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Beautiful refractors at NAOJ in Mitaka

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#1 chboss

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:23 AM

Today I visited the headquarter of the NAOJ (National astronomical observatory of Japan)
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

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  • 5433874-20cm Zeiss.jpg


#2 chboss

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:23 AM

Here the sun projected onto a screen...

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  • 5433875-Sun projection.jpg


#3 chboss

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:24 AM

Here the mechanical clock drive....

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  • 5433877-Clock Drive.jpg


#4 chboss

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 04:27 AM

In another dome there is a 65cm Zeiss sitting unused, they have converted the complete dome into a museum...

They also display old equipment in another building, where I found two Nikon refractors, would love to see how they perform under the sky....

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  • 5433879-65cm Zeiss.jpg


#5 rockethead26

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 05:31 AM

Looks like a nice visit. Love to see old refractors.

#6 mark8888

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:15 AM

Nice, great pictures... as you may know, every couple of weeks you can go there and view something. They give a presentation about it in Japanese which takes around 30 min, then you wait on a line and get to view through the scope. There will also probably be one or two smaller telescopes set up nearby. Here's the schedule (scroll down)

and, I believe, the scope

I went there for a scheduled viewing. It was partly cloudy, but anyway a cool experience.

#7 Starman27

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:20 AM

Thank you for sharing your photos. It created a "wish I was there" mood.

#8 Traveler

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:46 AM

Nice big refractors there! How old are they btw?

#9 chboss

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Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:46 PM

Thank you all for your comments

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 daniel_h

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Posted 23 September 2012 - 04:25 AM

Terrific, our ASV has a 8" frac converted for solar projection & solar heliograph, similar looking scope actually as in the pic.
Great piece of history

#11 rwiederrich

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Posted 23 September 2012 - 04:12 PM

Wow..a 25" Zeiss refractor on its killer mount... :grin:

#12 mikey cee

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Posted 23 September 2012 - 07:02 PM

: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. :smirk: Mike

#13 rwiederrich

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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. :smirk: Mike


Yeah..I was wondering the same thing.

#14 Ziggy943

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Posted 24 September 2012 - 04:04 PM

Those Nikon refractors would be amazing under the sky. What sizes were they?

#15 rwiederrich

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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

#16 chboss

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Posted 24 September 2012 - 11:16 PM

In one hall they store unused equipment and telescopes. They describe it as their old instrument museum. ;)

Here is a 20cm Nikon on its mount.

best regards
Chris

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  • 5439027-Nikon on mount.jpg


#17 chboss

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Posted 24 September 2012 - 11:20 PM

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

Attached Thumbnails

  • 5439030-Nikon refractor.jpg


#18 rwiederrich

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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


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