· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Mister T. member Reged: 09/15/09 Posts: 22 Loc: Madison, Wisconsin One for the refractor lovers...       #3402985 - 10/21/09 08:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I got a bit behind in getting film processed from this past summer. One rather interesting roll of 35MM just came back from the lab, and I thought I should share the pictures here. This past summer, after a major overhaul and renovation of the building, the University of Wisconsin (Madison campus) rededicated the Washburn Observatory. I was there with my trusty Minolta and some 400 speed Kodak. Cadwallader C. Washburn, former US Congressman, Civil War General, Governor of Wisconson, Reagent of University of Wisconsin, and President of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, made a donation to the University in 1876 for the construction of an observatory, which now bears his name. In 1881 the observatory was completed. It was used continuously for scientific research until the site became useless (it's in downtown Madison, Wisconsin; light pollution is horrendous), and thereafter it's been used (except for a 2 year period for the refurbishment) for public star gazing. Here's a few shots of the monster refractor. And before you ask, I know NOTHING about the technical specs on it; I don't even know the aperture, but I'd guess about 18 inches. Enjoy the pictures! BTW... if you're curious about the exterior of the observatory, there's a VERY good overhead view of it on GOOGLE EARTH (not illogically, along Observatory Drive), and the ground picture option gives you a good view of the front of the building and the dome. Mister T. -------------------- Owner & operator of the Mahon Loomis Memorial Radio Monitoring Station & Retirement Home for Ancient Irish Setters Connoisseur of Russian motorcycles, Sports Kilts, Women's Flat Track Roller Derby, and various other eclectic ephemera Post Extras:       Lew Chilton Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/20/05 Posts: 1021 Loc: SoCal Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Mister T.]       #3402991 - 10/21/09 08:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Mr. T. Your pictures are a real treat! -------------------- I don't get no respect, but my scopes do! ---------------------------------------------- 1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron) Post Extras:       albert1 Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/01/07 Posts: 1368 Loc: Northern New Jersey Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Lew Chilton]       #3403285 - 10/21/09 10:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Outstanding clear shots - the exposures are fantastic. Thanks so much for posting them. What a scope. That thing belongs on a mountain top somewhere real dark - what a shame. I'm sure when they originally installed it over a century ago the sky's were great at the site - who knew? I can only imagin what that would cost to reproduce today. -------------------- Albert 1 Great 'ole Newt 4 Good 'ole Newts 2 Great 'ole Cats 1 Lousy 'ole Newt One of these days I'll try a Refractor better than my 90mm finderscope Post Extras:       Dan /schechter sage Reged: 12/21/06 Posts: 365 Loc: Long Beach, Calif. Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Mister T.]       #3403383 - 10/21/09 11:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   According to this website, http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~varda/Long_Wash_Obs_Text.html The aperture is 15.6" and the telescope was made by the Clarks of Mass. Interestsing read and a great telescope. Dan Post Extras:       tim53 Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/17/04 Posts: 1434 Loc: Highland Park, CA Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Dan /schechter]       #3403778 - 10/22/09 08:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   With no modification whatsoever, that scope could be used as a fine planetary imager. -Tim. -------------------- "We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down. Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around." -Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope" Post Extras:       The_Vagabond member Reged: 10/27/08 Posts: 22 Loc: Jacksonville, Florida Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: tim53]       #3403825 - 10/22/09 09:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   With no modification whatsoever, that finder scope could be used as a fine planetary imager! -------------------- I have loved the stars too dearly to be fearful of the night... Post Extras:       tim53 Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/17/04 Posts: 1434 Loc: Highland Park, CA Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: The_Vagabond]       #3403834 - 10/22/09 09:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   LOL! -------------------- "We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down. Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around." -Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope" Post Extras:       Jeff Young Post Laureate Reged: 08/04/05 Posts: 4112 Loc: Ireland Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: tim53]       #3404118 - 10/22/09 12:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Awesome pictures; awesome scope. Thanks for posting, -- Jeff. -------------------- Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium                                       Colorado: Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD                       Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130 APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO                        Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO Post Extras:       woodsman Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/12/08 Posts: 1069 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Jeff Young]       #3404317 - 10/22/09 02:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good gravy, that is amazing. I'll take 2, one for the front yard and one for the back, thanks. -------------------- artisticwoods C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12 Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm Post Extras:       tim53 Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/17/04 Posts: 1434 Loc: Highland Park, CA Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: woodsman]       #3404334 - 10/22/09 02:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Make that 4, for binoviewing! -Tim. -------------------- "We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down. Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around." -Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope" Post Extras:       Dr Morbius scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/06/07 Posts: 1720 Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: tim53]       #3405396 - 10/23/09 12:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, it has all the classic markings of a Clark scope, but it looks more like a 10 to 11 inch in size. Beautiful scope, whatever it's size. And I've got the perfect place for it. -------------------- Meade ETX-125 NightFire 6" f/8 Refractor with Moonlite focuser Meade 14" LX200 S/C D&G 10" f/15 Refractor with Parallax Mount Little Giant 11x70mm Binos I'm afraid of dying, but I've learned to live with it. ......Steve Perry Edited by Dr Morbius (10/23/09 12:39 AM) Post Extras:       meade4ever member Reged: 08/23/07 Posts: 24 Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: Dr Morbius]       #3405586 - 10/23/09 04:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And what about that : www.turbo.at/antares/vereinsausflug1/vereinsausflug1.htm www.nafa.dk/Historie/TechnischeAngaben.htm I would like to make such trips. Post Extras:       RobertED professor emeritus Reged: 07/11/03 Posts: 1192 Loc: Johnston, RI Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: meade4ever]       #3405743 - 10/23/09 08:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Absolutely stunning images!!! Nothing beats an 'old' refractor!!! Post Extras:       meade4ever member Reged: 08/23/07 Posts: 24 Re: One for the refractor lovers... [Re: RobertED]       #3405843 - 10/23/09 09:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I agree with you I really like brass and lenses Is there a market for neo-antique long focus refractors (with D&G lenses) ? Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 4 registered and 10 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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