Telescope Reviews: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox?

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astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: 7331Peg]
#4823308 - 09/23/11 09:00 AM

Richard,

Thanks for posting some additional info on this large Cooke.

Too right John, the personal story of the restorer of this great instrument is a sombre one. Let's hope that Jean Baptiste can continue to use it for many years to come.

I found another Cooke refractor on the other side of the world; this time it's a majestic 9.75" located at Carter Observatory, Wellington, New Zealand.
You can see it beginning from around 1:40 on this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gISjfPQzzM0

There’s just under 20 seconds of it, but it looks fabulous and its similarity to the Fry refractor is rather obvious.

You also get a good sense of its scale and there's a haunting, 'Sagan-esque' voice over that draws you in.

Regards,

Neil.

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GlenM
Vendor - Lyra Optic

Reged: 05/20/07

Loc: Lancashire England

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: astroneil]
#4824086 - 09/23/11 05:51 PM

Neil,

This is one of the best articles I have read in the past few years.

Thank you so much for all your hard work

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ukcanuck
Vendor (Skylight Telescopes)

Reged: 11/07/06

Loc: London, UK

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: 7331Peg]
#4826540 - 09/25/11 09:57 AM Attachment (35 downloads)

Quote:

Did you get a chance to look through it, Richard?

John

Sorry for the delay...was away and got distracted.

The weather was amazing when I was in France...40 degrees and clear every night. I was in Puimichel for two of these nights. The wind kept us from opening the observatory the first night, but the second night was fine, and the big refractor didn't disappoint.

The scope is so majestic and overwhelming, that when I looked through it I felt like one of its' accessories!

Picture of the cell with the remote doors open (I say remote, but it's really a long string that you pull...very cool

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astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: GlenM]
#4852432 - 10/09/11 04:52 PM

Quote:

Neil,

This is one of the best articles I have read in the past few years.

Thank you so much for all your hard work

Glen,

Thank you very much for the compliment. It did take quite an effort to gather all the information together, but I think it was worth it in the end.

I found a link to a fairly comprehensive overview of a smaller (3.25") Cooke; 'The Doncaster'.

It provides a good insight into the quality of the workmanship that went into even the smallest of these instruments.

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/2000IrAJ...27...55A/0000055.000.html

Regards,

Neil.

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bluestar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/06/05

Loc: Maryland Eastern Shore

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: Adam Taylor]
#4853613 - 10/10/11 10:33 AM

Quote:

Wonderfully written.

Some people dream of having an Italian supermodel for a wife. Others, a fancy sports car parked in their driveway. I dream of a permanently-mounted long-focus achromat.

At the risk of a major 'net faux pas...Ditto.

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rguasto
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/18/10

Loc: Long Island, NY

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: Olivier Biot]
#4855427 - 10/11/11 09:56 AM

Thank you for taking the time to write that and share it with us.
-Rob

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Ed Holland
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/16/10

Loc: San Jose, CA and Oxford, UK

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? new

[Re: rguasto]
#4855878 - 10/11/11 02:21 PM

Thank you Neil, for this well researched and superbly written article - most enjoyable.

Cheers,

Ed

P.S. I find it more than appropriate (and amusing) that there are features on long achromatic telescopes on... Youtube

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astroneil
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/28/09

Loc: res publica caledoniae

Re: The ‘English Fraunhofer’: Resolving a Paradox? [Re: Ed Holland]
#4860663 - 10/14/11 11:19 AM

Pat, Rob & Ed;

Thank you very much for your comments. They mean a great deal to me.

Yep, despite all the marvellous innovations of our age, these old telescopes continue to fascinate me.

Indeed, intellectually, I find them (long focus achromats) to be the most engaging of all telescopes. They just have so many remarkable properties!

I suppose you could say that when it comes to refractors, I have Catholic taste. Notwithstanding the temptation from a suite of impressive new performers with low dispersion glass, I'd much rather have a traditional 6" f/15, plain and simple.

With best wishes,

Neil.

Edited by astroneil (10/14/11 12:30 PM)

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