27 replies to this topic

[apfever]

In the spirit of getting a grip on the scope horde, I sold my Celestron C80 (black) when I aquired an SP-C80. Then this thing showed up which seems to be in another ballpark all together. Everything is Celestron-Vixen, down to the eyepieces.

It came with the prism diagonal, 9mm Ortho, and 25mm Kellner. The blue book is a general instructions manual.

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[apfever]

The large word "CELESTRON" has come off, leaving some gummy residue which I can wipe off. I wasted no time adding the counterweight nut and nylon washer, as well as the nylon between the counterweight shaft collar and mount.

There are some paint scratches, some tripod leg marks, and the typical finder screw effects. All the signs of use are minor with no dings, dents, or gouges. The tripod legs show some nice grain on this one and should glow with a dose of the Scott's snake oil.

The only missing hardware is the lattitude support/adjuster bolt. I might have an extra or I can make a very close match from ACE. The rest of the hardware is complete and all original. Even the thin rubber washers on the bottom of the tray are healthy. The mechanics and cosmetics of the Polaris mount are A1.

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[apfever]

Ahh, nice, the collimatable cell with cap. The dew shield has a nice snug slip fit with the original felt. The objective is excellent with no chips, clams, sleeks, scratches, or coating issues.
The gummy decal residue shows up well down the side in this picture.

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[apfever]

The mount from the other side. Interesting green fluid in the bubble level. All of the tripod spreader arms are mounted upside down with the ribbing on top instead of on the bottom. A simple fix.

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[apfever]

The only thing left is the focuser. It's excellent.

I see no reason to mechanically go into anything until I check out the grease in cold weather. If old grease is an issue, which I doubt from the current feel, it is simple enough to replace with SuperLube. So far, no restoration for this one. The refurbish entails a wipe down, Scott's Liquid Gold, and some color touch up on the worst of the OTA and finder marks. The optics don't need cleaning. I used the two eyepieces in the Criterion 10" Dynascope last night to push power. Very nice for their design.

This has the white feet on the tripod. I know the black feet came first on the C4.5, I don't know if the orange C80 ever came on the black feet and tray. This one also has the steel worms instead of brass. IMO, the steel is an improvement due to the brass being susceptible to breaking off on the slo-mo shaft. I've had a few go through here with the brass stub broken off, all of them on the DEC. In theory the brass will be smoother and more humane on the mesh (it will be), but on the practical end I've never been able to feel a difference by hand except for the brass ones that were 'whumped'.

I'll figure out how or if it fits in with the keeper group, after I spuce it up. There is not a whole lot of info out there on these orange versions, especially with the collimatable cell. I have seen pictures of the orange C80 with both types of cells. All my SP-C80s and previous C80s have been non adjustable. Any comments, questions, history, or notable notes are always welcome.

[greju]

The lens cell looks familiar. If yours performs like the one pictured it will be a keeper. Is that a cover on the dewshield?

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[apfever]

Yes, that is a cover on the dew shield as well as the original one on the lens cell directly. However, the one on the dew shield is not original but it looks better than the cashew top the seller had on the dew shield....or not. Pretty color.

The choke hole cover is not original. I have one on the SP-C80 which has the same size choke hole.

First light split the double double with a Celestron 5mm Ultima Halloween. E2 was easy, E1 was faint and tuff but some patients let it show.

[Muffin Research]

Ooh man.. Congrats.
Finally a refractor to go with the Orange C8.
Want!!

[Dave M]

Nice scope Congrats!

[Terra Nova]

Nice find for sure! Congrats.

[Bill Griffith]

Neil Congrats!

I have the identical white tray setup. Ribs on top. I'm not sure but I believed that was on purpose because in my case instead of wing nuts this one has plastic knobs all original. I thought they were flipped because of the ribs make for a smaller contact surface with the knobs. It was that way new ,so I left it.

Different my bubble level on this one. It is the white red dot.

I do have a green level on another Polaris.

The white tray with adj. legs is the most used eq light weight mount in the herd. It gets used with 4 different OTAs.

Bill

[Pete-LH]

Those lens covers can be fragile. I found with one on my 90mm that when it shrinks in the cold it can crack while removing.

Great scope ... I had the 60mm version a while ago: great optics. I have the Vixen 90M version now ... The great thing about yours is the lens cell in addition to the great lens.

[orion61]

My Wife can make Vinyl stickers for that with her Crickut machine.
Those are SUPERB tubes that give Perfect airy Star Disks.
everybody owes it to him/Herself to own one at some time.

[Jon Isaacs]

I always liked those Orange Celestron refractors, great find.

Jon

[photiost]

Nice scope Congrats!

+1

[Dennis53121]

Congrats on joining the Orange C80 gang. After a while those orange tubes start to grow on you. Here's mine.

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[danielgolite]

Please let us know how the optics are once you get a chance to look through it.

[apfever]

Outstanding. I used it on Jupiter a couple of days after getting it and I was floored by the excellent image.

[stevereecy]

Thought you'd find this interesting. Mine is a 60mm Cometron, made by Celestron. I'm missing the lens shade...love to find one. PLEASE?!!!!

***Yes...I need an early 60mm Celestron shade...hint hint

I wonder if they made an 80mm version as well. Mines transitional...haven't found many orange Cometrons. So my question is...The sticker you do have says "Celestron", so I'm guessing the missing sticker said the same.

[apfever]

Yes, the missing sticker reads "CELESTRON" in large letters. I do have the small label by the focuser.

[apfever]

I'm re activating this post due to a recent pm about the orange tube.

 

Apparently these came on both the Polaris and Super Polaris mounts, and came with both collimatable and non-collimatable cells. In my case I have collimatable cell on Polaris mount, at least that's how it came to me. This one also had the white tray and leg feet which were the earlier versions. I was wondering if the difference between the cells was a time line situation or a mount situation. I suspect it was a change due to time frame and making the scope cheaper to produce.  A cross reference with the extreme massive number of owners in this forum would help confirm the cell change if age can be determined.   I'm not sure if these were factory offered on the Super Polaris, and those may have been an owner mod. Confirmation of that would be nice. Those I've found on the SP mount seem to only state "C80" on the label, as well as I've been able to make out in picture sets.

 

I also have this SP-C80 in a custom box made by the original owner.  Justification doesn't exist for both at this time, I'm just not sure which way to go but now is a time to figure something out in light of the recent pm inquiry. After re reading this string, the orange tube is looking to looking good and being used for looking. I don't seem to have the accessories any more, at least I can't find the finder and stalk now, and that dew shield cover went by the wayside but I do still have the original cover that was always on the cell directly (and I like that). I'll be searching for a possible string on the SP-C80 as I have no idea what I've posted in the forum in the past. Then pull it all together here and figure out what to do with the 'horde'. 

 

 

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[Optimus Prime]

I just picked up this same telescope in an estate sale.  Can anyone direct me to instructions on how to use the mount?  See pics attached.

 

 

[memento]

Here is an online manual for a C4.5 with the same (Vixen Polaris) mount:

 

https://www.manualsl...l?page=7#manual

 

Love those orange tube C80s. My brother bought the latter incarnation, a black C80, of course still with the Vixen tube, sitting on an black Super Polaris mount. He got it new back in 1987 or 1988. I need him to set it up again soon, will be also fun to find out more about all the detail differences between the black and orange tube versions. Thomas

[Optimus Prime]

I have pulled out my C80 and are staring to use it again. Can anyone direct me to a compatible polaris finder scope? It seems like sometime you stick through the middle of the mount? I've not used one before...

[apfever]

The polar scopes are not exchangeable between different mounts as easy as a regular finder scope. The Vixen/Celestron polar scope doesn't come up for sale very often. Your best bet would be to place a 'wanted' ad.

 

A polar scope is not necessary for visual use. You can roughly eyeball polar alignment and track quite well with occasional little adjustments in right ascension.