edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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What type of microscopes are recomented for meteorite work?
what price range?
Astronomics has a Celestron #4061 "40-1500x binocular research microscope" for $350-is this adequate, too much, too little.
I would want binocular viewing, assume that this is midline optics simular to the Celestron telescopes. I would like a good microscope, not a toy, but then not a real research microscope.
thanks in advance for your replies
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Mike Sandy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/29/03
Posts: 1084
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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I use a Meiji SKT-2BT and I've added an extra set of 15X eyepieces so that I have 10X, 15x, 30x, and 45x. Here is the website:
http://www.meijitechno.com/skt.htm
There are similar appearing scopes out there for less money - but I can say that this model works really well. I've also added a camera that fits into one of the eyepieces, and lets me capture images of what I see.
You might also want to think about a nice scale so that you can weigh your specimens......you'd be surprised at how much varibility there is in what you buy 
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Mike Sandy
http://www.DarkSights.com
Takahashi FRC-300, FS-78
Apogee U16M
Starfish Guider
Televue TV-102
Paramount ME
Giro III on a Astro-Physics Tripod
AP SPL - 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm (x2)
Ethos - 8mm, 13mm
Naglers - 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 16mm (x2)
Panoptic - 24mmm (x2)
AP/Baader Mark V
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Mike Sandy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/29/03
Posts: 1084
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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BTW - 1500x is way too much in my mind. I rarely use 45X. Make sure you get some top side illumination.
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Mike Sandy
http://www.DarkSights.com
Takahashi FRC-300, FS-78
Apogee U16M
Starfish Guider
Televue TV-102
Paramount ME
Giro III on a Astro-Physics Tripod
AP SPL - 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm (x2)
Ethos - 8mm, 13mm
Naglers - 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 16mm (x2)
Panoptic - 24mmm (x2)
AP/Baader Mark V
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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Quote:
BTW - 1500x is way too much in my mind. I rarely use 45X. Make sure you get some top side illumination.
1500x in the microscope is probably like 675x in the 60mm telescopes
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14400
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Hi Ed,
Like Mike S. said, lower power is better with meteorites. Unless you have some properly-prepared thin sections and a polarizer assembly, but that is another ballpark. Even then, you rarely go over a couple of hundred times.
Something with top illumination is preferred, or have an external light source like a bright desk lamp handy.
I bought an old German microscope off eBay, but haven't had much time to use it lately.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 1925
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Many of the binocular stereo disecting scopes should work well.
Mike S., what kind of camera did you get? I have a disecting scope in storage but don't recall the eyepiece barrel size.
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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Dick Lipke
member
Reged: 02/20/07
Posts: 96
Loc: Marine City,Mich.
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Check out astronomics used&demo for the 4061 microscope for 310$
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LX90 8",Cornado Max 40,Miyauchi 20x100 Bino's,and way to many eyepieces and filters,
Thousand Oaks 8" Ha filter
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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Quote:
Check out astronomics used&demo for the 4061 microscope for 310$
this is what started this post-but would the lower mag stereo microscopes be better for meteorites?
I have seen 20x, 20-40x, and 20-60 zooms
do zoom binoculars have the same problems as eps and binoculars?
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Mike Sandy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/29/03
Posts: 1084
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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The digital Camera that I picked up is a EM-130 from this site:
http://www.minresco.com/microscopes/digital%20cameras/digital%20cameras.htm
I can't say just how well it works yet, as I am still sorting it out.....but I will post some results soon.
I terms of using these scopes for meteorites - I find that I most often use 10X to 15X. Celestron has a fairly low cost unit that is very similar in appearance to the Meiji.
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Mike Sandy
http://www.DarkSights.com
Takahashi FRC-300, FS-78
Apogee U16M
Starfish Guider
Televue TV-102
Paramount ME
Giro III on a Astro-Physics Tripod
AP SPL - 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm (x2)
Ethos - 8mm, 13mm
Naglers - 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 16mm (x2)
Panoptic - 24mmm (x2)
AP/Baader Mark V
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EJN
super member
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 138
Loc: Pluto
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Quote:
1500x in the microscope is probably like 675x in the 60mm telescopes
Not really. Biological & research microscopes use
a 100x oil-immersion objective. With a 15x eyepiece
that's a magnification of 1500x - not unreasonable.
The resolution of microscope objectives is determined
by numerical aperture (NA) - not physical aperture.
An oil immersion lens typically has an NA of 1.25 - 1.3,
ED lenses can have 1.4 NA.
The maximum usable magnification is roughly 1000
to 1100 times the NA.
But a biological microscope is not suitable for
meteorites - they are intended for transparent
specimens.
A low-power stereomicroscope with incident illumination
is the best choice.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14400
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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One silly thing often overlooked when using microscopes and meteorites - unless you have thin sections, then a flat polished specimen is needed. A rough, uneven surface is hard to focus on, and results in what I call "rolling focus" where part of the structure being viewed is in crisp focus, while the rest is blurry because of the variances in height. Specimen slices that are flat and nicely polished make for the best viewing.
Also, a light-source from above to illuminate the specimen is necessary since meteoritical material is opaque. (thin sections notwithstanding)
I purchased a vintage German microscope with the intention of using it to photograph meteorites, but I just don't have the time and probably won't get the time soon. I'll probably end up reselling it rather than letting it collect dust, like it's doing now.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Veridian
sage
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 477
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You will find quite a bit of helpful information and links in the microscope forum.
As everyone has been saying, low powers, proper illumination and stereo plus zoom capability are things to consider.
I purchased (new) a stereo/zoom microscope this past November from a place called 'Absolute Clarity & Callibration. It was $462 shipped. I've been happy with it and have used it several times for viewing some meteorites Mike sent to me.
Also, as Mike points out, unless you are viewing polished slices, even at low powers, the uneven surfaces can be a bit disconcerting, without zoom and stereo features.
Best of luck with your decision,
Mark J.D.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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MarkJD,
As I understand your post, WITH zoom and stereo features, the uneven surfaces are okay/better?
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Veridian
sage
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 477
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... not better, just easier to negotiate, so to say.
Mark J.D.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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From the response thus far, microscopes for meteorites seem fairly limited,
from another thread, the Nikon Loupe seem to be highly recommended-is this the prevailing knowledge of the meteorite folks?
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Veridian
sage
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 477
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A loupe certainly would have the advantage of portability, as well as the cost. It all depends upon what you want to do.
Every tool has its strengths and limitations, right?
mjd
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4210
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followup:
I ordered an Nikon 10x loupe from OpticsPlanet today-a microscope will have to wait.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 24832
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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I'm gonna try to use my works Scanning Electron Microscope to take some pics of Canyon Diablos. It'll be on the sly and I'll hopefully post em here.
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Mark
"The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever."
Herb Caen
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Mike Sandy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/29/03
Posts: 1084
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA
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Now that should be pretty cool Mark. I'd like to see the results!
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Mike Sandy
http://www.DarkSights.com
Takahashi FRC-300, FS-78
Apogee U16M
Starfish Guider
Televue TV-102
Paramount ME
Giro III on a Astro-Physics Tripod
AP SPL - 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm (x2)
Ethos - 8mm, 13mm
Naglers - 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 16mm (x2)
Panoptic - 24mmm (x2)
AP/Baader Mark V
|
MMICKELS
Aluminum Knight
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 24832
Loc: The Land of Shake and Bake
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Thanks Mike, hopefully I'll get a green light from the guy who runs the optics lab. 
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Mark
"The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on forever."
Herb Caen
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