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Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes

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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 549
Loc: Northeast, Florida
Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new
      #3412219 - 10/26/09 03:13 PM

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this can be called a classic telescope but maybe it's close. I placed a bid on an "Observer Satellite Tracker" on the bay the other day and won it. It's has a 5x eyepiece with a 34mm objective providing a 8* FOV. The eyepiece focuses by push/pull. It has a very clear view. I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet, clouds moved in of course.



It is very small, only about 7 1/2" tall from bottom of the base to the top of the eyepiece. The base is only 4" in diameter. The tube length is 5 1/2".








Anyone have any information on this type of scope? I do have the instruction sheet for this model. There are no dates on the scope or the instruction sheet.

Would this be able to be used to track (find) iridium flares?

peace & clear skies,

--------------------
Richard H.

Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars

NightSky Journal



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sarastro
sage
*****

Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 402
Loc: Seattle
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new [Re: Carl Kolchak]
      #3412251 - 10/26/09 03:28 PM

Nice. I've been on the lookout for one of those satellite scopes for a while now. They are from the late 50's early 60's. They were used in "Operation Moonwatch" a volunteer civilian program to track satellites in the early years after Sputnik.

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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 549
Loc: Northeast, Florida
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new [Re: sarastro]
      #3413069 - 10/26/09 10:18 PM

sarastro,

Thanks for the info. I sent a PDF of the instruction sheet to Robert Provin's manual site and he is looking into a firmer date.

It's a solid little scope. Can't wait for a clear night to try it out.

peace & clear skies,

--------------------
Richard H.

Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars

NightSky Journal



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RLTYSModerator
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2149
Loc: New York (Long Island)
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new [Re: Carl Kolchak]
      #3413495 - 10/27/09 06:39 AM

Nifty little scope. I like it.

Rich (RLTYS)

--------------------
10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
3" F4 Celestron FirstScope
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.

"I want to do more then just look."


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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 549
Loc: Northeast, Florida
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new [Re: RLTYS]
      #3413843 - 10/27/09 11:07 AM

Hi Rich

Thanks. Here is an image for size comparison.



peace & clear skies,

--------------------
Richard H.

Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars

NightSky Journal



Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
RLTYSModerator
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2149
Loc: New York (Long Island)
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker new [Re: Carl Kolchak]
      #3415513 - 10/28/09 06:26 AM

Carl

Tiny, have you observed with it yet? I'm curious, can you take a close up of the lettering on the side of the tube?

Rich (RLTYS)

--------------------
10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
3" F4 Celestron FirstScope
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.

"I want to do more then just look."


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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 549
Loc: Northeast, Florida
Re: Ain't no Unitron - 34mm Observer Satellite Tracker [Re: RLTYS]
      #3416050 - 10/28/09 12:48 PM

Quote:

Carl

Tiny, have you observed with it yet? I'm curious, can you take a close up of the lettering on the side of the tube?

Rich (RLTYS)




Hi Rich

No I haven't observed with it, clouds and rain since it arrived. Here is a closeup of the writing on the side. BTW, this is the only writing on it. No date stamp on it or the instructions.



peace & clear skies,

--------------------
Richard H.

Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars

NightSky Journal



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