42 replies to this topic

[Kunama]

My latest acquisition, the magnificent Skylight AR101/15 Brass refractor has led me to look further into these beautiful creations from Richard Day of Skylight Telescopes, London.

 

I have lusted after this particular scope since it was brought to Australia by a friend, he recently advertised it at a price I just could not pass up so the brass behemoth is now in my house waiting for clear weather.

After our recent firestorms and smoke we have now switched to torrential rain so it could be a while before the scope sees first light.

 

In the meantime it will grace the living room along with my menagerie of refractors.

 

Skylight Telescopes have ceased the manufacturing of these beauties and I am curious to see where they have ended up.....

If you have become the caretaker of these fine creations please post up your images and impressions..... (but lets not make this into an apo/achro war or who actually polished the lens elements)

 

Those who haven't seen them before may want to know that these are a collaboration between Richard Day and Al Nagler, with the achromatic 101mm F15 doublet optics coming from TeleVue and rest from Skylight..

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Edited by Kunama, 09 February 2020 - 04:47 PM.

[Kunama]

Thank you to Richard Day, who just today sent me information on my scope:

 

It was built January/February 2015 and sent to the Colony in March 2015.  

It is one of only three full brass versions made, the second apparently went to USA and the third, albeit without optics, is still in Richard Day's custody.

 

Makes a fine pair with my c1890 Berry&Mackay (Aberdeen) 3.25"F15 Library refractor

 

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[Tyson M]

Didnt BillP have a Skylight, replaced by his TSA102? I may be mistaken but I thought he did.

 

Anyways I love both of your scopes here. Any day down the road you feel like passing one along.....send me the ol PM haha.

 

 

[25585]

FB page exists for Skylight telescopes. 

 

I have a TV Renaissance mount & tripod bought from RD. Had he still been in business, I would have bought a brass refractor from him, like yours.

[Kunama]

I just found the FB page, thanks. I just took a few more pics of the scope:

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[Tyson M]

 

[25585]

Thing of beauty! 

[Doug Culbertson]

That’s beautiful, Matt. 

[wrnchhead]

What an incredible instrument. And for there to only be two of them in existence, wow. 

[Astroman007]

I wanted one of those when I first saw them in Astronomy magazine, years back.

 

Alas, I then had no money.

 

Enjoy and cherish!

[wrnchhead]

Btw you should have photoshopped some greasy fingerprints on the lens, just to troll everyone!

[exhogflyer]

My god, what a beautiful piece of equipment!

[stevew]

It's a beauty..

How does it perform on the Televue mount?

Edited by stevew, 09 February 2020 - 07:05 PM.

[Kunama]

I only picked this up recently and since then we have had a sky filled with bushfire smoke until yesterday when torrential rains took the place of the smoke.

I expect I will mostly use it on the Skywatcher AZ-EQ6GT mount for special outreach outings in the field, the Skylight tripod and TV Gibraltar hold it reasonably well but the scope is a heavy beast so low powers only on the TeleVue mount.

 

Here's the details:

 

Optics: TeleVue 101mm F15 achromatic doublet
OTA: Full brass construction
Focuser: Starlight Instruments Feathertouch FTF2535HD
Mount: TeleVue Gibraltar5
Tripod: English Oak by Skylight Telescopes
Finderscope: Custom brass tube with c1900 brass eyepiece
Diagonal: Baader BBHS Sitall 2" but I am going to cobble up a brass diagonal of equal quality

[Tyson M]

Optics: TeleVue 101mm F15 achromatic doublet

OTA: Full brass construction
Focuser: Starlight Instruments Feathertouch FTF2535HD
Mount: TeleVue Gibraltar5
Tripod: English Oak by Skylight Telescopes
Finderscope: Custom brass tube with c1900 brass eyepiece
Diagonal: Baader BBHS Sitall 2" but I am going to cobble up a brass diagonal of equal quality

Be sure to use a brass Tele Vue Equilazier.  Bonus is that it doubles as a hi hat adapter. 

 

I have seen brass brandons on the uk astro buy and sell and astromart webpage in their beautiful wooden case which are exceedingly rare.   Those would be a perfect fit for this long focal length scope.

 

Seibert also makes brass eyepieces I believe...

Edited by Tyson M, 09 February 2020 - 09:17 PM.

[GoodAsh]

Here is my Skylight 102 (#2 prototype) gracing the back page of the Wall Street Journal wayyy back in 2013. I still have it and once again it will grace the stage at NEAF this year!

Al

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Edited by GoodAsh, 09 February 2020 - 09:09 PM.

[Astroman007]

^ Didn't know they advertised scopes there!

[GoodAsh]

^ Didn't know they advertised scopes there!

They didn’t! WSJ wanted to do a story about amateur astronomy equipment. They contacted Richard Day and he asked me to provide my scope for the photo layout. I brought it to the photo shoot in Brooklyn.

Al

[Jdrasberry]

Al, that is very cool!

 

Joe

[Dave1066]

Hi,

 

Only just spotted this thread. Here are some photo's of my Skylight 4" F15 and 2.4" F16.7. The 4" the very first telescope 001, the prototype reviewed by the Astronomy Press.   

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[BillP]

Didnt BillP have a Skylight, replaced by his TSA102? I may be mistaken but I thought he did.

I had their 2.4" one.  Liked it a lot.  Beautiful.  But eventually sold it as 60mm is not enough aperture for me so rarely used it long term.  I had the TSA-102 prior to the Skylight, and still have it.

[kmparsons]

I have three of Mr. Day's creations, and they are the most beautiful telescopes I own. The candy-apple red tube really does it for me. My favorite is a 100mm f/10 with a superb Vixen lens. Whenever I use it, the view wows me, and I have to have a laugh at the expense of those who would say "But it is ONLY an achromat!"

[Kunama]

I have three of Mr. Day's creations, and they are the most beautiful telescopes I own. The candy-apple red tube really does it for me. My favorite is a 100mm f/10 with a superb Vixen lens. Whenever I use it, the view wows me, and I have to have a laugh at the expense of those who would say "But it is ONLY an achromat!"

Photos Keith, where are the photos???

 

I remember drooling over the pictures of many Skylight scopes a few years back.  It was pure luck that I happened to log onto the local forum just as the seller lowered his price.  The money I paid for the complete scope would not even get me the focuser at todays rates....

[Kunama]

Hi,

 

Only just spotted this thread. Here are some photo's of my Skylight 4" F15 and 2.4" F16.7. The 4" the very first telescope 001, the prototype reviewed by the Astronomy Press.   

They're the classics of the future Dave....  even my non-astronomer wife likes the Skylight AR101, in fact she would prefer I not take it outside for fear of damaging it, 

 

and it is even allowed to stay in the living room permanently 

[Dave1066]

Hi Matt,

 

Yes indeed they are classics of the future. My Skylight 60mm F16.7 is currently mounted up, and on display in the lounge. In fact the 60mm goes through periods of being my used telescope. I have managed to see the red spot on Jupiter with my little 60mm, and if I remember correctly even one of the moons transit Jupiter, I could just about see the shadow. I will have to pull out my records.

 

Here is part of the review of my Skylight 4" F15

 

David

 

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