. Coiled 90º power cord.

Post Extras:

David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5123984 - 03/15/12 02:47 PM

Quote:

Celestron Onyx with WO 2 speed retrofit on CG-5 with 7½ lb. counter weight. Long cord wired into HC. Coiled 90º power cord.

Stan, if ever there was a post that said "tinkerer" this is it! Good stuff.

David

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: David Pavlich]
#5124526 - 03/15/12 09:09 PM

Thanks, David. One more thing...If you'll notice the 3 small holes in the DEC plastic cover...They are there so that I can adjust the worm gear to compensate for temp variations.

Stan

Post Extras:

John Huntley
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/16/06

Loc: South West England

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5124610 - 03/15/12 10:35 PM Attachment (392 downloads)

Here is my Vixen ED102SS on a Skywatcher AZ-4 mount and setup for white light solar observing.

Edited by John Huntley (03/15/12 10:35 PM)

Post Extras:

David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5124618 - 03/15/12 10:37 PM

Very convenient!

David

Post Extras:

TONGKW
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 01/16/07

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: David Pavlich]
#5124632 - 03/15/12 10:45 PM Attachment (341 downloads)

The original 80 mm f/6 achromatic doublet lens of my William Optics ZS 80 OTA has been replaced with a 80 mm f/6.95 APOGRADE FL doublet lens. Besides the much improved performance and the almost CA free view, I can now use the OTA with a binoviewer without the need for a Barlow lens.

K W TONG
C8+CG5 GT, TSA102+HEQ5 PRO, MK67+Voyager, NexStar 6SE, C5+Mizar K, WO ZS80FD+Kenko NES, Megrez 72FD+Kenko KDS, Mini Borg 50, PST

Post Extras:

genethethird
sage

Reged: 01/05/10

Loc: NC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: TONGKW]
#5124695 - 03/15/12 11:44 PM

That's really nice ^

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: genethethird]
#5124754 - 03/16/12 12:46 AM

TEC200 moving around today in the obs... finally got the snow of the roof today and could get it open. Sadly the scope hasn't moved around in a couple months due to work schedule/sickness/10 feet of snow this Winter etc.
http://youtu.be/0zCJjQ9yO6g
I hope to get some late season galaxies.

Post Extras:

Jim Curry
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/29/07

Loc: STL

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5124872 - 03/16/12 05:34 AM

Mike:
I guess that's called coming out of hibernation.

Jim

Post Extras:

Bob Andersson
member

Reged: 03/28/11

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5124881 - 03/16/12 05:46 AM

Hi folks,

I thought I'd share the new imaging setup. I don't have the luxury of a garden large enough to host a dedicated observatory so the solution I started planning a year ago had to at least look presentable during daylight.

The pier was made in two stages with a deep foundation poured using regular cement plus a plasticiser with 2 metre stainless steel rebar protruding about a metre above ground level. Once that had cured I then poured the top half into a mold and also poured the detachable top upon which rests the armillary. I used the same recipe for the cement with the addition of a dye to give a stone effect. To give an idea of scale the pier without the top stands just under 1.3 metres (50 inches) tall. When I poured the pier I embedded four stainless steel eye-bolts. This was done using the same stainless steel circular plate you can see in the top right image to get the positioning absolutely precise. The two circular plates were made for me to my design by a laser cutting company so I was able to specify a tight tolerance between the width of the various bolts and the holes they fit through.

Assembly is pretty straightforward. There is still a very slight (small fraction of a millimetre) play when the two plates are attached but I always make sure I rotate each one fully clockwise before tightening up the nuts. The aim was to get a totally repeatable set-up each time and indications are that I actually see an accuracy of about 1 minute of arc. The heaviest detachable item by far is the mounting itself but I've avoided any hernias so far!

Here's a closer view of the telescope where you can just about see the four bolts holding down the bottom plate and the bolts fastening the top plate to the bottom one. The mounting is bolted to the top plate but you can't see that in the image.

The equipment list is:

TEC 140 telescope: 140mm objective and a field flattener at the other end giving f/7
Kendrick Dew Heater: Essential in the UK
ASA DDM60 Pro: The Pro version includes a USB hub
Starlight Instruments motorised focuser
A power distribution/switch box
An FLI CenterLine filter wheel
An FLI ML16803 astronomical CCD

The USB hub in the DDM60 Pro mount means that all I need is a single 12V power line and a USB connection running to the mounting. Both power and USB are routed internally and are available by the telescope which means no tangled cables. The focuser, filter wheel and camera are all controlled via USB as, indeed, is the mounting itself. As a result, although I need a micro-ATX sized computer relatively close to the telescope together with a 12V power supply, I can take advantage of a long HDMI cable and a wireless mouse and keyboard to control the whole shebang from inside my conservatory which is just out of shot on the left. Luxury!

Testing has gone really well and I've already demonstrated an ability to take 1,000 second exposures unguided. That's down to some remarkable technology in the ASA mounting, although I'll take credit for doing the calibration work.

Bob.

Post Extras:

Bowmoreman
Clear enough skies

Reged: 09/11/06

Loc: Bolton, MA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bob Andersson]
#5124939 - 03/16/12 07:02 AM

Very nice setup, Bob... Clever on the dual use as well!

Post Extras:

PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bowmoreman]
#5125032 - 03/16/12 08:35 AM

Bob that's the most amazing setup, probably the best I've seen

Refractor-Phill

Post Extras:

Dave Ponder
super member

Reged: 04/12/06

Loc: Greenville, SC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#5125092 - 03/16/12 09:29 AM

Very good looking mount Bob! What is the dampening time on that flimsy mount? Just kidding, I am green with envy, would love to have a solid mount like yours!

Post Extras:

BarrySimon615
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/01/04

Loc: New Orleans, LA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dave Ponder]
#5125124 - 03/16/12 09:51 AM

Very nice setup! Looks like you live pretty far nice judging by the angle of the RA axis on your mount.

Barry Simon

Post Extras:

KevH
super member

Reged: 03/08/10

Loc: Maine

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: BarrySimon615]
#5125148 - 03/16/12 10:02 AM

My new Canadian Telescopes 102mm F11 waiting for nightfall.

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bob Andersson]
#5125182 - 03/16/12 10:24 AM

That's awesome Bob. Hmmm... I think I could talk my wife into a "birdbath"... with removable top

Post Extras:

dakota
super member

Reged: 12/11/11

Loc: SD (God's Country)

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: KevH]
#5125276 - 03/16/12 11:19 AM

Looks great.

Post Extras:

Phil Frederick
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/19/05

Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: dakota]
#5125440 - 03/16/12 12:42 PM Attachment (304 downloads)

My EON120ED on a Unistar Dlx/SV Stablelock.

Post Extras:

Phil Frederick
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/19/05

Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Phil Frederick]
#5125443 - 03/16/12 12:43 PM Attachment (203 downloads)

one more...

Post Extras:

tmbuser6
sage

Reged: 07/01/11

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Phil Frederick]
#5125477 - 03/16/12 01:04 PM Attachment (270 downloads)

OK, here is one to think about. ;^) Very solid and steady under any occasion.

Wayne

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bob Andersson]
#5125846 - 03/16/12 05:12 PM

Post Extras:

Steve_bham
member

Reged: 09/07/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5125878 - 03/16/12 05:27 PM

Some stunning pics, can't wait to get mine now.

Post Extras:

tigerroach
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/13/08

Loc: Houston, TX USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5125964 - 03/16/12 06:17 PM

Here's an amateurish cluttered shot with my new TV-76 and its big brother, my 2002 vintage TV-102:

Better shot of the new one:

Edited by tigerroach (03/18/12 03:57 PM)

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tigerroach]
#5126250 - 03/16/12 10:12 PM

It's hard to keep the artwork level when they share the room with amplified musical instruments!

Post Extras:

Eric P
sage

Reged: 04/04/05

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5127890 - 03/18/12 12:01 AM

My favorite workhorse

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Eric P]
#5127959 - 03/18/12 01:13 AM

~nice~ Eric

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5136479 - 03/22/12 11:58 PM Attachment (221 downloads)

Lunt 152 at 1800mm f/11.8 with DMK21 plus Lunt 60 DS with SSAG and Televue focus motors on Manfrotto 823 Hydrostatic Arms overloading an Atlas:

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5136514 - 03/23/12 12:31 AM Attachment (137 downloads)

SSAG on Lunt 60 frames the full solar disk perfectly with nice bright prominences but little surface detail in PHD (or Nudger) with the Bullseye overlay guiding the 152 at 1800-3500mm:

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5136672 - 03/23/12 06:29 AM

Impressive. Most impressive.

Post Extras:

seafury
member

Reged: 01/18/12

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5136825 - 03/23/12 09:20 AM

Here is one of my bit of kit
a Soligor RT 1000 3.7 inch

gordon

{Please do not post "stock" photos. You must be the image owner or post a link]

Edited by LLEEGE (03/23/12 09:36 AM)

Post Extras:

Jobryant
sage

Reged: 01/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: seafury]
#5137022 - 03/23/12 12:02 PM

Very nice start to part 5! I'm still an astro rookie and my first thoughts after seeing those last three mounts was "what in the heck is that crazy contraption?" Where's the handles for panning the scope around? Those things look extremely complicated.

Post Extras:

Greg W
member

Reged: 02/26/05

Loc: Minot, Maine

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jobryant]
#5137666 - 03/23/12 07:08 PM Attachment (226 downloads)

My latest setup.

Post Extras:

nanjason
super member

Reged: 03/23/10

Loc: Southeastern PA, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Greg W]
#5139755 - 03/24/12 11:46 PM Attachment (156 downloads)

Here's my TV NP101. Too bad it's raining!

Post Extras:

Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: nanjason]
#5139783 - 03/25/12 12:03 AM

FS-60Q + Extender Q 1.6x.

9 (2 + 2 + 5) element 60mm f/16 and 10 element eyepiece setup, yielding 169x. I am hoping to see Trapezium A-F with this small scope. So far A-E, no F.

Total 19 elements. It produces nice image in spite of so many elements

Tammy

Post Extras:

Traveler
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/19/07

Loc: The Netherlands

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5139966 - 03/25/12 05:26 AM

Nice Tammy!

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Greg W]
#5140017 - 03/25/12 06:46 AM

Nice, Greg and Jason...

Edited by rushintuit (03/25/12 06:49 AM)

Post Extras:

Focused
journeyman

Reged: 03/27/10

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5140296 - 03/25/12 11:18 AM Attachment (354 downloads)

Here is my only workhorse, loved and cherished, with new home-made wooden legs:

Post Extras:

NHRob
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/27/04

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5140304 - 03/25/12 11:23 AM

Nice scope! TV-85, right?
What wood did you use for the tripod? They look like solid walnut legs to me.

Nice job.

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5140317 - 03/25/12 11:29 AM

Post Extras:

Focused
journeyman

Reged: 03/27/10

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5140363 - 03/25/12 11:51 AM

Thanks Rob; Yes it's a TV85. I used baltic birch plywood stained to dark walnut, tray is held in place by 3/4" earth magnets, and leg bands put to good use! It turned out to be very solid.

Post Extras:

Mr Onions
Two Time International Photographical Competition Winner

Reged: 04/14/07

Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5140734 - 03/25/12 03:38 PM

Looks fantastic.

Post Extras:

Erik Bakker
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/06

Loc: The Netherlands, Europe

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5140785 - 03/25/12 04:06 PM

Very nice grab-n-go powerhouse! Love the wooden tripod.

Post Extras:

BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5140818 - 03/25/12 04:30 PM

Beautiful rig! The tripod looks terrific, did you create the plans or source them from somewhere? I'd love to make a tripod like that for my Porta II...

Clear Skies,
Brian

Post Extras:

bigdob24
super member

Reged: 04/19/08

Loc: Central Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5140901 - 03/25/12 05:16 PM Attachment (248 downloads)

William Optics 132mm FLT on a 6" DiscMount on a StellarVue tripod.
All works very smooth, easy setup and great views

Post Extras:

stevew
Now I've done it

Reged: 03/03/06

Loc: British Columbia Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5141029 - 03/25/12 06:54 PM Attachment (225 downloads)

My wonderful TMB #0006

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: stevew]
#5141465 - 03/26/12 12:30 AM Attachment (226 downloads)

My current grab-n-go setup... FS102NSV on DM6 with Nagler 3-6 zoom (136x-272x).

Edited by johnnyha (03/26/12 12:34 AM)

Post Extras:

tomchris
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/22/10

Loc: Connecticut, U.S.A.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Focused]
#5141670 - 03/26/12 07:13 AM

Post Extras:

MarcF650R
super member

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tomchris]
#5142529 - 03/26/12 04:00 PM Attachment (301 downloads)

ES 127ED at Mississauga, Saddington Park for a public observing session.

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MarcF650R]
#5142946 - 03/26/12 09:12 PM

What the heck is the black cubicle with the orange stripe?

Post Extras:

zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/06/07

Loc: Wells, Maine 04090

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5143016 - 03/26/12 10:30 PM

Quote:

What the heck is the black cubicle with the orange stripe?

I'm curious about that as well...

-Tim

Post Extras:

2100
member

Reged: 08/03/10

Loc: Singapore

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5143090 - 03/26/12 11:03 PM

Explore Scientific AR152 with the 9" extension and Twilight II and some DIY counterweights done with cable ties and Losmandy VW. Oriented it this way to show that there's no issue on clearance. The AR152 is the new model with the longer dewshield.

Edited by 2100 (03/26/12 11:03 PM)

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: 2100]
#5143370 - 03/27/12 05:52 AM

Shut the front door, that is an awesome scope!!!

Post Extras:

DJ N
member

Reged: 05/29/07

Loc: South Australia

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5143372 - 03/27/12 05:53 AM Attachment (240 downloads)

Hi all,

Here is my current imaging setup at home.

The details are as follows:

Imaging Telescope: Skywatcher ED120 with a Moonlite focuser with DC motor option
Guide Scope: Skywatcher ED80
Mount: Skywatcher EQ6 Pro
CCD: QHY8L
Guide Camera: DMK21

More often than not, I tend to use the ED120 for imaging, but on occasion I also use the ED80 for imaging and guide with the ED120.
In terms of field flatteners, I either use a Hotech SCA Flattener which leaves either scope at its native f7.5 or the latest William Optics 0.8x Flattener/Reducer III, which reduces the scopes to f6 for a "quicker" imaging platform.

Cheers,

Daniel

Edited by DJ N (03/27/12 05:57 AM)

Post Extras:

tezster
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/14/09

Loc: Missisauga, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MarcF650R]
#5143430 - 03/27/12 07:19 AM

Quote:

ES 127ED at Mississauga, Saddington Park for a public observing session.

You're around the same neck of the woods I am - maybe I should drop by one of these public viewing sessions sometime and take a closer look at your setup

Post Extras:

MarcF650R
super member

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5143736 - 03/27/12 11:01 AM

Quote:

Quote:

What the heck is the black cubicle with the orange stripe?

I'm curious about that as well...

-Tim

That is a Sub Zero pop-up ice fishing hut I use to read charts, warm up and maybe in the future do some imaging in. They are great when it's -20C out

Post Extras:

MarcF650R
super member

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tezster]
#5143738 - 03/27/12 11:03 AM

Quote:

Quote:

ES 127ED at Mississauga, Saddington Park for a public observing session.

You're around the same neck of the woods I am - maybe I should drop by one of these public viewing sessions sometime and take a closer look at your setup

That's the group that holds them. It's fun. Next public night is scheduled for earth hour, but the forecast is crummy.
http://www.freewebs.com/ssggroup/

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MarcF650R]
#5144332 - 03/27/12 05:15 PM

Looks like a Celestron booth : )

Post Extras:

M44
sage

Reged: 03/24/07

Loc: SoCal.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5144501 - 03/27/12 06:58 PM

Quote:

Quote:

What the heck is the black cubicle with the orange stripe?

I'm curious about that as well...

-Tim

I think it is a dew heater for the tent.

Post Extras:

coutleef
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/21/08

Loc: Saint-Donat, Québec, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: 2100]
#5144597 - 03/27/12 08:00 PM

Quote:

Explore Scientific AR152 with the 9" extension and Twilight II and some DIY counterweights done with cable ties and Losmandy VW. Oriented it this way to show that there's no issue on clearance. The AR152 is the new model with the longer dewshield.

Where did you purchase your extension from for the twilight mount.

Post Extras:

James Ling
sage

Reged: 09/18/10

Loc: Singapore

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: coutleef]
#5146184 - 03/28/12 09:47 PM

Hi ALL.

This is a new outlook of my 8" ISTAR achro , took during last weekend star gazing trip .......

I also have a very short video clip of this 8" acrho....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/james_ling/7014038587/in/photostream

Regards

James Ling

Post Extras:

James Ling
sage

Reged: 09/18/10

Loc: Singapore

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: James Ling]
#5146192 - 03/28/12 09:53 PM Attachment (126 downloads)

Quote:

Hi ALL.

This is a new outlook of my 8" ISTAR achro , took during last weekend star gazing trip .......

I also have a very short video clip of this 8" acrho....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/james_ling/7014038587/in/photostream

Regards

James Ling

Wow.. Sorry... Forgotten the picture....

Regards

james Ling

Post Extras:

ngc2289
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/13/05

Loc: Some Where Around The Maypole.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: James Ling]
#5146198 - 03/28/12 09:58 PM

Way cool scope!!!!!!! Love the pattern you put on your OTA!!!!!!

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: James Ling]
#5146203 - 03/28/12 10:02 PM Attachment (202 downloads)

Here is my first and last attempt at solar observing with my new Istar. The Seymour Solar filter was a complete bust though. Not good enough quality in the film for even rice granulation. The 10" F/11 R30 can't be topped. Last night I had perfect diffraction rings.... brighter first rings followed outward by ever decreasing in brightness rings.

Mike

Post Extras:

timwetherell
sage

Reged: 09/03/10

Loc: A Land Down Under

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bob Andersson]
#5146230 - 03/28/12 10:21 PM

That's a really neat solution Bob! Nice lawn too

Post Extras:

timwetherell
sage

Reged: 09/03/10

Loc: A Land Down Under

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5146241 - 03/28/12 10:25 PM

wow - the last time I saw anything like that it had a battleship underneath it

that's some serious glass!

Post Extras:

James Ling
sage

Reged: 09/18/10

Loc: Singapore

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ngc2289]
#5146263 - 03/28/12 10:45 PM

Quote:

Way cool scope!!!!!!! Love the pattern you put on your OTA!!!!!!

Hi Bro....

Thanks for your comment.....

Initially I would like to dismantle the whole scope and send for spray painting in pearl white....
But it seems to be quite troublesome, so I purchased from DIY store, one roll of delco adhesive tape, then I just paste it over.......and if I want to change the design look again, I just need to remove the tape and apply another new one....

REgards

james Ling

Post Extras:

James Ling
sage

Reged: 09/18/10

Loc: Singapore

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: timwetherell]
#5146271 - 03/28/12 10:49 PM

Quote:

wow - the last time I saw anything like that it had a battleship underneath it

that's some serious glass!

And the piggy back scope is almost the same size as my 8" schro.........

REgards

James

Post Extras:

Dougal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/11/06

Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: James Ling]
#5147942 - 03/29/12 11:10 PM Attachment (188 downloads)

Cool scopes everyone. Here's my newly acquired grab'n'go solution. An Orion EON 80 on a Portamount II. It's as light as a feather and a joy to use. The Portamount is surprisingly stable even with the stock tripod.

Edited by Dougal (03/29/12 11:10 PM)

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dougal]
#5147966 - 03/29/12 11:36 PM

That's pretty. I like light and simple and functional.

Post Extras:

JKoelman
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/16/11

Loc: Bangalore, India

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dougal]
#5148075 - 03/30/12 12:31 AM

Quote:

Cool scopes everyone. Here's my newly acquired grab'n'go solution. An Orion EON 80 on a Portamount II. It's as light as a feather and a joy to use. The Portamount is surprisingly stable even with the stock tripod.

Ordered that little one with the same mount a few days ago. Will ship in the first week of April. Thanks for this sneak preview!

Post Extras:

YouCallEhLee
member

Reged: 01/23/12

Loc: Vancouver Island, BC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: JKoelman]
#5148220 - 03/30/12 02:58 AM

Beautiful portable setup. I need to get one of those porta mounts.

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5149351 - 03/30/12 08:09 PM Attachment (154 downloads)

My newly acquired TSA 102, and I can't wait to go outside and play with it.

Post Extras:

Tak North
sage

Reged: 11/28/07

Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5149506 - 03/30/12 10:55 PM

Nice!

Post Extras:

SKYGZR
sage

Reged: 08/14/09

Loc: Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy...

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Tak North]
#5150566 - 03/31/12 05:45 PM

Preliminary setup, fine tuning the details.

Post Extras:

iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: SKYGZR]
#5158153 - 04/05/12 07:28 PM Attachment (138 downloads)

Finally got my tube from the powder coaters. It looks absolutely stunning in "bone white", and now my Faworski/Crawmach/Carton 60mm f/16.7 scope is complete!

Post Extras:

iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5158154 - 04/05/12 07:29 PM Attachment (125 downloads)

profile shot

Post Extras:

RA-DEC
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/15/06

Loc: Pasadena, Maryland

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5158192 - 04/05/12 07:53 PM

Nice James!

Post Extras:

Chassetter
sage

Reged: 07/08/09

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5158202 - 04/05/12 08:00 PM

awwww yeah!!!

Post Extras:

iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Chassetter]
#5158297 - 04/05/12 09:11 PM Attachment (161 downloads)

Thanks guys!

Here's one more pic showing the powder coat job a lot better

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy

Reged: 04/24/05

Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5158466 - 04/05/12 11:54 PM Attachment (134 downloads)

Here's my highly modified 76mm Tasco 10TE (Made by Astro Optical, Tokyo) in the 1960s

I made the 50mm finder.

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy

Reged: 04/24/05

Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#5158468 - 04/05/12 11:57 PM Attachment (93 downloads)

Other Side:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy

Reged: 04/24/05

Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#5158472 - 04/06/12 12:00 AM Attachment (144 downloads)

Solar observing the good old fashioned way:

I don't need no stinkin' filters!

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy

Reged: 04/24/05

Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#5158476 - 04/06/12 12:02 AM Attachment (123 downloads)

The young troops on the base really enjoyed checking out the sunspots:

Post Extras:

Bob Andersson
member

Reged: 03/28/11

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: timwetherell]
#5158634 - 04/06/12 05:27 AM

Thanks Tim. Nothing like cranking up the vibrance to hide the damage a couple of dogs can do to a lawn over the winter months!

Bob.

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#5158862 - 04/06/12 09:54 AM

Great coloration!

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy

Reged: 04/24/05

Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5158972 - 04/06/12 10:59 AM

Quote:

Great coloration!

Thanks! I live near a powder coating shop so it's always tempting to get something with an unusual color.

They do take mail orders! Here's the link:

Bonehead Performance Powder Coating

(WARNING: this is a dangerous link! All of those colors will start you thinking...)

Post Extras:

Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/31/08

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#5159956 - 04/06/12 10:46 PM

Preston, that is a beaut!

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5160117 - 04/07/12 02:10 AM Attachment (139 downloads)

152mm Lunt observing the sun:

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5160910 - 04/07/12 03:08 PM Attachment (146 downloads)

OK...my homemade 10"f/15 in its OB getting ready for the night. The dew cap is new.

Rob

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5160939 - 04/07/12 03:28 PM Attachment (116 downloads)

Here is one getting ready for the night. The OB walls are a full 8ft tall and the pier is also 8ft...just for some perspective.

Dew cap still not on....

Rob

Post Extras:

stevew
Now I've done it

Reged: 03/03/06

Loc: British Columbia Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5160978 - 04/07/12 03:53 PM

Rob, It's gorgeous!
I bet you get some spectacular views.

Steve

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: stevew]
#5160997 - 04/07/12 04:09 PM Attachment (88 downloads)

Quote:

Rob, It's gorgeous!
I bet you get some spectacular views.

Steve

Indeed I do Steve..thanks. Brightness and image scale are amazing...and being an f/15 the false color is minimal on planets(Hardly noticable). The moon is fantastic and DSO's are awesome.

Rob

Post Extras:

Nippon
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/22/09

Loc: Central Florida

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5163895 - 04/09/12 05:09 PM Attachment (92 downloads)

Vixen A 105 M achromat

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5165271 - 04/10/12 01:43 PM

Post Extras:

JKoelman
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/16/11

Loc: Bangalore, India

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dougal]
#5165660 - 04/10/12 06:15 PM

Quote:

Cool scopes everyone. Here's my newly acquired grab'n'go solution. An Orion EON 80 on a Portamount II. It's as light as a feather and a joy to use. The Portamount is surprisingly stable even with the stock tripod.

Today my EON80 arrived. Unfortunately, I have to return the scope as the right coarse-focussing knob has significant play.

I also noticed that when mounted on a Vixen Porta II mount, the finder mount on this scope can not be used (gets in the way of the azimuth control).

Anyone who is using an EON80 on a Portamount and has a solution to this?

Post Extras:

altair1956
super member

Reged: 07/05/09

Loc: Light polluted central Mass

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: JKoelman]
#5165768 - 04/10/12 07:55 PM Attachment (114 downloads)

Here's a shot of the Konus Konusky 6" f8 I recently picked up on craigslist as a travel scope. Has the Konus mounting and sits on a meade heavy duty tripod that I had hanging around

Post Extras:

MawkHawk
sage

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: SE Michigan, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: altair1956]
#5165806 - 04/10/12 08:18 PM

My Meade LXD55 AR6, SVP extension, waiting for clear skies that never came...

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5165844 - 04/10/12 08:51 PM Attachment (135 downloads)

Televue NP101is observing sunrise:

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5166654 - 04/11/12 10:34 AM Attachment (104 downloads)

Televue NP127is observing sunrise:

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5166717 - 04/11/12 11:18 AM Attachment (101 downloads)

Pretty colors coming from the NP127 observing the sun. The green light comes out of all my Televue scopes, including a doublet, with or without the wedge. The blue light comes from a Baader UV/IR Cut filter installed before the wedge.

Post Extras:

SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: JKoelman]
#5166991 - 04/11/12 02:03 PM Attachment (63 downloads)

Quote:

Quote:

Cool scopes everyone. Here's my newly acquired grab'n'go solution. An Orion EON 80 on a Portamount II. It's as light as a feather and a joy to use. The Portamount is surprisingly stable even with the stock tripod.

Today my EON80 arrived. Unfortunately, I have to return the scope as the right coarse-focussing knob has significant play.

I also noticed that when mounted on a Vixen Porta II mount, the finder mount on this scope can not be used (gets in the way of the azimuth control).

Anyone who is using an EON80 on a Portamount and has a solution to this?

Have you tried relocating the slow-mo controls on the Porta? I found I preferred the Alt control coming straight back. It places it right next to the focuser on my WO 80.

Post Extras:

zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5167125 - 04/11/12 03:27 PM

TV Pronto.

Post Extras:

Mr Onions
Two Time International Photographical Competition Winner

Reged: 04/14/07

Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5167147 - 04/11/12 03:46 PM

Look at the size of that Nagler!

Post Extras:

zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/06/07

Loc: Wells, Maine 04090

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5167347 - 04/11/12 06:17 PM Attachment (131 downloads)

My 2 Taks on a Unistar. I don't really use them together like this but it makes for a good picture

-Tim

Post Extras:

zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/06/07

Loc: Wells, Maine 04090

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5167352 - 04/11/12 06:19 PM Attachment (77 downloads)

and one more....

Post Extras:

Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think

Reged: 08/01/07

Loc: Blue Island Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5167409 - 04/11/12 06:50 PM Attachment (139 downloads)

Here is a photo of my new 6" f15 refractor build:

Jaeger's lens, Astrophysics focuser, Unitron finder and Crawmatch sliding weight system.

Classic:

Post Extras:

Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think

Reged: 08/01/07

Loc: Blue Island Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Sean Cunneen]
#5167412 - 04/11/12 06:51 PM Attachment (152 downloads)

Just a guy and his scope... <3

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Sean Cunneen]
#5167456 - 04/11/12 07:19 PM

Hey Sean nice street light. Some get all the extras!

Mike

Post Extras:

gillmj24
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: JKoelman]
#5167609 - 04/11/12 09:20 PM

Quote:

Today my EON80 arrived. Unfortunately, I have to return the scope as the right coarse-focussing knob has significant play

Just the knob is loose? Do you own a hex key set? Come on ...

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zawijava]
#5167619 - 04/11/12 09:42 PM

Nice! Zawijava how do you like that Sky Surfer?

Post Extras:

zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 10/06/07

Loc: Wells, Maine 04090

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5167642 - 04/11/12 10:07 PM

Quote:

Nice! Zawijava how do you like that Sky Surfer?

I like it allot. It's a well thought out design...dew shields both ends and clear removable dew covers as well. At first I thought the red dot adjustments(2) were going to be an issue [they require a small screw driver], but it's so stable that once adjusted it stays put. It's a nice piece of work. -Tim

Post Extras:

JKoelman
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/16/11

Loc: Bangalore, India

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: SteveG]
#5167795 - 04/11/12 11:45 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I also noticed that when mounted on a Vixen Porta II mount, the finder mount on this scope can not be used (gets in the way of the azimuth control).

Anyone who is using an EON80 on a Portamount and has a solution to this?

Have you tried relocating the slow-mo controls on the Porta? I found I preferred the Alt control coming straight back. It places it right next to the focuser on my WO 80.

Thanks. The picture you posted suggests to mount a finder on the female mounting plate that is rotated 180 degrees. That looks like an attractive solution.

Post Extras:

chrisastro8
member

Reged: 09/25/10

Loc: Texas

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: JKoelman]
#5168114 - 04/12/12 09:01 AM Attachment (128 downloads)

I really enjoy all the pictures on this thread and I visit on a daily basis.
My most recent addition is an Explore Scientific ES127 Apo adequately mounted on a CG5-GT setup for extended viewing of Mars. As the night steadied I was delighted by 400 power views of Mars (80x per inch) which for me is unchartered magnification teritory. This is my new grab and go setup in 3 short trips.

Post Extras:

Dave Ponder
super member

Reged: 04/12/06

Loc: Greenville, SC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: chrisastro8]
#5168310 - 04/12/12 11:12 AM

Very nice! Looks just like mine, same set-up!

Post Extras:

WillCarney
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/08/09

Loc: Bloomington, ILL

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: chrisastro8]
#5168323 - 04/12/12 11:21 AM

My refractors are now coming together.

Showing my Orion ST-80, Celestron C102 and Orion ST-120.
I now have Antares focusers on all three.

My Meade 90mm on top of my Celestron 6".
I replaced the bad plastic focuser on the Meade with a better mostly metal one but it's still 1.25".
The 6" is waiting a Moonlite.

My original first telescope. A Jason 60x700 mm refurbished. I still need a new lens retainer however and I am planning a Crawmach focuser for it as well.

I don't have a current picture of my other two small refractors. I have a Jason-Tasco 60mm f/4 and a 30mm zoom.

William

Post Extras:

zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: WillCarney]
#5168810 - 04/12/12 03:46 PM

TV102

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Sean Cunneen]
#5169210 - 04/12/12 08:16 PM

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5172217 - 04/14/12 03:22 PM Attachment (200 downloads)

Woo hoo!

Post Extras:

Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/09/09

Loc: Betwixt and Between

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5172272 - 04/14/12 04:02 PM

Congratulations Johnny!!! That TEC140 is truly a beauty! Here's hoping for clear skies now for you.

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Crow Haven]
#5172518 - 04/14/12 06:47 PM

Thanks Maya! Keep lookin'!

Post Extras:

Paul G
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/08/03

Loc: Freedonia

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5173876 - 04/15/12 02:57 PM Attachment (133 downloads)

H-a solar setup (awesome views today, BTW, several impressive prominences).

Ethos
Daystar University 0.6 H-a filter
AP Maxbright (serves as a full cutoff below 750 nm, protects the H-a filter)
Extension tube + TeleVue 4x Powermate
AstroPhysics Stowaway f6.6
AP 400 GTO
AP Wood Tripod with Lapides spreader

Looks like the tail wagging the dog!

Edited by Paul G (04/15/12 03:21 PM)

Post Extras:

iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Paul G]
#5173922 - 04/15/12 03:31 PM

lookin' good!

Post Extras:

zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: iceblaze]
#5177379 - 04/17/12 05:35 PM

Updated pic with new mount.

Post Extras:

mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/24/11

Loc: Chattanooga, TN

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5177799 - 04/17/12 11:26 PM

Beautiful...what a great combo, TV102 and a DM6.

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5178119 - 04/18/12 08:42 AM

Johnny, I like the looks of your equatorial mount, but I know nothing about equatorial mounts: what is it?

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5178405 - 04/18/12 12:34 PM Attachment (118 downloads)

Antonino you are a man of discriminating taste - that is the Takahashi EM200. I like the looks too, the outer housing is made of beautiful sand cast metal and it's built like a Swiss watch on steroids. It will easily carry 30+ pounds. Has the best polar finder in the biz and 5 arc second accuracy out of the box. It's a bit pricey new, but they often come up on the used market. Mine is the non-goto version "USD", the goto version is referred to as Temma.

Post Extras:

Bill Cowles
MacGyver

Reged: 04/16/06

Loc: Utah

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5183712 - 04/21/12 06:43 PM Attachment (106 downloads)

Just came home with my new ES127ED and have already seen first light, that is white light. It is set up with a Lunt wedge and tomorrow I will try with a Lunt Ha filter.

Bill

Post Extras:

jamesastro
member

Reged: 03/17/12

Loc: California

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5183883 - 04/21/12 09:04 PM Attachment (112 downloads)

Here is my new NP-127 on a DM-6 mount with a DM tripod. First light will be tomorrow night if the weather cooperates.

Post Extras:

jamesastro
member

Reged: 03/17/12

Loc: California

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jamesastro]
#5183887 - 04/21/12 09:05 PM Attachment (108 downloads)

NP-127 close up with DM-6 mount.

Post Extras:

BillP
Postmaster

Reged: 11/26/06

Loc: Vienna, VA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jamesastro]
#5183933 - 04/21/12 10:10 PM

Beautiful!!

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jamesastro]
#5183988 - 04/21/12 11:03 PM

Now that is sweet!

BTW James you're lucky you have that TV diagonal with one-piece construction!

Leaving a 31T5 rotated to the left or 10 o'clock position like that has caused many nosepieces to unscrew and the eyepiece rotates down and sometimes even falls out with a rather sickening crash. I'd also consider trying the rings with the knobs on top I find it easier and safer when sliding the tube up and down for balance or putting the tube in and out of the rings.

Congratulations that is a dream setup!

Post Extras:

jamesastro
member

Reged: 03/17/12

Loc: California

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5184131 - 04/22/12 01:16 AM Attachment (81 downloads)

Quote:

I'd also consider trying the rings with the knobs on top I find it easier and safer when sliding the tube up and down for balance or putting the tube in and out of the rings.

Yeah, I agree that the rings would be safer with the knobs on top. It concerns me having them on the bottom.

However, the rings that I purchased were drilled with holes for the finder, and those holes are on the opposite side from the knobs. This means the knobs have to go on the bottom, so the finder can go on top. It's not an ideal arrangement.

Post Extras:

seafury
member

Reged: 01/18/12

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5184175 - 04/22/12 02:23 AM Attachment (109 downloads)

Hi not sure this poor little scope belongs in this esteemed company but here it is anyway, Prinz Optics 550 dateing from 1969

Edited by seafury (04/22/12 02:42 AM)

Post Extras:

seafury
member

Reged: 01/18/12

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: seafury]
#5184192 - 04/22/12 02:48 AM Attachment (82 downloads)

Hi again this Soligor 3.7 inch dating from the early 90's is now keeping it company

Gordon

Post Extras:

STEEL
sage

Reged: 01/24/07

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: seafury]
#5184221 - 04/22/12 05:21 AM Attachment (109 downloads)

II am happy to introduce you my Zeiss AS-80/1200. Mechanics has been realized with a lot of accuracy from the factory Northek (Italy):

http://www.northek.it/forum2/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=677

Edited by STEEL (04/22/12 05:31 AM)

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: seafury]
#5184241 - 04/22/12 06:16 AM

Your "poor little scope" has classic good looks!

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: seafury]
#5184298 - 04/22/12 08:05 AM

The older the better .... like us. Classy looking scopes!

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: STEEL]
#5184303 - 04/22/12 08:09 AM

Definitely not "run of the mill:" gorgeous setup. And I won't be one to complain about italian engineering and style. By the way, from the description (in italian) it sounds like you were rather picky on the specifications of the details!
P.S. .... and that Northek really wanted to do a job on this scope that they would be proud of.

Edited by ggalilei (04/22/12 08:22 AM)

Post Extras:

gillmj24
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jamesastro]
#5184499 - 04/22/12 10:55 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I'd also consider trying the rings with the knobs on top I find it easier and safer when sliding the tube up and down for balance or putting the tube in and out of the rings.

Yeah, I agree that the rings would be safer with the knobs on top. It concerns me having them on the bottom.

However, the rings that I purchased were drilled with holes for the finder, and those holes are on the opposite side from the knobs. This means the knobs have to go on the bottom, so the finder can go on top. It's not an ideal arrangement.

Load the scope with the finder base on bottom with the knobs in the safer position pointing up (and rings open downward). Then once secure and balanced turn the scope 180 and put your finder on top. Voila.

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: gillmj24]
#5184578 - 04/22/12 11:37 AM Attachment (139 downloads)

That is a strange finder position James, someone obviously needed to do that but you don't. You are so close to perfection with this setup! I'd suggest getting a dedicated TV Starbeam finder for your DM-6. Starbeams come up on the used market all the time. Tom Peters makes a little mount plate for it and it attaches to the alt bearing. Then you can mount any scope and use the DM-6 Starbeam finder, see the photo below.

Another idea is to use a vixen dovetail across the top of the rings for your finder shoe mount, or make a wood mounting plate, as you see in the photo. This will also brace the rings making for an even sturdier mounting.

Post Extras:

STEEL
sage

Reged: 01/24/07

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5184761 - 04/22/12 01:24 PM

Quote:

Definitely not "run of the mill:" gorgeous setup. And I won't be one to complain about italian engineering and style. By the way, from the description (in italian) it sounds like you were rather picky on the specifications of the details!
P.S. .... and that Northek really wanted to do a job on this scope that they would be proud of.

The technicians of the NortheK are very precise and careful to all of their realizations, from the small one to the great diameter.
A true jewel of mechanics that optics.

Post Extras:

ngc2289
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/13/05

Loc: Some Where Around The Maypole.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: STEEL]
#5185338 - 04/22/12 07:56 PM

STEEL that is one BEAUTIFUL scope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post Extras:

Pinbout
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/22/10

Loc: Montclair

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ngc2289]
#5185504 - 04/22/12 10:17 PM

Quote:

STEEL that is one BEAUTIFUL scope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those production pics from that link are AWESOME

Post Extras:

Jim7728
Postmaster

Reged: 04/10/05

Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Pinbout]
#5188690 - 04/24/12 07:06 PM Attachment (113 downloads)

I did a bad, bad thing and bought a High Point/Long Perng 90mm/5.5 for that w-i-d-e view.

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5188760 - 04/24/12 08:04 PM

Very NYCe!

Post Extras:

RA-DEC
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/15/06

Loc: Pasadena, Maryland

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5188832 - 04/24/12 08:56 PM

Nice Jim! I saw that on Long Perng's website and thought it looked interesting. Kinda like an ED doublet version of the TMB 92L! Have you had first light yet? Wonder if High Point will get a sample of that 110mm f/6 quad????

Post Extras:

Bill Cowles
MacGyver

Reged: 04/16/06

Loc: Utah

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dave Ponder]
#5188974 - 04/24/12 10:49 PM

No, it looks like mine.

Bill

Post Extras:

stevew
Now I've done it

Reged: 03/03/06

Loc: British Columbia Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5189027 - 04/24/12 11:12 PM

Quote:

I did a bad, bad thing and bought a High Point/Long Perng 90mm/5.5 for that w-i-d-e view.

Wait a minute....
Don't you already have a TV85 for that?

Steve

Post Extras:

aa6ww
sage

Reged: 10/23/11

Loc: Sacramento, Calif.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5189233 - 04/25/12 03:07 AM Attachment (118 downloads)

My beautiful TMB designed APM 180 F/6 on my G11 with its extension pier.

..Ralph in Sacramento

Post Extras:

Jim7728
Postmaster

Reged: 04/10/05

Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: RA-DEC]
#5189262 - 04/25/12 06:08 AM Attachment (50 downloads)

Thanks guys, no first light yet. Yeah Trace, pretty sure it's a fpl-51 doublet. Don't know if HP has other Long Perng samples, maybe something at NEAF.

Quote:

Wait a minute.... Don't you already have a TV85 for that?

SRF's don't need to explain thier behavior...

Edited by Jim7728 (04/26/12 10:05 AM)

Post Extras:

Samir Kharusi
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Oman

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5189397 - 04/25/12 08:39 AM

Roles reversed? The DSLR is on our club's TV 140 while the eyepiece is on my Canon 600mm/4.0L camera lens (150mm aperture). Actually the camera lens does make quite a decent visual OTA and also an excellent, fast, astro-imaging OTA. You can read the comparo in detail here. Later on I sold off the camera lens to somebody who was looking for a large aperture birding scope. He could not find a practically portable (i.e. reasonably short and lightweight) birding refractor with such a large aperture, and by then I had acquired a C14 Hyperstar (675mm focal length and f1.9). The C14 Hyperstar made my 150mm aperture look decidedly puny and slow

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Samir Kharusi]
#5189447 - 04/25/12 09:17 AM

Interesting setup ....
My hat off to you, Samir: cool twinkling of stars in M42!

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5189450 - 04/25/12 09:19 AM

If I hadn't just bought a Traveler I would look for one of these "Long Perng"s for those "w-i-d-e views"!

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: aa6ww]
#5189457 - 04/25/12 09:24 AM

Beautiful it is, Ralph.
Thanks to all for sharing these beauties, this is a fun thread to come back to.

Post Extras:

J_D_Metzger
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/13/04

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5189904 - 04/25/12 01:53 PM Attachment (107 downloads)

Here's my primary scope, a TV-76 with a Moonlite focuser.

Oh yeah, the big ugly thing next to it is my finder scope...

Post Extras:

greju
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/13/05

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: J_D_Metzger]
#5190009 - 04/25/12 02:42 PM

Your equipment is certainly top notch but I lust after your concrete block observatory!

Maybe someday at my dark sky site.

Post Extras:

gary-sue69
sage

Reged: 07/19/07

Loc: Maybee MI.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: greju]
#5190585 - 04/25/12 08:15 PM Attachment (128 downloads)

Here is my WO 132 FLT APO, on mt new meade LX800.

Edited by gary-sue69 (04/25/12 08:16 PM)

Post Extras:

gary-sue69
sage

Reged: 07/19/07

Loc: Maybee MI.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: gary-sue69]
#5190591 - 04/25/12 08:16 PM Attachment (99 downloads)

pic2

Edited by gary-sue69 (04/25/12 08:17 PM)

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: gary-sue69]
#5190967 - 04/26/12 12:55 AM

Nice Gary... and I've never seen that mount b4

Post Extras:

Smack
super member

Reged: 07/24/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5194490 - 04/28/12 08:04 AM

Received my TSA-102 on Sunday and miracle of miracles, I've actually been able to pop out to the back deck for a bit of observing the past two nights.

Here are a couple of pics on my Half-Hitch MkII:

Regards,

Steve

Post Extras:

hottr6
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/28/09

Loc: 7,500', Magdalena Mtns, NM

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5194594 - 04/28/12 09:48 AM Attachment (101 downloads)

Here I am doing some side-by-side testing of my Meade 90mm f/11 and Antares 105mm f/13 on a modified saddle by Ken Dauzat. With this saddle I can adjust the 'scopes so that they are pointing within 6' of arc of each other.

Post Extras:

herrointment
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/12/11

Loc: North of Hwy. 64

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: hottr6]
#5194928 - 04/28/12 01:07 PM Attachment (134 downloads)

I thought my wooden widefield deserved a home.........and I am aware that the hardware sucks....changes will be made!

Post Extras:

Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/31/08

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: herrointment]
#5195185 - 04/28/12 03:39 PM

WOW!

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: herrointment]
#5195468 - 04/28/12 07:41 PM

It looks like you are using a flattened and petrified salamander as a pointing device:)

Post Extras:

herrointment
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/12/11

Loc: North of Hwy. 64

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5195472 - 04/28/12 07:46 PM

Scarred dovetail bar.....

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: herrointment]
#5195558 - 04/28/12 08:51 PM

Dang wooden dovetails!

Seriously that is one cool scope!

Post Extras:

sgorton99
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/30/08

Loc: Wisconsin, Madison

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5196259 - 04/29/12 09:40 AM Attachment (144 downloads)

My newest find.

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: sgorton99]
#5196285 - 04/29/12 10:04 AM

The whole family is invited .....

Post Extras:

tubehead999
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/25/08

Loc: Kennesaw, GA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: herrointment]
#5197235 - 04/29/12 08:35 PM

Now THAT is ATM!

Excellent work....both on the case and the scope....nothing like the warmth and the class of wood.

Post Extras:

Joe Bergeron
Vendor - Space Art

Reged: 11/10/03

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tubehead999]
#5197460 - 04/29/12 11:23 PM Attachment (87 downloads)

I offer this view of my 77mm f/13 Eikow, approximately 50 years old. It was given to me by a kind CNer this winter, the victim of domestic violence in its past, in need of some TLC. I have given it my all, and consider it now ready for prime time. It also performs beautifully…the objective, though it has a few edge chips, is exquisite.

Post Extras:

Agelos Kechagias
super member

Reged: 01/12/09

Loc: Greece

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Joe Bergeron]
#5198222 - 04/30/12 12:46 PM Attachment (101 downloads)

And this is my new Officina Stellare 130 hiper apo

Edited by Agelos Kechagias (04/30/12 12:48 PM)

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Agelos Kechagias]
#5198503 - 04/30/12 03:46 PM

Quote:

And this is my new Officina Stellare 130 hiper apo

Absolutely unbelievably beautiful! A perfect combination of form and function. Here's some more red metal:

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5198879 - 04/30/12 07:10 PM Attachment (83 downloads)

Wow, that is gorgeous Agelos! Is that a direct drive mount?

Speaking of red trim...

... I've had my TEC140 #221 a couple weeks now, it's been properly tweaked...

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5198886 - 04/30/12 07:13 PM Attachment (74 downloads)

The TEC compression adapter actually works quite well. But I also got the AP back with the triple thumbscrews, it's beefier than I expected...

Still waiting for some good seeing but after a few brief outings I can already tell this is an excellent performer, and it's a match made in heaven with the DM-6 and the EM200 mounts.

Post Extras:

RA-DEC
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/15/06

Loc: Pasadena, Maryland

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Agelos Kechagias]
#5198954 - 04/30/12 07:55 PM

Wow Agelos! Beautiful! That thing screams Ferrari style with the performance to boot! Does that have the TMB designed LZOS lens?

Post Extras:

Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: RA-DEC]
#5199034 - 04/30/12 08:40 PM Attachment (82 downloads)

Got my AT111EDT a baby brother.

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5199115 - 04/30/12 09:21 PM Attachment (140 downloads)

Post Extras:

Agelos Kechagias
super member

Reged: 01/12/09

Loc: Greece

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Greg K.]
#5199529 - 05/01/12 03:03 AM

Jhonny It is a direct mount from Astro System Austria (DDM60).
Ra-Dec yes triplet Russian LZOS optics

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5202324 - 05/02/12 05:15 PM Attachment (84 downloads)

Televue TV60is
Televue High-Hat
Televue 45º Erecting Prism ("Not for use with Bino Vue due to weight limitations")
Televue Bino Vue
Televue 24mm Panoptics
Vixen Dovetail to Arca Swiss plate
Wimberley Head II

Post Extras:

tmbuser6
sage

Reged: 07/01/11

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5203938 - 05/03/12 02:34 PM Attachment (98 downloads)

Ornithocheirus. ;^)

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tmbuser6]
#5206726 - 05/05/12 05:38 AM Attachment (94 downloads)

A bit of a repeat, but to show that I have learned something from CN: add the extension tube, place ring bolts on top, get Pan 24s, and stay up till 5:30 on Saturday morning hoping for clear skies.
P.S. omg, look at all them TMB baffles!

Post Extras:

Dave Ponder
super member

Reged: 04/12/06

Loc: Greenville, SC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5207156 - 05/05/12 12:33 PM Attachment (107 downloads)

Quickie set-up...ES ED 102 ED APO on CG-4...

Post Extras:

Dave Ponder
super member

Reged: 04/12/06

Loc: Greenville, SC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Dave Ponder]
#5207160 - 05/05/12 12:35 PM Attachment (104 downloads)

...and a full shot...

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5207858 - 05/05/12 08:31 PM

Quote:

A bit of a repeat, but to show that I have learned something from CN: add the extension tube, place ring bolts on top, get Pan 24s, and stay up till 5:30 on Saturday morning hoping for clear skies.

Excellent! Great choices all around Antonino, those rings look awesome!

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: tmbuser6]
#5207951 - 05/05/12 10:10 PM

Baffling!!!

Post Extras:

EdTheEdge
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 04/10/09

Loc: Lomita, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rushintuit]
#5208149 - 05/06/12 12:20 AM

Beatiful scope Dave!!

Post Extras:

Kees
member

Reged: 02/22/10

Loc: Schiermonnikoog, Holland

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: EdTheEdge]
#5208277 - 05/06/12 02:46 AM Attachment (104 downloads)

My Celestron 102mm ED refractor together with my Celestron
spc 8 on a SkyTee AZU mount.

Edited by Kees (05/06/12 02:46 AM)

Post Extras:

jsteinberg48
super member

Reged: 01/01/08

Loc: Scarsdale, NY

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Samir Kharusi]
#5209480 - 05/06/12 09:19 PM

What equipment did you use to mate the diagonal/eyepiece to the cannon lens? I am very interested.

Edited by jsteinberg48 (05/08/12 11:40 PM)

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jsteinberg48]
#5209861 - 05/07/12 08:10 AM Attachment (76 downloads)

Supermoon duo:

Post Extras:

BrianG
journeyman

Reged: 09/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: greju]
#5209863 - 05/07/12 08:12 AM

My new setup. SV115T25FT with Earthwin bino's on a CGEM.

Post Extras:

BrianG
journeyman

Reged: 09/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: greju]
#5209886 - 05/07/12 08:23 AM Attachment (105 downloads)

Now with the pic

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: BrianG]
#5210328 - 05/07/12 01:56 PM

Is that the SuperMoon in the background??

Post Extras:

MarcF650R
super member

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5210340 - 05/07/12 02:05 PM Attachment (89 downloads)

Explore Scientific 127ED idling waiting for nightfall. A not so well defined halo and sundog formed.

Post Extras:

MarcF650R
super member

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MarcF650R]
#5210343 - 05/07/12 02:07 PM Attachment (69 downloads)

...and then the clouds rolled in, but quickly rolled out and we enjoyed the super moon, Saturn, Mars and Venus. About 30 people on an outreach night.

Post Extras:

BrianG
journeyman

Reged: 09/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5210686 - 05/07/12 05:48 PM

That is the moon but the pic was taken Friday night so technically, day before the the super moon.

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MarcF650R]
#5210754 - 05/07/12 06:23 PM

The clouds made for a dramatic picture, nice!

Post Extras:

YouCallEhLee
member

Reged: 01/23/12

Loc: Vancouver Island, BC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ion]
#5210766 - 05/07/12 06:26 PM

Quote:

Supermoon duo:

Wow look at those barlows, whats the focal ratio with that setup?

Post Extras:

ion
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Bortle Scale 2

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: YouCallEhLee]
#5211046 - 05/07/12 09:09 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Supermoon duo:

Wow look at those barlows, whats the focal ratio with that setup?

f/31.2 with 2x and 4x powermates.

Post Extras:

astronz59
sage

Reged: 09/15/10

Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5214399 - 05/09/12 07:51 PM Attachment (115 downloads)

This is my gal set up on my patio, which is where I do my solar observations. I have a series of N-S aligned marks around the apartment for other viewing points, definitely not DSO territory, though. This baby gives me a perfect star test optical figure and performs well at magnifications of 150 x to 200 x on planetary objects.

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: astronz59]
#5214605 - 05/09/12 10:37 PM Attachment (103 downloads)

My new addition...my homemade 6"f/6.5..with a homemade 4" focuser. Homemade 2.5" tube ring....sitting on a heavely modified EQ2. With another heavely modified Dewalt survay tripod under it all.

Rob

Post Extras:

jmiele
Patron Saint?

Reged: 12/04/10

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5214613 - 05/09/12 10:39 PM

More handy-work! Well done Rob! Joe

Post Extras:

David Rosenthal
Imager Extraordinaire

Reged: 06/23/06

Loc: NJ

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: jmiele]
#5214690 - 05/09/12 11:24 PM Attachment (107 downloads)

My New Borg 125SD signed by Ted Ishikawa at NEAF !!!!

Post Extras:

JAFE
sage

Reged: 07/04/07

Loc: Yavin IV rebel base,

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: David Rosenthal]
#5214849 - 05/10/12 02:24 AM

Nice telescopes guys, I´ve been busy the last months and really miss this section and all of you a lot! Thanks for share your awesome refractors!

Edited by JAFE (05/10/12 02:29 AM)

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: JAFE]
#5214925 - 05/10/12 06:21 AM Attachment (101 downloads)

Here's my recently received (used) WO Fluorostar 110 mm refractor ( With Tec oil triplet).

Edited by ASTERON (05/10/12 06:22 AM)

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5214928 - 05/10/12 06:23 AM Attachment (66 downloads)

and another one

Edited by ASTERON (05/10/12 06:24 AM)

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: rwiederrich]
#5214933 - 05/10/12 06:32 AM

Rob,
Thats awsome work. Is this an Achro or Apo ?

Post Extras:

mikey cee
Postmaster

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5215227 - 05/10/12 10:50 AM

Rob...That's not the same scope that counter balanced the Green Monster? Probably not but it looks good anyways!

Mike

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5216460 - 05/11/12 12:34 AM

Quote:

Rob,
Thats awsome work. Is this an Achro or Apo ?

It's an achro...great wide field scope with sharp images.

thanks.

Rob

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5216473 - 05/11/12 12:44 AM

Quote:

Rob...That's not the same scope that counter balanced the Green Monster? Probably not but it looks good anyways! Mike

Nope..close though..it is the same lens...nothing more. The tube is new, the focuser is new. I disassembled that scope years ago..and replaced it with counterweights. It wasn't working as an astrograph...too fast an achro. Its old focuser got rebuilt and modified as the extra focuser for my 10"...the one with the new iris.

I used the other 4" R/P focuser I made for this new scope. It all worked out well.

Thanks for asking and remembering....

Rob

Post Extras:

rwiederrich
Goldfinger

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W...

Re: Naked C102 HD Planet Buster new

[Re: mikey cee]
#5216484 - 05/11/12 12:52 AM Attachment (71 downloads)

Quote:

Rob...That's not the same scope that counter balanced the Green Monster? Probably not but it looks good anyways! Mike

Just so you can see the difference. Note the longer dew shield...the longer tube and the shorter focuser. Not the same scope at all...the new one has a much shorter dew cap shorte tube and linger focuser tube.

Rob

Post Extras:

YouCallEhLee
member

Reged: 01/23/12

Loc: Vancouver Island, BC

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: YouCallEhLee]
#5217225 - 05/11/12 02:05 PM

My modest setup, looking forward to perfectly clear skies tonight for the first time in ages.

Post Extras:

ngc2289
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/13/05

Loc: Some Where Around The Maypole.

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: YouCallEhLee]
#5217338 - 05/11/12 03:07 PM

Your "modest" setup looks GOOD to me!

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: YouCallEhLee]
#5217406 - 05/11/12 03:44 PM

That baby looks ready to go out and play.

Post Extras:

Jeff B
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/30/06

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5219211 - 05/12/12 07:39 PM

Quote:

Is that the SuperMoon in the background??

Someone at work asked me if I took a picture of the super-moon and what the difference between a "regular" full moon and the super-moon was. Well, being the smart ars that I am, I replied "About 10-15% using Photo-Shop".

Jeff

Post Extras:

Jobryant
sage

Reged: 01/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jeff B]
#5219610 - 05/13/12 01:06 AM Attachment (107 downloads)

Here's my multipurpose scope. Works well both day and night. It's hard to tell due to the camo but it's a Vixen ED114SS with a moonlite focuser.

Post Extras:

ggalilei
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/01/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jobryant]
#5219886 - 05/13/12 09:11 AM

You're right, it is hard to tell!
I had never seen a Vixen ED114 before; seems rather short, wide field of view I presume? Is it an older model?

Post Extras:

Jobryant
sage

Reged: 01/13/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5220547 - 05/13/12 04:30 PM Attachment (124 downloads)

Yes at F5.3 it's very short. Right around 19.5 inches to the back of the focuser and just under 10lbs for the OTA it's very small and lightweight for a 114mm scope. The scope has been modified so it's shorter then a factory ED114SS. The camo you see is actually a protective sleeve/dew shield I made but I mainly use it as a sun shield for my daytime viewing. With a FL of 600mm is great for wide field viewing. I have yet to push it past 100x so I don't know how well it will do at higher mags.

Post Extras:

GShaffer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/28/09

Loc: Bogart, Ga USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jobryant]
#5220631 - 05/13/12 05:30 PM

ED114SS is a great little scope.....Some really great imaging has been done with them. If its a good one you shouldnt have any trouble getting 250x or more out of it.

Not too sure on the camo though

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Jobryant]
#5220637 - 05/13/12 05:33 PM Attachment (131 downloads)

152 f/8 test sample from 2005 made by JOC sent to Antares for evaluation before they later carried the line...without the 152 f/8 production model though in their lineup. The scopes like you now see now sold by ES again made by JOC...again without the f/8 option of a 6" class of instrument.

My personal evaluation then and now is exactly the same from star test results last night at 400 power. Yes there is CA but the level of spherical correction for a 152 f/8 achro is way beyond what many {inc. this buyer} would expect to see at the ep

Perfect spot on collimation too.

Seen here on its new 2" steel legs/hub for an EQ5 combo... SOLID!

Post Extras:

stevew
Now I've done it

Reged: 03/03/06

Loc: British Columbia Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5221275 - 05/14/12 02:19 AM Attachment (120 downloads)

TMB130- Losmandy G11

Post Extras:

Curt B
sage

Reged: 08/02/05

Loc: Regina, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5226131 - 05/17/12 12:31 AM Attachment (104 downloads)

Sorry for the poor quality, but here is my new ES AR127 f/6.5 paired up with my TV85. I cannot wait to try out this combination.

Post Extras:

Curt B
sage

Reged: 08/02/05

Loc: Regina, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5226136 - 05/17/12 12:33 AM Attachment (68 downloads)

And another angle..

Post Extras:

John Huntley
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/16/06

Loc: South West England

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Curt B]
#5227338 - 05/17/12 07:52 PM Attachment (98 downloads)

This is not a great photo but here is my "new to me but a decade old" Skywatcher 150 F/8. The Moonlite focuser upgrade is obvious but the Chromacor II attached to the Intes 2" diagonal is not. I believe the scope and Chromacor were matched by Markus Ludes back in 2002.

Edited by John Huntley (05/17/12 07:54 PM)

Post Extras:

rushintuit
sage

Reged: 04/01/06

Loc: Farpoint Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Curt B]
#5227349 - 05/17/12 08:00 PM

Very nice setup and I think the decor in the background is equally interesting. I like the furniture, tile floor and hunting lodge motif.

Post Extras:

David Rosenthal
Imager Extraordinaire

Reged: 06/23/06

Loc: NJ

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ggalilei]
#5227650 - 05/17/12 11:55 PM

Borg/Pentax 125SD APO
Borg (Oasis)#7878 0.78X FR/FF
Borg M57 Camera Rotator

AstroPhysics AWT001 Tripod
ArgoNavis DSS Controller with 10,000 Tick encoders,
FeatherTouch/Optec Focus Boss II Temperature Compensating Focus Controller.

Post Extras:

rlmxracer
super member

Reged: 11/09/11

Loc: Motocross Mecca , CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: David Rosenthal]
#5227747 - 05/18/12 02:15 AM Attachment (75 downloads)

Here is my son with his Meade 102 achro. We are both having a blast learning the sky. He is almost 5 and is turning out to be a wiz at it.

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: rlmxracer]
#5234997 - 05/22/12 11:53 PM

TEC 140 on a CGE...

TV-102 on a Gibraltar Sky Tour...

Regards,

Jim

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5235181 - 05/23/12 06:10 AM

Jim,
Great scope and well mounted.
I also like the wood pergola in the background.
Regards,
Lihu

Post Extras:

mark8888
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/24/10

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5235190 - 05/23/12 06:24 AM

Jim that's awesome! Nice to see my TEC's brother being treated appropriately. Especially since some of your posts about it helped to influence me to buy one (and what absolutely great advice that was...)

I also love the pic above with the Meade. What a nice photo, your son looks so happy.

For that matter the Borg above it is also cool. I'd love to meet a scope Borg, but not a Star Trek Borg. Nice scopes, all...!!

Post Extras:

PDuval
journeyman

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Northeast USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5235448 - 05/23/12 10:30 AM Attachment (107 downloads)

A good old scope Astro-Pysics Star 155ED on G-11 mount

Edited by PDuval (05/23/12 10:33 AM)

Post Extras:

PDuval
journeyman

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Northeast USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: PDuval]
#5235519 - 05/23/12 10:59 AM Attachment (69 downloads)

Another view

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: PDuval]
#5235674 - 05/23/12 12:43 PM

Now *that* is a proper refractor!

- Jim

Post Extras:

jmiele
Patron Saint?

Reged: 12/04/10

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5235819 - 05/23/12 02:07 PM

Beautiful PD!

Jim, Yours look great as well. I could get very comfortable in that backyard.

Joe

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jmiele]
#5236363 - 05/23/12 08:18 PM

The 60mm f/16.7 Carton achromat on a Takahashi Teegul with Vixen saddle and the previously pictured TV-102 participating in last Sunday's Eclipse-a-thon.

Sonoma Mountain (poorly named; it's barely what I'd call a "hill" is in the background).

- Jim

Post Extras:

Tanveer Gani
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/02/06

Loc: Washington State

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5236394 - 05/23/12 08:38 PM Attachment (85 downloads)

Hard to believe but that's a 6" f/12 A-P.

Post Extras:

stefsaber
Post Laureate

Reged: 06/24/06

Loc: Rainy Florida

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Tanveer Gani]
#5237499 - 05/24/12 03:00 PM Attachment (62 downloads)

Thought I should post a picture or two of my refractor setup before I sell it

William Optics 66SD "Gator" along with a showroom black version (rare I think?) of the WO Megrez 80 II ED Triplet

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: stefsaber]
#5241271 - 05/26/12 08:40 PM Attachment (122 downloads)

Test sample made by JOC of a 152 f/8 achro sent to Antares for evaluation back in 2005 ready for a night of Venus, the cresent Moon, Saturn and some nice open clusters from the backyard

Pic #1

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5241276 - 05/26/12 08:42 PM Attachment (86 downloads)

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5241278 - 05/26/12 08:43 PM Attachment (70 downloads)

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5241538 - 05/26/12 11:53 PM Attachment (79 downloads)

One more pointed at the Moon at sunset...

Post Extras:

astronz59
sage

Reged: 09/15/10

Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5241547 - 05/26/12 11:57 PM

What a bazooka! I can see why you need that extended dew shield for the Beast!

Post Extras:

GrampaMoose
member

Reged: 04/07/10

Loc: The Woods & Waters Of Michigan

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Curt B]
#5241587 - 05/27/12 12:44 AM

Excuse the interuption! BUT I see you have your scopes on a Heavy Duty Duo T Mount -- How's the Mount working out?

Post Extras:

Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: astronz59]
#5241593 - 05/27/12 12:51 AM

I finally got a chance to put both my AR5 and my new AR6 on my CGEM side-by-side rig. It's a bit overloaded at this point, but after adding another counterweight it balanced right out and worked pretty well!

Beo

Post Extras:

seafury
member

Reged: 01/18/12

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#5241773 - 05/27/12 06:32 AM Attachment (89 downloads)

Hi all my latest(and final according to the wife) scope 120mm Bresser Pulsar now with RA and Dec motors and Skywatcher electic focuser, the Soligor on the left of the pic has gone to a new home

Gordon

Edited by seafury (05/27/12 06:41 AM)

Post Extras:

Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: astronz59]
#5242211 - 05/27/12 01:08 PM

Quote:

What a bazooka! I can see why you need that extended dew shield for the Beast!

Yes when I set this one up in the backyard the neighbors blinds all go in place promptly in unison

.....that scope ALWAYS gets a reaction when in clear view

That foam extension cap serves a couple of good purposes...keeps stray light well away from the views at the ep and keeps the front element dew free even on heavy nights.

Setting up the scope in the backyard has some positive elements too. Had a couple passing by last night take in and share with me some killer views of the Moon at different powers I was observing. His girlfriend said that was simply amazing and the chap I believe is now hooked on telescopes

Nice when you can share something with other people to change their way of thinking about things that they see but don't "see" on a regular basis in the evening sky

Post Extras:

Curt B
sage

Reged: 08/02/05

Loc: Regina, Canada

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: GrampaMoose]
#5242699 - 05/27/12 07:02 PM

The mount has worked out quite nicely. It is very stable. The only issue is that when looking through the ES 127, it is difficult to reach the slow motion knobs. It is no problem with the smaller TV 85. I am very happy with this combination.

Post Extras:

etsleds
sage

Reged: 11/14/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Curt B]
#5244127 - 05/28/12 03:22 PM Attachment (109 downloads)

The new living room queen, 1989 blue tube AP178 on an AP900.

Been discussing this on another thread - glass looks fantastic, but she'd taken on some paint chips, scratches, and a lot of grime outside in the last 23 years.

Waiting for some matched touch-up paint, but after a thorough cleaning, polish, and wax, she's looking good enough to display already. I'm calling her Marilyn, with the cornflower blue eyes.

If the Clear Sky forecast holds up, first light should be tonight!

Post Extras:

NHRob
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/27/04

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5244431 - 05/28/12 06:18 PM

beautiful !!!!

Post Extras:

CHASLX200
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/29/07

Loc: Tampa area Florida

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: NHRob]
#5244447 - 05/28/12 06:29 PM

Here was my 4" Unitron back in 1987.

Post Extras:

David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5244758 - 05/28/12 10:00 PM

Quote:

The new living room queen, 1989 blue tube AP178 on an AP900.

Been discussing this on another thread - glass looks fantastic, but she'd taken on some paint chips, scratches, and a lot of grime outside in the last 23 years.

Waiting for some matched touch-up paint, but after a thorough cleaning, polish, and wax, she's looking good enough to display already. I'm calling her Marilyn, with the cornflower blue eyes.

If the Clear Sky forecast holds up, first light should be tonight!

I'm not a fan of blue refractors, but that is just magnificent!

David

Post Extras:

Bob Myler
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: St Louis, MO

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5244922 - 05/28/12 11:42 PM

I have its little brother (5") and AP's blue metallic paint of that era is both gorgeous - and delicate - especially on the front edge of the dew shield.

I pin-striped my boo-boos...

Post Extras:

astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Bob Myler]
#5245366 - 05/29/12 10:27 AM Attachment (167 downloads)

Me and my Tal 125R.

Post Extras:

iceblaze
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/15/11

Loc: 33.9° N, 118.4° W Lawndale, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5245961 - 05/29/12 04:46 PM

Quote:

The new living room queen, 1989 blue tube AP178 on an AP900.

Been discussing this on another thread - glass looks fantastic, but she'd taken on some paint chips, scratches, and a lot of grime outside in the last 23 years.

Waiting for some matched touch-up paint, but after a thorough cleaning, polish, and wax, she's looking good enough to display already. I'm calling her Marilyn, with the cornflower blue eyes.

If the Clear Sky forecast holds up, first light should be tonight!

That's a dream scope if I ever saw one!! Grats!!

Post Extras:

akoroves
super member

Reged: 09/05/11

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5246192 - 05/29/12 07:17 PM

Wow that is so cool! I hope she's good to you. ^^

Post Extras:

ASTERON
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/24/07

Loc: ISRAEL

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5247004 - 05/30/12 09:54 AM

Quote:

The new living room queen, 1989 blue tube AP178 on an AP900.

Been discussing this on another thread - glass looks fantastic, but she'd taken on some paint chips, scratches, and a lot of grime outside in the last 23 years.

Waiting for some matched touch-up paint, but after a thorough cleaning, polish, and wax, she's looking good enough to display already. I'm calling her Marilyn, with the cornflower blue eyes.

If the Clear Sky forecast holds up, first light should be tonight!

FANTASTIC SCOPE

I would call her "Marylin Monroe"
But then you would have to get her a blond wig and some diamonds ?

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: astroneil]
#5247079 - 05/30/12 10:46 AM

Aha! Now I won't need a little placard at the airport that says "Mr. English" or rather "Mr.Hardglass".

I'm easy to spot. Just look for the unshaven short guy with the cocktail shaker in one hand and Brandon in the other:

And lest I fail to honor the purpose of the thread:

140mm of oiled triplet from Colorado, USA.

Regards,

Jim

Post Extras:

Doug Culbertson
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/06/05

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5247107 - 05/30/12 11:00 AM

Nice TEC 140, but I'm more interested in what's being mixed in the cocktail shaker!

Post Extras:

etsleds
sage

Reged: 11/14/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: ASTERON]
#5247246 - 05/30/12 12:46 PM

Thanks guys, I feel very lucky that everything fell into place for this. I've wanted a blue tube since I was a high school student browsing old S&Ts in the library. First light was great, I saw lots of fine detail on rings and disc of Saturn and M13 was a real treat.

The paint sure does chip easily. I'm thinking of having a trim ring / knife edge baffle made for the dew shield and perhaps clearcoating the whole tube after a thorough polish and touch up.

And she's surprisingly practical, she doesn't care for diamonds, but ZAOs are a girls best friends.

Regards, Andrew.

Post Extras:

astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5247388 - 05/30/12 02:21 PM

Quote:

Aha! Now I won't need a little placard at the airport that says "Mr. English" or rather "Mr.Hardglass".

I'm easy to spot. Just look for the unshaven short guy with the cocktail shaker in one hand and Brandon in the other:

At last, Mr. Hardglass meets the famous Eyepiece Hooligan.

Surely, the angels in heaven shall gather in amazement!

See ya soon,

Best wishes,

Neil.

Post Extras:

astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: astroneil]
#5247395 - 05/30/12 02:25 PM

Stan (Refractor 6), Lord Beowolf & Gordon;

Very nice gear! Big achros look nice any time of the day dont ya think?

Best,

Neil.

Post Extras:

zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: astroneil]
#5247904 - 05/30/12 07:58 PM

My latest. W.O. 80/480 LOMO.

Post Extras:

orion69
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/09/10

Loc: Croatia

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: zombie1210]
#5247906 - 05/30/12 08:01 PM

Is telescope that white thing or that black thing?

Post Extras:

zombie1210
sage

Reged: 12/26/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: orion69]
#5247910 - 05/30/12 08:10 PM

Quote:

Is telescope that white thing or that black thing?

Good one!

I got it to balance perfectly with the big Pan 41, and all it takes is a very light touch to slew around.

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5249183 - 05/31/12 04:34 PM Attachment (85 downloads)

Beautiful blue AP Andrew!

And heeeeeeere's... Ginger!

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5249230 - 05/31/12 05:08 PM

NICE!

Post Extras:

etsleds
sage

Reged: 11/14/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5249358 - 05/31/12 06:15 PM

Looking good, Johnny, she looks happy down there!

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5249376 - 05/31/12 06:31 PM Attachment (81 downloads)

Thanks! I just got that Vixen 7X50 finderscope too, the same that comes with the TEC. I really got to liking that thing using it on the TEC140, it has a very nice low profile built-in illuminator, it's very accurate - and turns out it actually is not a bad fit with the Tak.

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Doug Culbertson]
#5249379 - 05/31/12 06:35 PM

Hi Doug.

That was Ricard Pastis in the shaker. Normally pastis should be made in the manner of absinthe; chilled water dribbled slowly over a sugar cube in a slotted spoon, and into the glass containing the liquor. However, in the field, we have to work with what we have. So I shake my pastis in a shaker with ice, cold water and turbinado sugar, and pour it into a cocktail glass. Honestly, with a blindfold you wouldn't taste a difference.

Regards,

Jim

Post Extras:

Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/09/09

Loc: Betwixt and Between

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5249617 - 05/31/12 10:01 PM

Deja Vu!

Johnny, Congrats again! I understand perfectly!

Post Extras:

johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Crow Haven]
#5249859 - 06/01/12 01:02 AM

Quote:

Deja Vu! Johnny, Congrats again! I understand perfectly!

Yep. I have healthy respect for the TEC140 now I'll tell you what - smoothest optics ever. But the FS152 is classic.

Post Extras:

MAURITS
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/22/09

Loc: Diksmuide (Belgium)

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5250572 - 06/01/12 02:16 PM

This is my TOA-150 on the EM 400 mount.
I love it

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MAURITS]
#5250588 - 06/01/12 02:28 PM

Nice. That is a stout looking kit, Maurits.

Post Extras:

Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/09/09

Loc: Betwixt and Between

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MAURITS]
#5250589 - 06/01/12 02:29 PM

What a beautiful scope and mt., MAURITS!

The views through it must be a complete delight.

Post Extras:

Traveler
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/19/07

Loc: The Netherlands

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MAURITS]
#5250648 - 06/01/12 03:11 PM

Very nice equipment Maurits!

Post Extras:

MAURITS
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/22/09

Loc: Diksmuide (Belgium)

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Crow Haven]
#5250796 - 06/01/12 05:14 PM

Thanks all for the compliments!

I will make a lot of pictures from the whole setup outside when the rain stops!

Post Extras:

Pat at home
sage

Reged: 03/16/07

Loc: Campbellton, New Brunswick, Ca...

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: MAURITS]
#5251079 - 06/01/12 08:55 PM Attachment (91 downloads)

My latest refractor is a "department store" special compared to some of the jewels presented in this thread. However all those other telescopes are not mine, but this one is.

An ES AR152 that is waiting for an ES 34mm 68 deg EP, a Baader zoom and a Baader semi apo filter.

Here it is waiting for darkness sitting on an EQ6, we'll be peering at doubles tonight. The nearly full waxing gibbous moon is not good for galaxies.

Post Extras:

Messyone
super member

Reged: 05/02/12

Loc: Down Under

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#5251578 - 06/02/12 05:55 AM Attachment (117 downloads)

My 6" and 4" in need of an EQ6...

Edited by Messyone (06/02/12 06:00 AM)

Post Extras:

Mike E.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/26/10

Loc: Moonstone Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Messyone]
#5252177 - 06/02/12 02:46 PM Attachment (109 downloads)

Our Telementor at a favorite observing spot.

Post Extras:

Bill Cowles
MacGyver

Reged: 04/16/06

Loc: Utah

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike E.]
#5252281 - 06/02/12 04:12 PM

What a great shot!

Bill

Post Extras:

etsleds
sage

Reged: 11/14/09

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike E.]
#5252294 - 06/02/12 04:28 PM

Gorgeous!!

Quote:

Our Telementor at a favorite observing spot.

Post Extras:

Mike E.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/26/10

Loc: Moonstone Observatory

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: etsleds]
#5252344 - 06/02/12 05:03 PM

The location is above a glacial carved valley in South Wales.

Post Extras:

Karl Fabian
member

Reged: 11/02/11

Loc: Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Mike E.]
#5252784 - 06/02/12 11:30 PM Attachment (102 downloads)

My 5 inch Apogee achromat 1200mm FL. CG5 clone mount on Antares pedestal. Very good visual performance and surprisingly does good on planetary imaging despite being a humble conventional Fraunhofer doublet.

Post Extras:

Karl Fabian
member

Reged: 11/02/11

Loc: Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Karl Fabian]
#5252790 - 06/02/12 11:35 PM Attachment (100 downloads)

Jupiter with 127MM Apogee F9.4 achromatic and Celestron Neximage.

Post Extras:

Karl Fabian
member

Reged: 11/02/11

Loc: Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: Karl Fabian]
#5252791 - 06/02/12 11:36 PM Attachment (91 downloads)

Saturn using same equipment

Post Extras:

Karl Fabian
member

Reged: 11/02/11

Loc: Illinois

Re: Post a picture of your refractors (PART 5) new

[Re: