SteveG
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/27/06
Loc: Seattle, WA
|
25 Years Later
#5636877 - 01/22/13 01:06 PM Attachment (183 downloads)
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Well it was 25 years ago, I had expressed an interest in getting a telescope, and I received a very nice Meade scope for a Christmas gift from my wife. I immediately fell in love with astronomy, and used that little 60 mm scope for a year seeking out every object that can be seen with 60 mm of aperture. I found a junk Tasco scope for cheap and swapped out the Meade's alt/az mount for the Tasco EQ-1, which made the little Meade much more user friendly. The scope was purchased new for $200 (a different time, pre china). The scope later took a back seat to a used 6" f8 reflector, but I've kept that scope in memory of my late wife and I will have it till the day I die.
It's be en a fantastic, fulfilling hobby that has taken me through the past 25 years of my life, and certainly a major part of who I am. I am fortunate to now own a house full of beautiful astronomy instruments, but I will never forget the excitement that came with this first scope.
The 60mm Meade is 2nd from front in this family portrait of my refractors:
|
meade4ever
sage
Reged: 08/23/07
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: SteveG]
#5636899 - 01/22/13 01:16 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
beautiful family
New baby coming ?
|
Glen A W
sage
Reged: 07/04/08
Loc: WEST VIRGINIA USA
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: meade4ever]
#5637275 - 01/22/13 04:22 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very nice, very nice post, too.
|
Aquarist
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/27/12
Loc: Illinois
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Glen A W]
#5637308 - 01/22/13 04:41 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Wonderful story! Nice family photo too!!
|
bbyrd
sage
Reged: 10/08/06
Loc: north carolina
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: meade4ever]
#5637525 - 01/22/13 06:43 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
beautiful family
New baby coming ?
I was wondering the same!
Well said by both.
|
kevint1
sage
Reged: 04/19/11
Loc: Michigan
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: bbyrd]
#5637537 - 01/22/13 06:51 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very nice collection and congratulations for 25 years in this wonderful adventure.
|
Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Loc: Frederick, MD
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: kevint1]
#5637543 - 01/22/13 06:54 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Beautiful collection of scopes.
|
Scott in NC
Mad Hatter
Reged: 03/05/05
Loc: NC
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Scott Beith]
#5637548 - 01/22/13 06:56 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
|
pollux
artiste
Reged: 04/01/04
Loc: Burnaby Canada
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Scott in NC]
#5637570 - 01/22/13 07:13 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
sweet
|
SteveG
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/27/06
Loc: Seattle, WA
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: meade4ever]
#5637635 - 01/22/13 08:00 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
beautiful family
New baby coming ?
I wish!!! I think there's room at the end for a 6".
|
Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Aquarist]
#5637651 - 01/22/13 08:13 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Wonderful story! Nice family photo too!!
It's nice to see the scope that started it all still being appreciated.
Jon
|
bob midiri
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/17/04
Loc: pa 19320
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: SteveG]
#5638143 - 01/23/13 01:08 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
The scope later took a back seat to a used 6" f8 reflector, but I've kept that scope in memory of my late wife and I will have it till the day I die.
Steve a very heartwarming post and a great tribute to your late wife, because she lit the fire to start you in this great lifelong hobby. Bob
|
teelgul
super member
Reged: 09/02/11
Loc: Australia
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: SteveG]
#5638181 - 01/23/13 01:49 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Astronomy is nothing but looking towards the heaven with a,scope ,
Pure joy and peace .nice post .may 25 turn to50.best wishes
Regards
Vaidya
|
Bill Friend
member
Reged: 02/16/12
Loc: Southern Maine
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: SteveG]
#5638463 - 01/23/13 09:09 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Great Post!
|
Starman27
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/29/06
Loc: Illinois, Iowa
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Bill Friend]
#5638502 - 01/23/13 09:28 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
+1
|
zjc26138
Loved By All
Reged: 02/24/05
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Starman27]
#5638725 - 01/23/13 11:28 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Excellent post Steve!
|
Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/09/09
Loc: Betwixt and Between
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: zjc26138]
#5639044 - 01/23/13 02:49 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Wonderful post and tribute to your wife!
Your Meade looks a lot like one I viewed through at a star party at Blue Canyon, CA, around 1986 which belonged to a lady there who had been gifted the scope by her son. That evening it showed the most beautiful view of Saturn, even better than many larger scopes there! Many others took notice and kept saying, "You've got to go look through that little one!" 
---Maya
|
terraclarke
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/29/12
Loc: Over the river and thru the wo...
|
Re: 25 Years Later
[Re: Crow Haven]
#5639110 - 01/23/13 03:33 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I loved reading your story. It was very touching. Its a wonderful example of the "romance" of astronomy.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
