18 replies to this topic

[Bomber Bob]

With S&T reporting Orion / Meade corporate locations closing:   https://skyandtelesc...erations-maybe/

 

"As of July 12th, both Meade's and Orion's websites are still active and accepting orders. Sky & Telescope editors have reached out to senior staff members to comment; neither Meade nor Orion has issued an official announcement. We will update this story as new information become available."

 

Say it ain't so!   I figured the COVID Lockdown & the subsequent Depression would hurt our hobby's retailers, but I didn't expect Orion to wind up on the ropes.  As usual, I'm a day late, and a dollar short.  It was just 5 years ago that I got my first Meade Newtonian, and that was mainly because it had been CHAS' freaky sharp Classic.  So, I had great expectations for this humble sample.  And thus far, it has exceeded them.  So, here's some late-comer love for Meade Newtonians - y'all feel free to add your own pix & experiences with these outstanding reflectors...

 

1983 Meade 826 OTA + Meade StarFinder EQ:

 

 

Once I saw how refractor-like this old scope was, I had to upgrade the basic 1.25" rack & pinion.  This 2-stage Lumicon has a long 1.25" pull-tube for coarse, and a finely-machined helical to nail that last little bit - very important at 400x (this Newt's "cruising power" for lunar & planetary observing).

 

Though short & stout, the 8" F6 OTA is near the load-limit of the Meade SF EQ.  But with its accurate, simple, & wire-free RA motor drive system, the SF carries it well enough for 600x -- shake / tremor free.

 

 

[John Rogers]

It is always an exquisite experience for me when I break out the RG-880 for an observing session.

[NinePlanets]

Ahhh!

REAL telescopes!

Not just finders with a computer attached. 

[John Rogers]

My DS-10 doesn't get much use because of the non-rotating tube that results in uncomfortable viewing positions.  However, it is a nice telescope.

[Jon Isaacs]

I had a Meade 1266, more commonly known as the 12.5 inch F/6 "Research Grade " I believe mine was made about 1979.

 

It was a fine scope in the pre-Dobsonian tradition. It has a large diameter tube, rotating rings, two mirror positions, one for visual, one for Astrophotography. The 1.5 inch shaft mount was somewhat undersized though the entire scope weighed nearly 300 lbs.

 

It was a scope meant for an observatory rather than travelling to dark skies. I believe I bought it about 2005 and parted ways with it 2013. I assembled it once and it stayed in the garage. I'd use use it a few times each year, it never left the driveway, never saw dark skies.

 

My main scopes during that era were my 12.5 inch F/4.06. in 2007, I acquired a 16 inch Starfinder that I converted into a truss Dob. In 2010/11 I acquired my 25 inch F/5 Obsession. I parted with the 12.5 inch Research Grade in 2013 when I acquired a 13.1 inch F/5.5 Starsplitter with a full thickness Royce mirror.

 

The Meade provided some wonderful views but was just impractical in the modern world of Dob's and traveling to dark skies. In some sense, the Meade Research Grade series might have been the best scopes optically ever made by Meade.

 

 

 

Jon

.

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 16 July 2024 - 09:25 PM.

[NinePlanets]

I had a Meade 1266... In some sense, the Meade Research Grade series might have been the best scopes optically ever made by Meade.

.

I believe they were. I sold a LOT more Meade reflectors than Celestron SCT's. The price was right as was the performance. When Meade entered the SCT race, I still sold a lot more Meade reflectors than SCT's of any brand.

 

Bang for the buck, you can't beat a well made Newtonian and Meades were pretty much the best game in town.

[FernandoPrz]

RG_880.jpg

It is always an exquisite experience for me when I break out the RG-880 for an observing session.

Those setting circles seem solid ... are they useful ?

[John Rogers]

Those setting circles seem solid ... are they useful ?

As useful as any other setting circles of the era.  They get you close, but one still needs to search around to get the object centered, since the standard catalog for coordinates was typically 1950.0.

[NinePlanets]

As useful as any other setting circles of the era.  They get you close, but one still needs to search around to get the object centered, since the standard catalog for coordinates was typically 1950.0.

And then Wil Tirion (RIP) published his Atlas 2000.

 

I still use setting circles similar to those. They will put an object easily within the field of a standard 8x50 finderscope. With an excellent polar alignment they will put an object within a 1-degree field of view.

[Jon Isaacs]

As useful as any other setting circles of the era.  They get you close, but one still needs to search around to get the object centered, since the standard catalog for coordinates was typically 1950.0.

 

The best setting circles I ever had were on a late 1970s Orange Tube C-8, the fork on a wedge. Large diameter with a vernier scale, I would use from visible stars. 

 

That was in the mid to late 90's.  Then I discovered star hopping and Dob's..

 

Jon

[Broz22]

I have heavily modified my old (ca. 1983) 826 and now have it mounted with a cdk14 on a L-350 (original Meade mount minus the tube rings in the garage for anyone that wants it). I replaced the mirror with a new, old-stock Parks because the surface of the original mirror had pitted sufficiently after 30 years in the basement so that recoats (2) would not hold. I put a nice 2" Moonlite focuser and motor on it, and replaced the .965" spotter with a 1.25" combo guide/spotter scope. And replaced the spider and secondary with Astrosystems gear. So I guess it is just the tube - but, they say an old wooden boat that has had every plank replaced over time is still the same boat. It works great, and one day I'll learn how to resurface and refigure the original mirror which worked a treat prior to the corrosion/pitting.

John

[bjkaras]

And then Wil Tirion (RIP) published his Atlas 2000.

 

I still use setting circles similar to those. They will put an object easily within the field of a standard 8x50 finderscope. With an excellent polar alignment they will put an object within a 1-degree field of view.

I have similar setting circles on my 10” Parks. I used to use them until I leaned my way around well enough that I don’t need them any more. The Dec pointer fell off several years ago anyway, which now makes it hard to use. Now I just star hop, which works well.

[CHASLX200]

I had a few.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[Bomber Bob]

40+ years ago, and Meade was in its prime...  I bought accessories from Meade back then.  Those beautiful RG Kits were impressive, but I was moving often in the USAF, so they just weren't practical -- not when my old Tasco 15K fit in its wood cabinet w/ handle.

[DogOnPot]

I'm in the process of swapping out a few parts on my SN10 to make it AP ready. I can't wait to see what I can produce with it

[CCD-Freak]

Here is my modified RG880 at Okie-Tex.  I have always been amazed at how sharp the views are in this scope.

 

[Don H]

My first scope, after a 60mm refractor for my daughter, was a Meade 8800, f/4.5 on an eq mnt. I enjoyed the views and discoveries that scope provided for many years. After I learned to make larger scopes, I eventually sold the 8800 OTA on a Dob Mount. Some time later I came across a Meade 6600 f/5 OTA with rings at AstroFest in Kankakee. I refigured that mirror and still have the 6". It is much better suited to the mount than the 8 ever was.

 

I also had a DS-16 for a some time. It was to use while I was making my own 16" mirror and scope... 

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by Don H, 28 July 2024 - 07:29 PM.

[PeteM]

My first "serious scope" was a Meade 10" Starfinder back in the mid-90s. For a f/4.5, it gave some very memorable views of Jupiter that still linger to this day. Wish I had at least a picture of that scope still.

[PXR-5]

I had a 626, 6" f8, it was heavy, but an awesome scope.