
Beautiful refractors at NAOJ in Mitaka
#1
Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:23 AM
It is open to the public from 10a.m to 5p.m., worth a visit if you are in Tokyo about 50 minutes from downtown.
They were projecting the sun with a 20cm Zeiss achromat on a clock driven mount. What a view!
regards
Chris
#4
Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:27 AM
They also display old equipment in another building, where I found two Nikon refractors, would love to see how they perform under the sky....
#5
Posted 22 September 2012 - 05:31 AM
#6
Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:15 AM
and, I believe, the scope
I went there for a scheduled viewing. It was partly cloudy, but anyway a cool experience.
#7
Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:20 AM
#8
Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:46 AM
#9
Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:46 PM
Here is the website for the open campus:
http://www.nao.ac.jp/E/campus/
The Starparty information is here:
http://www.nao.ac.jp/E/campus/
There is indeed a "Star Party" where they show objects in their 50cm telescope but you need to sign up be able to join. This Saturday was one of the dates with Uranus on the program. I may consider if an interesting object is listed.

The 20cm dome was built in 1921 and the scope installed in 1927.
The dome for the 65cm Zeiss refractor was built also around 1927 so it should be of similar age.
I found some rough information on this website in German, it was in fact the source which got me interested to visit Mitaka:
http://www.achromat....ss_refrakt.html
best regards
Chris
#10
Posted 23 September 2012 - 04:25 AM
Great piece of history
#11
Posted 23 September 2012 - 04:12 PM

#12
Posted 23 September 2012 - 07:02 PM

#13
Posted 24 September 2012 - 11:14 AM
:shocked:Wow what is that piggybacked scope.....a 10" F/1000?? Man some public get all the toys. Crazy thing is a lot don't appreciate what they have.
Mike
Yeah..I was wondering the same thing.
#14
Posted 24 September 2012 - 04:04 PM
#15
Posted 24 September 2012 - 04:45 PM
Those Nikon refractors would be amazing under the sky. What sizes were they?
What Nikon refractors Zigster..I haven't seen any links?
Rob
#18
Posted 26 September 2012 - 10:49 AM
And not far away a second Nikon OTA, I do not know the size but probably around 15cm.
Does anybody know or even use one of those Nikon refractors?
My search on the net did not reveal much useful information...
regards
Chris
They could be one-offs or limited run scopes. I haven't seen NIKON scopes this big before. Who knows.
Great images..thanks
Rob