258 replies to this topic

[Rick Duering]

I have been going out recently with my Carton 60mm f16.7 riding

piggy back on my Takahashi 100 dc. It is utterly amazing what the

carton 60 can show you comparing it to a “four incher”! Went through

a good portion of the Messier objects as well as numerous other

open and globular clusters which really put a big smile on my face!

On the Caron 60 I was using a 30mm Orion Ultrascopic and on the

Takahashi 100 a televue Delite 12mm. One of my younger grand

sons told me he wanted the Caron 60 not the Takahashi 100 for

his primary viewing telescope! Needly to say to him bigger was not

better!!

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[YktwnCVS10]

https://skyandtelesc...to $50 million.

 

Reorg not liquidation.  See also the last paragraph.

Thanks for the info.

[aa6ww]

My AT-92 on my CG-4 makes for a very nice compact Solar White light observer.

 

...Ralph

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[starmason]

A few of my favorite small 60mm class refractors.  

The Teegul 60 is a truly unique grab and go FC-60 class refractor.

All of these are fun to observe with.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

[duck2k]

Great scope!

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[jcj380]

Anybody use an AT92 for visual DSOs?

 

I have an ST80 and ST120 and although a 100mm would split the difference, I'm really intrigued by the 92.

Edited by jcj380, 12 February 2021 - 12:11 PM.

[starmason]

Anybody use an AT92 for visual DSOs?

 

I have an ST80 and ST120 and although a 100mm would split the difference, I'm really intrigued by the 92.

Just a thought, as I did observe with the TMB 92, many years ago and found I liked the views with my Burgess 90mm Ca doublet better with it's longer focal length and (to my eyes) better contrast and flatter field.  

How about the AT-102ED, for a LOT less money, and it is fun to use for visual DSO's and also bino viewing.  Use it on my Vixen Portamount and it is well balanced on that rig.

 

BTW, I recently bought an inexpensive ST 90 class, F500 with 2 inch crayford dual focuser shipped in a hard case with fitted foam - from Svbony (on Ebay) as a good friend bought a similar spec achromatic refractor and said it's optics, focuser and sliding dew shield were very good quality.

Heck for less than $350 shipped it is pretty darn good for quick G & G observing.  I observed many bright DSO's including Orion Nebula, Pleiades, M13, open clusters in Auriga and M41 in Canis Major as a few examples.

It's lunar viewing potential is also very good for a short tube achromat.  Naturally has some "color", on brighter objects but performs a lot better than my ST80. May be just what is needed for some of us small refractor lovers?

 

On my way out the door now to enjoy the relatively clear skies (finally) in NW Virginia.  Will be enjoying my 82ed bino scope and then that ST90 achromat  - since writing about that little guy....   

Clear skies, 

George

[James1996]

I ordered an AT80ED last Friday it should be in my hands sometime next week. Now I'm trying to decide on a mount to put it on as well as accessories like the finder scope and mirror diagonal. Really looking forward to using it. I plan to use it on cold winter nights or when the weathers spotty where the XT8 would be a pain to set up. In other words it'll complement my big scope or at least that's the idea.

Edited by James1996, 20 February 2021 - 08:39 PM.

[erin]

BTW, I recently bought an inexpensive ST 90 class, F500 with 2 inch crayford dual focuser shipped in a hard case with fitted foam - from Svbony (on Ebay) as a good friend bought a similar spec achromatic refractor and said it's optics, focuser and sliding dew shield were very good quality.

Heck for less than $350 shipped it is pretty darn good for quick G & G observing.  I observed many bright DSO's including Orion Nebula, Pleiades, M13, open clusters in Auriga and M41 in Canis Major as a few examples.

It's lunar viewing potential is also very good for a short tube achromat.  Naturally has some "color", on brighter objects but performs a lot better than my ST80. May be just what is needed for some of us small refractor lovers?

 

On my way out the door now to enjoy the relatively clear skies (finally) in NW Virginia.  Will be enjoying my 82ed bino scope and then that ST90 achromat  - since writing about that little guy....   

Clear skies, 

George

Yes, it’s a seriously good little scope! I was going to let go of my SVbony 90mm achro to help fund a BT, but I just couldn’t let it go. I used binoviewers and a filter wheel on it a couple nights ago for some lunar viewing. I saw zero false color along the terminator. Plenty on the limb, but what amazed me was that when I viewed with my 90mm 6.7, I did see purple on the terminator at the same (high) power, but none at all with this one. I think the the false color is very well controlled for such a short achro. I still think the “perfect” scope for me would be this one with an element of ED glass.

[teashea]

I have been going out recently with my Carton 60mm f16.7 riding

piggy back on my Takahashi 100 dc. It is utterly amazing what the

carton 60 can show you comparing it to a “four incher”! Went through

a good portion of the Messier objects as well as numerous other

open and globular clusters which really put a big smile on my face!

On the Caron 60 I was using a 30mm Orion Ultrascopic and on the

Takahashi 100 a televue Delite 12mm. One of my younger grand

sons told me he wanted the Caron 60 not the Takahashi 100 for

his primary viewing telescope! Needly to say to him bigger was not

better!!

That is a long puppy ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[teashea]

[barbie]

The joy of a good, small refractor(or any scope for that matter) is that if you have an arthritic back, it will thank you for not lifting a heavy scope!!!

[Astrojensen]

The joy of a good, small refractor(or any scope for that matter) is that if you have an arthritic back, it will thank you for not lifting a heavy scope!!!

Indeed! My back got messed up last summer for a week or so, and of course during a clear spell. All I could use was my 63mm Zeiss, which I could carry out in parts and assemble.

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[barbie]

Yes indeed!! Because I have physical disabilities, all I have now are small scopes. They provide me with much joy when I use them whether here at home or at my dark sky site!!

[LDW47]

FS-60Q.jpg

I am thinking of buying 3 of those handles for my Porta II’s, are they worth buying / installing them from Agena Astro ?

[teashea]

I am thinking of buying 3 of those handles for my Porta II’s, are they worth buying / installing them from Agena Astro ?

Absolutely.  They are so excellent.  I purchased one for each of my Porta II's.  They make it so easy and smooth to move the position.  

[BlueMoon]

Absolutely.  They are so excellent.  I purchased one for each of my Porta II's.  They make it so easy and smooth to move the position.  

The only complaint I've heard is they interfere with getting to the RHS focuser knob. How do you deal/feel about that?

[Bomber Bob]

The joy of a good, small refractor(or any scope for that matter) is that if you have an arthritic back, it will thank you for not lifting a heavy scope!!!

Last night was my first session with the recently restored 1980s Celestron (Vixen) C80 Premium, and even on a vintage Mizar Super Polaris, and with a C/V 4-slot eyepiece turret loaded & attached, it's a remarkably lightweight kit -- moving it around doesn't feel like toting at all.  And excellent views of the waxing Moon, too!

[LDW47]

The only complaint I've heard is they interfere with getting to the RHS focuser knob. How do you deal/feel about that?

Just rotate the tube a bit so the right knob is below the handle level.

[BlueMoon]

Just rotate the tube a bit so the right knob is below the handle level.

That's a thought.   You did jog my memory, I use a "L" bracket that lowers the 72mm about 2" below the altitude axis centerline. That would drop the focuser knob slightly below the handle. Problem solved.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[teashea]

The only complaint I've heard is they interfere with getting to the RHS focuser knob. How do you deal/feel about that?

Actually the handle does not interfere with the focuser knob unless one installs the handle backward.  The handle is designed with a curve to avoid this.   Look at this photo and you can see.   

 

[starmason]

I am thinking of buying 3 of those handles for my Porta II’s, are they worth buying / installing them from Agena Astro ?

Purchased that "handle" for my Porta Mount last year and it works great with all of my refractors.

From Agana Astro:  Kokusai Kohki Guide Handle for Vixen Porta / Porta II and Explore Scientific Twilight I / II Mounts.  $70 is a reasonable price for such a robust control arm.

 

Here is the Tak FC-76DCU mounted on it.   Nice balance and good control.

Is a "must have" for those alt az mounts, in my opinion.

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by starmason, 21 February 2021 - 02:31 PM.

[desertlens]

Small stuff for joyful solar system observing:

 

Takahashi FOA-60Q

[LDW47]

Absolutely.  They are so excellent.  I purchased one for each of my Porta II's.  They make it so easy and smooth to move the position.  

I just ordered 2 from Agena Astro.

[blakestree]

So much Tak, so much yum!