1249 replies to this topic

[MarkMittlesteadt]

There are times when I want more...like when I'm sharing the view...

 

The ST80 on the right that started my crazy affair with the little fracs paired up with my AT72EDII. 

 

[Spikey131]

Many faces of a small refractor….

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[thecelloronin]

I love this thread so much.

[desertlens]

Astronomics (Michael) has the uncanny ability to hit the mark with smaller refractors. I've spent a lot of time at 60mm recently and this one is just fun.

 

[Bomber Bob]

Colorful, and over-mounted (in a good way)...  1980s Vixen HALLEY SPC-60L:

 

 

Even though its been a miserable season. War Eagle!, y'all.

[bobhen]

With the added boost of an image intensifier for deep sky observing, a small refractor can deliver views that are really thrilling, especially for people with compromised sky conditions.

 

Below are two of my refractors that I use for grab and go deep sky observing with the intensifier.

 

1. A 50mm repurposed guide scope. This refractor can be hand held. With this refractor, even from my light-polluted location, I have seen sections of Barnard's Loop, the elusive, huge nebula in Orion.

 

2. My 102mm F5 achromatic refractor. Although 4-inches, the scope is lightweight. Using the intensifier and mounted on my Bogen photo tripod and using a UA Dwarfstar mount head, the scope is a grab-and-go, lightweight, killer, deep sky machine. I just used it the other night in the cold to observe over 27 nebulas. In the cold, I would not have set up something heavier or requiring more steps. 

 

3. I do tend to favor a minimum of around 4" for planetary observing. But I have an AT 102 F7 EDL refractor for a 2-trip, out-the-door, quick acclimation refractor to use as my "small" planetary refractor.

 

Bob

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[GSansoucie]

I love this thread.  Hopefully my TV85 is still consider a “small refractor”.

 

 

I sold off all my other scopes in the past 18 months (16” and 10” Dobs and my AR102 recently) as we downsize for our next chapter in our life come May.  We start Fulltime RVing in our 2019 Airstream FC 28RB.  Basically going from 3000 sq ft to 1100 (in the home we are renting) to less than 200 ft sq in this time frame.

 

Last month, while getting the trailer cleaned out and ready for its winter nap (it goes to an indoor storage facility close to our home we sold in Maine last year) I took measurements of everything storage related.  I found that there was enough space to keep my Astronomy fix alive in the rear storage.  If I could find a setup that fit in the space of a 12 Gallon Red Husky storage bin that The Home Depot sells, I could bring a scope.

 

I had been thinking of a TV76 or a TV85 for some time, it turns out I could fit a TV85, with my EPs, a Scopetech Zero Alt Az mount, and a beefy camera tripod.  I went with a Leofoto LN364C tripod that can handle 77lbs and is rock solid.  It will double as an actual camera tripod for my macro or long exposure work where I carry a tripod anyway.

 

I also lucked into a TV Night Vision setup which I’d been investigating.  This will give my little scope much more reach when I need it (and has become a life saver here in the light soaked city where I can actually use my scope from our back yard with street lights and neighbor’s lights abound). The TNV-14 does add complexity and weight to this setup, but I won’t always be using it as we travel to dark sky locations.

 

The scope, EPs, filters, and other accessories fit into a Pelican 1555 Air Case with the Trekpak dividers.  This case is a little smaller than the Husky 12 Gallon bin.

 

Between this scope setup and my trusty Canon 10 x 30 IS bins (and the Nemo Stargazer chair), I’m set Provided the weather cooperates.

[GSansoucie]

With the added boost of an image intensifier for deep sky observing, a small refractor can deliver views that are really thrilling, especially for people with compromised sky conditions.

.

 

Bob

Looks like we posted about the same time.  The Night Vision setup is a complete game changer for me.  Even using it alone at 1x is simply incredible around here.

[coopman]

My new AT80ED has been the scope of choice lately for me.  Ya'll talked me into it and I'm NOT regretting it one bit.

[jcj380]

The ST80 on the right that started my crazy affair with the little fracs paired up with my AT72EDII. 

With the dew shield on the 72 extended, and diagonals in place, the 72 is longer than the ST80?  Or is that just a projection effect in the pic?

 

I have the specs, but I'm trying to visualize them with different diagonals and the focuser racked out and so on.

Edited by jcj380, 22 November 2022 - 09:47 AM.

[Look at the sky 101]

No need to say more ,

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[MarkMittlesteadt]

I love this thread.  Hopefully my TV85 is still consider a “small refractor”.

 

 

I sold off all my other scopes in the past 18 months (16” and 10” Dobs and my AR102 recently) as we downsize for our next chapter in our life come May.  We start Fulltime RVing in our 2019 Airstream FC 28RB.  Basically going from 3000 sq ft to 1100 (in the home we are renting) to less than 200 ft sq in this time frame.

 

Last month, while getting the trailer cleaned out and ready for its winter nap (it goes to an indoor storage facility close to our home we sold in Maine last year) I took measurements of everything storage related.  I found that there was enough space to keep my Astronomy fix alive in the rear storage.  If I could find a setup that fit in the space of a 12 Gallon Red Husky storage bin that The Home Depot sells, I could bring a scope.

 

 

I had been thinking of a TV76 or a TV85 for some time, it turns out I could fit a TV85, with my EPs, a Scopetech Zero Alt Az mount, and a beefy camera tripod.  I went with a Leofoto LN364C tripod that can handle 77lbs and is rock solid.  It will double as an actual camera tripod for my macro or long exposure work where I carry a tripod anyway.

 

I also lucked into a TV Night Vision setup which I’d been investigating.  This will give my little scope much more reach when I need it (and has become a life saver here in the light soaked city where I can actually use my scope from our back yard with street lights and neighbor’s lights abound). The TNV-14 does add complexity and weight to this setup, but I won’t always be using it as we travel to dark sky locations.

 

 

he scope, EPs, filters, and other accessories fit into a Pelican 1555 Air Case with the Trekpak dividers.  This case is a little smaller than the Husky 12 Gallon bin.

 

Between this scope setup and my trusty Canon 10 x 30 IS bins (and the Nemo Stargazer chair), I’m set Provided the weather cooperates.

I can relate. As my wife and I get older, and with me getting closer to retirement, we are both looking to move to a warmer climate, and for once in my life (well...twice, but the first was a long time ago) finding some property with an open view, clearer skies the majority of time, and less light pollution.

 

So this past summer and fall we spent a great deal of time purging out every "thing" in our life we accumulated over the years and giving away, selling, or trashing anything and everything that no longer serves our purpose. Simplifying. We've toyed with the idea of living our life out of an RV and traveling, or getting/building a tiny house somewhere warm. I even had the crazy idea of buying a half-acre of land just outside the borders of national parks around the country so we could have multiple homes with the parks being our "back yard".  We are embracing a simple life with our last child being in her last yar of high school.

 

I like exploring options. I've gotten into EAA and AP, but I love the night vision possibilities. Too expensive for me at this time, (but one day...). Very cool setups. Everyone has their own idea of what they consider a small refractor. I think of any size that one could consider a grab'n'go refractor along with a mount and tripod. 

Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 22 November 2022 - 10:00 AM.

[MarkMittlesteadt]

With the dew shield on the 72 extended, and diagonals in place, the 72 is longer than the ST80?  Or is that just a projection effect in the pic?

 

I have the specs, but I'm trying to visualize them with different diagonals and the focuser racked out and so on.

Well, yeah the perspective is a bit off I guess. The dew shield on the ST80 is (obviously) permanently extended. The AT72 is closer to the viewer, has a slightly smaller OTA giving it a longer appearance, and it has that huge 2" diagonal plus being more back heavy, is set much further forward than the ST80. The ST80 only has a 1.25" diagonal on it, and there is a huge difference in size between the diagonals giving the appearance of the AT72EDII being that much bigger, but it's not really.

 

You can certainly tell the difference between them when holding them. Despite them being about the same weight, the AT72 feels as if its built like a tank. The ST80 kind of feels like a toy, yet for an achromat (and a short, wide field one at that) optically its a fine scope and the only one I used for quite a while until I got the AT72EDII. Now I only use the ST80 when it's paired up, dual-mounted with the AT72EDII for when I want to share the view with a few people, or if I'm doing some EAA or AP, I'll have my DSLR in the AT72 while still able to do some visual with the ST80. 

Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 22 November 2022 - 10:58 AM.

[MarkMittlesteadt]

Astronomics (Michael) has the uncanny ability to hit the mark with smaller refractors. I've spent a lot of time at 60mm recently and this one is just fun.

 

AT60EDsv.jpg

Small refractors are what brought fun back to the hobby for me. There are so many times the only thing I've done is put a 40mm WA EP in and just taken casual walks through the night sky, with no destination in mind. Kind of like walking through a national park and just enjoying it all. 

Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 22 November 2022 - 10:56 AM.

[MarkMittlesteadt]

My small ST80 (before I acquired my AT72EDII) also inspired a renewed interest in the Moon. In the past, with bigger scopes I always wanted/needed to see more...more detail, but that craziness made me always wanting bigger and bigger scopes, probably never being satisfied until I could see some Apollo junk left behind (I know we can't...just trying to make a point). And that still probably wouldn't have sufficed, short of standing on it myself. Aperture fever is a sickness for which there is no cure but total abstinence. 

 

Now, I even love looking at a full Moon with it filling the entire FOV.

 

[scout]

Excellent article, I see the writer in you coming out in this post.

The writer in him comes out in all of his topics. They're always a joy to read. 

[MarkMittlesteadt]

The writer in him comes out in all of his topics. They're always a joy to read. 

Thank you. I'm going to be starting an astronomy blogsite soon. It's in the works. I have a few pieces already written specifically for it (though I have hundreds of non-astronomy blogs, podcast scripts, articles, etc. that I've written over the years). It's more from a philosophical perspective via amateur astronomy. It's focused (pun intended) more on the view of our place in the Universe than the objects within it or what we use to view them. There will of course be references to some technical and factual aspects of the hobby as well, but only as it relates to my perspective on it.

 

I have a wide ranging creative background having been a professional artist, musician, and writer as well as being a long-time, passionate student of human behavior with a degree in psychology. All is more connected than it appears on the surface.

 

I'll have to let you all know when it's ready to launch if anyone is interested. 

 

Meanwhile, carry on with all of your thoughts on the joy of small refractors. I love reading everyone's posts. 

[vtornado]

Bigger than your "little" guy, I just picked up a used 100 f/5.  I think it is the "biggest" little scope I can put on my TW1, and AZ-GTI.  It should have around 4.5 degrees TFOV with a two inch eyepiece

[MarkMittlesteadt]

Bigger than your "little" guy, I just picked up a used 100 f/5.  I think it is the "biggest" little scope I can put on my TW1, and AZ-GTI.  It should have around 4.5 degrees TFOV with a two inch eyepiece

I love my little AZ-GTi. It has a little of everything I look for in a small, light Alt-Az mount. Manual, Point and Track, or full GoTo as I desire to use it. I've had a 125mm Mak on it at 12.4 lbs. and it handled it very well. At f/5 your scope doesn't push the mount with an overly long OTA (moment arm).

[tmichaelbanks]

I'm gonna pile on, nothing much to say that hasn't been said eloquently already.

 

After years hefting an XT8 around and trying to time the mercurial New England weather, I switched to binoculars but longed for some closer views.  I too have slaked my thirst at the AT72EDII trough and keep it ready to go-go with everything I need.  

 

          

 

[Bomber Bob]

3 x small old refractors (top to bottom)...  1970s Jaegers 50 F12 ATM Kit  /  1975 Takahashi TS-50 F14  /  Mizar GT-80S F7 (an achromatic that thinks it's an APO!):

 

 

Come to think of it, the 2 x 50s are very close to no visible false color...

Edited by Bomber Bob, 22 November 2022 - 05:42 PM.

[salico]

Nice topic! I restarted Astronomy on the binocular path with my first BT, a ED 120 BINOPTIC. Completely amazed by it, I wanted something smaller: Thought about a Tak 22*60, which I nearly purchased... but in the last moment, a LOMO 80 BT by BINOPTIC appeared... will I be upset because of the smaller aperture? Is it stupid to downsize? I was surprised how much I could see under Bortle 4 skies with it... what should I say, it is my most used scope ever!

 

 

For me it is so pleasing to have my little array of Binocular Telescopes, that complement each other wonderfully... The details in M31 that I saw in the rare nights with my BT 300/1800 make me smile, when I see it in the Lomo 80 BT, just appriciate it much more than before... the Fuji 10*50 makes me sweep through the sky with the 80 BT, which I didn't do before

 

So I wouldn't be part of the only small refractor group, but of the group, that knows the value of small refractors and highly appriciates it...

[Tamiji Homma]

Here is my favorite small but mighty refractor, FC-50 made in 1992.

I am hoping to bag Trapezium A-F this winter.

 

 

 

Tammy

Edited by Tamiji Homma, 22 November 2022 - 07:27 PM.

[truckerfromaustin]

I'm a big fan of small refractors. I've got 2 of them! Everyone needs one for wide field, grab and go purposes. The added bonus of being great for astrophotography is hard to beat. My used 72ed Evostar is my most used scope.

Clear Skies,
Greg

[Wolfwatcher]

I too am a big fan of the Evostar 72. Sold one a few years ago and have been missing it ever since. Got its somewhat big brother, sister?, the Evolux 82ed, which I like very much and will keep (a little better reach, a bit more light, longer focuser travel for 2" low-power, wide field eyepieces). But of all of the telescopes I've owned over the years, 20+, the Evostar 72 stands out as a top performer for quality/price/size. It's a scope that allows me to quit thinking about how it's performing, and confidently instead start zeroing in on what I'm observing, knowing that, within its range, the scope will deliver very pleasing views.

 

The recent conjunction a few years ago of Jupiter and Saturn, both in the same field of view with the 72, in ink black skies, stands out in my memory. A wonderful tool. I would not be surprised if I wind up with another one.