19 replies to this topic

[HellsKitchen]

Picked these 2 refractors up last week. I always wanted a big long focus refractor, there is just something about them that is inherently beautiful. The dealer who sold it to me claims it performs better than a Unitron 4".

Also acquired a Vixen 80M for grab n go lunar/planetary jaunts

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[HellsKitchen]

Kogaku focuser

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[HellsKitchen]

Kogaku 3

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[HellsKitchen]

Kogaku 4

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[HellsKitchen]

Vixen 80M

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[HellsKitchen]

Vixen 80M pic#2

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[HellsKitchen]

Vixen 80M pic#3

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[Terra Nova]

Absolutely beautiful 4" F/15. Amazing find. It is a fabulous telescope.

[Dave M]

Congrats!

[jjbird]

Marvelous refractors, especially the Kogaku. Congratulations!

[greju]

Nice!!!

[magic612]

[tim53]

What kind of "Optical" is that?

-Tim.

[clintwhitman]

Hi,
Great looking Telescope both of them. I have see a couple of the Vixens. These have very sharp optics. Are there any markings on the "Kogaku" ?
Looks like a GOTO from the early 1970s. GOTO KOGAKU Here is a link to your scopes older, smaller brother...With the mount. Very cool and rare Telescope. As far as Better than Unitron, that depends on the objective, Both companies made mostly good objectives but once in a while a great one would pop out. Give us a star report! I think these GOTO objectives were marked ED - 100mm but I think they meant Effective Diameter.. not ED glass..
Clint

[ngc2289]

That 4" is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[strdst]

Is your new scope bought from Astromelb by chance? The Ice in Space ad was forwarded to me by an alert CN member down under. I'm just putting the two together. We would love to see more pix and how you have it mounted. Beautiful scope! Liked reading how the Unitron Guy of Australia admitted this Goto was significantly better optically than any of his 4" Unitrons!

BTW the 3" Goto Kogaku in Clint's link has been living with me for the past 5 years now.

[nightpilot]

Very Nice.

[HellsKitchen]

Thanks for the kind words all!

Hi,
Great looking Telescope both of them. I have see a couple of the Vixens. These have very sharp optics. Are there any markings on the "Kogaku" ?
Looks like a GOTO from the early 1970s. GOTO KOGAKU Here is a link to your scopes older, smaller brother...With the mount. Very cool and rare Telescope. As far as Better than Unitron, that depends on the objective, Both companies made mostly good objectives but once in a while a great one would pop out. Give us a star report! I think these GOTO objectives were marked ED - 100mm but I think they meant Effective Diameter.. not ED glass..
Clint

Around the Objective lens it says: ED= 102mm F 1500mm GOTO Japan.

[HellsKitchen]

Is your new scope bought from Astromelb by chance? The Ice in Space ad was forwarded to me by an alert CN member down under. I'm just putting the two together. We would love to see more pix and how you have it mounted. Beautiful scope! Liked reading how the Unitron Guy of Australia admitted this Goto was significantly better optically than any of his 4" Unitrons!

BTW the 3" Goto Kogaku in Clint's link has been living with me for the past 5 years now.

Yep I bought it off Astromelb. He literally has dozens of Unitrons and other exotic optics at his residence.

I'm planning on mounting it on a HEQ5 or EQ6 or a heavy duty Alt az. Looking for second hand ones, the cost savings in the end are worth it even if it takes a while to find one.

[Niklo]

Hi,
they look both very nice. Of course the 4" f/15 is the most beautiful of both I'm curious to read observation reports done with your nice refractors. 8)
Clear skies,
Roland