2437 replies to this topic

[Scott in NC]

After 101 pages and 2503 posts, it’s time to close down part 8 and start part 9.  Part 8, which is now locked, is here: https://www.cloudyni...1#entry11542580

 
I’m going to get the ball rolling with a picture of my newest refractor, a Takahashi FS-128 f/8.1 fluorite doublet from 1996.

 

[betacygni]

An old Japanese Vixen made 80mm F5, has been my favorite h-alpha scope, but looking forward to clear skies tonight and running it through its wide field paces. As a side note these are really well built, my wife literally ran over the box containing it in the driveway and it emerged unscathed (thanks USPS for leaving the box in the middle of our carport…)

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Edited by betacygni, 05 December 2021 - 12:23 PM.

[Scott in NC]

Nice setup!    It’s amusing to see how (at least from this perspective), the Quark, binoviewers, and eyepieces look just as long as the main OTA.

[lee14]

Early 90's. Still going strong!

 

Lee

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[Scott in NC]

Very nice, Lee!  That one looks like a real keeper. 

[leviathan]

My beauties.

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[hasebergen]

Hi ... some of my refractors ...

 

92/505 TMB

 

Zeiss-AS 63/840 und AS 80/1200

 

Selfbuilt Lichtenknecker AK 125/3000mm Schaer-Refractor

 

lens-regards Hannes

 

 

 

 

 

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[Scott in NC]

3000mm focal length? Wow!  That’s a 10-foot long tube.

[Stellar1]

Whoa!! 3000mm FL! that thing is impressive to say the least, what a beauty, jealousy meter overload!

[donadani]

Neisn - Zeisn !

 

[Simon B]

Borg 90FL Astrograph

 

 

[R.Kelley]

One of my two.. Takahashi FC-100DF 

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[R.Kelley]

And here's my other one.. (my favorite )  Stellarvue SVA-130T

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Edited by rkelley8493, 06 December 2021 - 06:19 PM.

[Echolight]

The newest member of the family. My first 4-incher. And my very first non-freight damaged brand new scope.

Edited by Echolight, 05 December 2021 - 10:34 PM.

[Cbaxter]

3000mm focal length? Wow! That’s a 10-foot long tube.

If you're referring to the Schaer-Refractor then I believe that is a folded design, which would make it much shorter in physical length than 3000mm. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will jump in here and correct me, probably very harshly since it's the internet lol.

Regards.

[Scott in NC]

If you're referring to the Schaer-Refractor then I believe that is a folded design, which would make it much shorter in physical length than 3000mm. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will jump in here and correct me, probably very harshly since it's the internet lol.

Regards.

Oh, okay, I see that he does indeed have a photo of what appears to be a folded-design refractor in post #7 above.  So not a 10-foot tube, but still what appears to be a very impressive instrument.  Thanks for the clarification!

[Castor]

Here’s my NP127is refractor on my new Tele Vue Gibraltar HD5 Alt-Az mount in the backyard.  It’s so easy to setup and handle that it feels like a grown-up version of my TV-85 on the Panoramic mount!

 

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[primeshooter]

Hi ... some of my refractors ...

92/505 TMB

Zeiss-AS 63/840 und AS 80/1200

Selfbuilt Lichtenknecker AK 125/3000mm Schaer-Refractor

lens-regards Hannes

How do you deal with fact half your sky is missing? I am like this with my house at moment. Do you just obviously avoid that area of sky and pretend it doesn't exist. Is it painful?

[gzljh96]

Borg 90FL Astrograph


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That’s the M75 helicoid! May I ask if it is configured with #7770?

[EasyQuest]

Three refractors ready to image. William optics FLT 91, 132, and 156 on iOptron CEM120, SW HEQ5 Pro and SW EQ8R Pro.

 

Edited by EasyQuest, 06 December 2021 - 10:14 AM.

[BlueTrane2028]

Two newest refractor friends.  Both achros, someday I'll break into "premium" refractor ownership but not today.

First, a Celestron 102mm f/5 "wide field spotting scope."  Seller had upgraded the focuser to a nice 2 speed.  In this pic, I'm pointing it at Jupiter for giggles.  False color was obvious but the scope is definitely capable of a casual look at the planets.  This is my ST80 replacement... with my 30mm ES82, it's a far wider view than the ST80 can provide and the increase in light gathering is so worth the minor increase in size/weight.



Second, an Orion ShortTube 120.  Very satisfying deep sky wide field scope, will 100 percent be along in every session with one of my Dobs or SCTs for the wider fields those scopes just cannot create.  Might be at the upper limits of the Porta mount though...



I had only intended to buy the 120 when I met the seller, I'm really glad he brought the 102 along as well.

[betacygni]

My little Vixen pictured prior got to go out with his big brother. This was my first night observing with dual telescopes. I was actually really surprised how fun it was. Aside from being a real nice finder (didn’t bother to turn on my DSC), being able to instantly jump back on forth between vastly different viewing characteristics added a hole new dimension (had the vixen setup with an APM 30mm for ultra wide field, tak was zoomed in with binoviewers):

 

 

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[Echolight]

Two newest refractor friends.  Both achros, someday I'll break into "premium" refractor ownership but not today.

First, a Celestron 102mm f/5 "wide field spotting scope."  Seller had upgraded the focuser to a nice 2 speed.  In this pic, I'm pointing it at Jupiter for giggles.  False color was obvious but the scope is definitely capable of a casual look at the planets.  This is my ST80 replacement... with my 30mm ES82, it's a far wider view than the ST80 can provide and the increase in light gathering is so worth the minor increase in size/weight.



Second, an Orion ShortTube 120.  Very satisfying deep sky wide field scope, will 100 percent be along in every session with one of my Dobs or SCTs for the wider fields those scopes just cannot create.  Might be at the upper limits of the Porta mount though...



I had only intended to buy the 120 when I met the seller, I'm really glad he brought the 102 along as well.

Cool! I had thought about the 120, but I didn’t have a middleweight alt/az mount. So the 102 it was. Works well on a Bogen 3036 or 3040.

 

Of course, if placed in the same predicament as you, I would have probably taken all three! Such is the disease. Achro-itis. 

 

The ST80 only needs a little 3021 though.

[BlueTrane2028]

I've got a CG3 and a NexStar SLT that I've used the ST80 on with great success.  May try the 102 on one of those next.

I also have the tripod shown here, guess it's an AstroMaster alt-az:
 

Probably going to keep the ST80 on it, will likely use for terrestrial.  I'm reasonably happy with the ST80 for solar as well... at least until I get or make a filter for the 102...  or get a Herschel wedge.

Edited by BlueTrane2028, 06 December 2021 - 01:02 PM.

[Echolight]

I have one of those mounts. Since you can cinch the altitude down with that long handle, it’s not too bad. Works well with my ETX 90 since the dovetail only fits on the bottom.

 

And an SLT too. I think it needs better legs for the ST102 with a heavy eyepiece. But Astro biscuit used an ST102 on one for AP.

Edited by Echolight, 06 December 2021 - 01:49 PM.