63 replies to this topic

[Tamiji Homma]

I was planning to build a binoscope with TEC 140 in 2010.  I couldn't proceed the project due to workload back then.

 

From old thread: https://www.cloudyni...-2#entry6989416

 

Well, my workload hasn't changed much. Yuri @ TEC announced that he is going to build TEC 140 binoscope last year.

I signed up.  The binoscope was delivered Monday.  I wouldn't be able to do first light for a while (wet weather and work) but I had a chance to set up in backyard.

 

It is very compact when focuser drawtubes are in and hoods are retracted.

It weights 44.3 lb without eyepieces on weight scale. It is heavy.  I feel that I need more workout to lift up on the TTS-160 mount.

 

Here goes.

 

It is on TTS-160 mount/AP Eagle Pier.

 

a bit close up:

 

Looking from side:

 

 

From the other side:

 

 

Number 2:

 

 

Looking forward to first light.

 

Tammy

 

[junomike]

[Simon Alderman]

☝️What he said!

[jay.i]

Wow, that is a beauty. I can only imagine the ecstasy that must follow looking through a setup like that! Very nice, Tammy.

[salico]

You will love it! I have two amazing binoscopes, an 80mm LOMO and an ED 120. The TEC 140 will outperform them

 

Salico

[Tyson M]

Holy crap. You will have to share some observing reports with us all so we can live vicariously through your eyes.

[donadani]

Bingo !

[alvarete]

A real beauty!

[CounterWeight]

Congratulations!

Wow! 

Nice!

[gregkoz1]

Wow - this is the best bino setup I've seen - except some guy who has two 16" dobs setup as binos - I think he has a chase lounger between the tubes .... lol.

Are the TECs flourite?  he recently stopped making the conventional glass objectives

 

Regards,

 

Greg

[rockethead26]

That'll do!

[TOMDEY]

I was planning to build a binoscope with TEC 140 in 2010.  I couldn't proceed the project due to workload back then.

 

From old thread: https://www.cloudyni...-2#entry6989416

 

Well, my workload hasn't changed much. Yuri @ TEC announced that he is going to build TEC 140 binoscope last year.

I signed up.  The binoscope was delivered Monday.  I wouldn't be able to do first light for a while (wet weather and work) but I had a chance to set up in backyard.

 

It is very compact when focuser drawtubes are in and hoods are retracted.

It weights 44.3 lb without eyepieces on weight scale. It is heavy.  I feel that I need more workout to lift up on the TTS-160 mount.

 

Here goes.

 

It is on TTS-160 mount/AP Eagle Pier

 

Looking forward to first light.

 

Tammy

WOW, Tammy... that's gota be spectacular! I'm the guy (one of the guys?) with 16-inch JMI Binos, which are enjoyable. I've always preferred bino, TRUE Bino... to mono. Ummm... cept for my 36-inch scope. Going bino on that seemed a bit over the top.  Tom

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[Element79]

I am in awe!   What eyepieces are you planning to use?

[Eiddy]

That is a truely awesome setup. Do share your viewing reports with us!

 

Nick

[Daniel Mounsey]

Tammy, I’m going to recommend to the telescope board that you be put in for a psychological evaluation.   Good heavens, we gotta put that under the stars soon. We will be setting up at Mt Dissapointment during the planet season, so you may want to bring those by. 

[Erik Bakker]

[....]

Looking forward to first light.

 

Tammy

So am I 

[Olee]

WOW what a beauty.......I feel dizzy!!

[Jeff B]

Outstanding Tammy!  The first in "commercial service".

 

"It weights 44.3 lb without eyepieces on weight scale. It is heavy.  I feel that I need more workout to lift up on the TTS-160 mount."

 

Easy, do 8-10 reps of lifting the assembly up to the mount, three time a week with a rest day in between.  In 6-8 weeks you'll have a ripped upper body to go with that ripped bino-scope.

 

Congratrs!

 

Jeff

[Jim Curry]

That's Sick.

[starzonesteve]

I love it! Congratulations

[vahe]

I sometimes wonder what are the advantages of a binoscope compared to a single but larger apo equipped with binoviewer, my guess is that a binoscope would be preferable to a single apo with a binoviewer for low power DSO observations where any light loss is of concern, on the other hand for solar system objects using a larger apo with a binoviewer would be preferable.

.
I have no idea of the cost but again guessing, two 140’s in a binoscope would be somewhere close to the price of a single 180FL.

.
Any thoughts?

.

Vahe

[t.r.]

Binoscopes are cool but myself, I'd go larger monoscope up to the same weight/mount requirement. Did consider an AP130GT binoscope on a C11 Goto fork mount when a second OTA opportunity came along, but chose to hold out for larger apo someday for the money spent. Bino does give a perceived 10 to 20% gain in resolution due to MTF but still can't touch the larger apos.

Edited by t.r., 15 March 2018 - 10:09 AM.

[Jeff B]

From what I've read, compared to a single aperture with mono-vision, there is a 30 to 40 percent gain in aperture in terms of image brightness and limiting magnitude for the bino-scope.  In other words the image brightness and limiting magnitude for the 140 bino scope would be similar to that of a 180mm to 200mm single scope at the same magnification with one eyepiece.

 

In terms of resolution of planetary and double stars, there seems to be little if any advantage over a single aperture of the same size except that the extra brightness may well enhance contrast and detail rendition of features at the margins of visibility in the single aperture.  

 

I've seen no reports comparing a binoscope with a larger aperture single scope with binoviewers.

 

But let's not get too far off the thread ok (Ok, ok, that's like asking the sun not to rise and set today, but I had to put that out there)

 

Jeff

[Jeff B]

Oh, and for deep sky stuff, there seems to be a certain cost advantage as well over a larger, single aperture scope, at least in the APO world.  For example the 140ED, and even the new FL, binoscope is less expensive than a single TEC 180FL but with similar weights.

 

Jeff

[nicknacknock]

Tammy, I’m going to recommend to the telescope board that you be put in for a psychological evaluation.   Good heavens, we gotta put that under the stars soon. We will be setting up at Mt Dissapointment during the planet season, so you may want to bring those by. 

 

Daniel, 

 

There was a show in the US called "Clean House" which ran for a few years. It's all about letting go of the stuff you have hoarded, culminating in a house makeover and the sale of all items hoarded. I think Tammy needs an "intervention" pronto. Pretty soon, he's gonna buy the neighbor's home to use as a warehouse for his scope collection...