2462 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

Looks like a leg slipped down.

[desertlens]

A recently acquired TV-76 awaiting reasonable observing conditions:

 

[Castor]

A recently acquired TV-76 awaiting reasonable observing conditions:

 

TV76Pra.jpg

 

Congratulations Craig!

 

Your new evergreen TV-76 looks beautiful on the black Vixen Porta II on Berlebach tripod, matching the great looks of your TV-85!  

[Bomber Bob]

I'm a big-time D-I-Y'er, but a previous owner of this 1970s Takahashi TS-65/500 S-APO took it to extremes:

 

 

Rather than find an original combo Tube Ring + 5x25 Finder Bracket, he made a base, and punched 2 holes in the focuser to attach it (the TS doesn't have the standard flat area on the focuser for a finder bracket)...

 

 

No dents in the tube or dewshield, but more scratches than white paint!  And... NASTY throughout.  But the triplet lens cleaned up, and is actually near-mint.  Typical Tak quality -- both the DPAC & star tests are exemplary.

 

I have an original finder bracket on order, so it'll look like this 1972 version:

 

 

 

Edited by Bomber Bob, 09 January 2022 - 08:53 PM.

[Peter_D]

Looks like a leg slipped down.

All the legs are fully retracted - my telescope storage area in the basement is pretty limited so it just reduces the floor space the tripod takes up.

[jason_milani]

How do you like your Antares, I had 4, now 3, great performers from a realatively small company ?

That Antares 1529 is the second one I've had.  It's a 152mm f/6.5 scope of which only 30 were made (In this optical tube configuration - I think the lens design is the same as the Explore Scientific scope).  This one has the retractable dew shield.

 

The first one I had I regretted selling.  I was on the waiting list for one of the original 30, so after I sold that one and saw this for sale a few years back I snatched it up but there was a problem with the optics which I discovered was a missing spacer between the doublet lens.  I attempted to remedy it with new spacers but I'm actually afraid to get it out under the stars because I know I didn't really do a great job on it.  I should take it apart again but I keep putting it off.  LOL. 

 

The first on I had blew away an excellent Celestron ED100 I had on the moon, albeit with some color.  

[tog]

I'm a big-time D-I-Y'er, but a previous owner of this 1970s Takahashi TS-65/500 S-APO took it to extremes:

 

TAK TS-65x500 Delivered S01 - Complete Nasty Package.jpgTAK TS-65x500 Delivered S02 - FINDER Bracket Mods.jpg

 

Rather than find an original combo Tube Ring + 5x25 Finder Bracket, he made a base, and punched 2 holes in the focuser to attach it (the TS doesn't have the standard flat area on the focuser for a finder bracket)...

 

TAK TS-65x500 Restore S13 - Lens Cleaning (Out of Cell SD).jpgTAK TS-65x500 Restore S15 - Lens Cleaning (3 Elements).jpg

TAK TS-65x500 Restore S22 - Lens Cleaning (Clean Rear).jpg

 

No dents in the tube or dewshield, but more scratches than white paint!  And... NASTY throughout.  But the triplet lens cleaned up, and is actually near-mint.  Typical Tak quality -- both the DPAC & star tests are exemplary.

 

I have an original finder bracket on order, so it'll look like this 1972 version:

 

TAK TS-65x500 (JP) c1972 CT01.jpg

Mr. Bomber Bob, are you going to refinish the tube? Please post more pics when you get done with the scope. Good find (there has to be a great story behind your acquiring the scope) and so glad it found a good home. 

Edited by tog, 10 January 2022 - 01:13 AM.

[Alex65]

I'm not really a refractor type of guy myself.

 

However I do have an old  late 60s / early 70s department store Kenko 60mm refractor which I take out from time to time. I only use it for sun projections and for occasional recreational viewing of the Moon. It has a simple pull out eyepiece that gives a range of magnification from 15X to 60X. The mount is terrible but it actually has fairly decent optics and gives decent enough views of the Moon. It is hopeless for stella or planetary views.

 

[LDW47]

That Antares 1529 is the second one I've had.  It's a 152mm f/6.5 scope of which only 30 were made (In this optical tube configuration - I think the lens design is the same as the Explore Scientific scope).  This one has the retractable dew shield.

 

The first one I had I regretted selling.  I was on the waiting list for one of the original 30, so after I sold that one and saw this for sale a few years back I snatched it up but there was a problem with the optics which I discovered was a missing spacer between the doublet lens.  I attempted to remedy it with new spacers but I'm actually afraid to get it out under the stars because I know I didn't really do a great job on it.  I should take it apart again but I keep putting it off.  LOL. 

 

The first on I had blew away an excellent Celestron ED100 I had on the moon, albeit with some color.  

Did you try and contact Antares for a fix ?

[jason_milani]

Did you try and contact Antares for a fix ?

I bought it used and the seller did refund some of the purchase price, but I have never contacted Antares directly.  Maybe I should consider that.

[firemachine69]

I bought it used and the seller did refund some of the purchase price, but I have never contacted Antares directly.  Maybe I should consider that.

 

 

 

The way I see it, it would be a once-and-done type of expense, very reasonable given the overall value of the scope.

[Bomber Bob]

Mr. Bomber Bob, are you going to refinish the tube? Please post more pics when you get done with the scope. Good find (there has to be a great story behind your acquiring the scope) and so glad it found a good home. 

Yes.  Once I determine that an old scope is a Keeper, I take it to JD, my local powder-coat guy, and have him re-finish it.  I already have a Keeper TS-50/700 for him.  I'll probably have both done in a medium semi-gloss white.  Thank God!  No Decals on the TS fracs to mess with...

[ratskrad]

Shooting the moon so to speak. Have spent the past week getting this rig back up and running after getting a new camera.

AT152EDT, WO GT81 IV, WO 50mm guide. Mono and OSC and filters with FR/FF if needed. Started putting this together 

a year ago and now have all the pieces and they are all working as designed. It sits out back under a Telegizmos 365. All

controlled from my bunker using remote desktop wireless into a mini pc attached to the mount and running a Pegasus UPBv2

to connect all the devices.                                                                                                                                         

 

 

[SpikeFalcon]

I almost sold this system, then came to my senses. AT70ED mounted on a modified Unitron 114 ALT-AZ. A member of the CN community had cut the top off the mount,  and installed a SVBONY narrow dovetail adapter. The mounting rail on the OTA fits perfectly; is extremely stable. The system is portable. 

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[CHASLX200]

This was the last fract i bought before i sold everything in 2019. 80mm Nitehawk.

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[daquad]

I almost sold this system, then came to my senses. AT70ED mounted on a modified Unitron 114 ALT-AZ. A member of the CN community had cut the top off the mount,  and installed a SVBONY narrow dovetail adapter. The mounting rail on the OTA fits perfectly; is extremely stable. The system is portable. 

Great minds think alike. 

 

Dom Q.

 

[SpikeFalcon]

Yours is more original. I like it! A prime example of old and new technology working together.

[CHASLX200]

Got this today.

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[Castor]

Got this today.

Congratulations Chas, your new refractor looks good on your black Vixen GP beauty!  

[TheNativeSon]

Evostar 120

[daquad]

Yours is more original. I like it! A prime example of old and new technology working together.

Thanks, the mount also has a counterweight, which I need when pointing near zenith.  As you said it is solid as a rock and I can adjust the tension on the locking clamps so that I can move the scope smoothly without using the slow motion controls.

 

Dom Q.

[TheSheriff]

Setting up Thing 1 & 2 in the recently (mostly) completed observatory.

[heribertom]

Astro-Tech 115 EDT - If you own this scope do yourself a favor and get a 35mm Tele Vue Panoptic.

 

[PawPaw]

Goto Telepac 60-AL......circa 1967 designed for use in Japanese schools.  60mm 900mm FL......The little Alt-Az mount was ahead of its time with a dovetail attachment and made from cast iron.  The optics have a collimatable cell and is a contact doublet.  No spacers.  It presents a wonderful image and is very lightweight.

 

Cheers

 

Don

 

 

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[wheels2040]

Dipping my toe into astrophotography