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Big Ol' Classic Scopes - Who's Using Them?

Classic Equipment Observing
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#1 Bomber Bob

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 11:26 AM

Started this topic to not derail the Observing thread.  Dawned on me last night while using my 1970s Jaegers 6" F5 RFT:

 

Jaegers 6 FS BS P02 - Kenko SE120 Duo SV AZ (FL TP).jpg

 

Serious Question:  Is it worth the effort for City Dwellers to observe DSOs with these Big Old Scopes?   Before Retirement, when I had busy work-weeks, I'd say, only for select objects -- the Double Cluster & Orion Nebula for instance.  Otherwise, I'd take out a small refractor.  I realize I have less light pollution than some CNers - and that's a big factor.  With brighter skies, I imagine I'd get the best small refractor I could, and observe double stars... What do y'all think?

 

My J6 is in the same mass category as my other 6 inch Classic -- Tinsley Saturn 6" F20 Cassegrain:

 

Saturn Restore 2020 S95 - Restore COMPLETE (Tinsley EQ Full LS).jpg

 

Both can ride on my Meade StarFinder EQs, but do best on their own mounts.  Casters on the T6, so it rolls out of the shed easily -- looks like a rocket launcher.  The Stellar-View M7 AZ is darn near perfect for the J6.  Takes a bit of effort to haul out & set up, but the Views are so good that it's worth it.  (Told y'all I was crazy!)  


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#2 starman876

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 11:45 AM

The only big scopes I have left are the classic celestron orange SCT's. Have a C14 and a C8.  and the Quantum 8 and the   10" meade starfinder.  have always joyed using them.     sold all the other big scopes.    


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#3 Astrojensen

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 12:29 PM

 

Is it worth the effort for City Dwellers to observe DSOs with these Big Old Scopes?

Absolutely. Though 6" isn't really big nowadays. 

 

A 6" classic Newtonian or long focal length Cassegrain or Maksutov is a good scope for small, bright, high surface objects, like small planetary nebulae and globular clusters. As well as double stars, of course. 

 

A 6" f/5 RFT with a really narrow O-III filter will show a surprising amount of details in even faint nebulae, as will a H-Beta filter. The finest view I've seen of the whole Veil Nebula complex was with an 85mm Takahashi FSQ and a 30mm ES82 at 15x with a 3nm O-III filter in a light polluted Copenhagen suburb. The entire complex, including Pickerings Wisp, could be seen easily. 

 

Myself, I am using my Zeiss Meniscas 150/2250 on its 1b mount as a sort of super-powerful Seestar and use my phone as an EAA camera that can grab galaxy spiral arms in a single 30-second exposure, even under light pollution bad enough to almost render them invisible. 

 

med_gallery_55742_4772_393594.jpg

 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark


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#4 Bomber Bob

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 03:45 PM

Though 6" isn't really big nowadays.

 

True.  But considering the Gross OTA +/- Rig Weight, an Old Scope can feel large...  Can you imagine some CNer toting the J6 up / down stairs?  I wouldn't even think about it -- much less the T6!  Either could mean a trip to the ER...  Or, making the neighbors irate -- taking up an elevator... (That might send you to the hospital, but for other reasons!)

 

BTW, love that Zeiss Meniscas 150/2250!!


Edited by Bomber Bob, 24 October 2024 - 03:46 PM.

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#5 davidmcgo

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 07:15 PM

C14 fork mounted, C11 fork mounted.  C10 fork mounted.  Only things old anymore on my 8”f6 newt and 10.25” Dall Kirkham are the mirrors so I won’t count them.

 

Dave


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#6 jgraham

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 10:07 PM

There is a certain magic with a big ol' classic...

 

ScopeOut (9-7-2024)-1.jpg

 

5" f/15 Unitron 510... gorgeous.

 

As for observing from the city... I do all of my observing from my Bortle 8 backyard where bigger is always better. Often a larger scope just brightens my skyglow, reducing contrast. These gorgeous long refractors give sharp, high contrast views that are perfect for deepsky observing.

 

 


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#7 jgraham

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 10:10 PM

I recently had a chance to compare the 510 with its smaller sibling, a 4" f/15 Unitron 155...

 

Unitron 155 & 510 (8-14-2024)-1.jpg

 

The 155 holds its own pretty well! Both the 510 and 155 are excellent deepsky platforms.

 

 


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#8 Kasmos

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 10:12 PM

C14 fork mounted, C11 fork mounted.  C10 fork mounted.  Only things old anymore on my 8”f6 newt and 10.25” Dall Kirkham are the mirrors so I won’t count them.

 

Dave

I'm confused. You don't consider the first three old?


Edited by Kasmos, 24 October 2024 - 10:15 PM.


#9 John Higbee

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 11:31 PM

Several "Big Ol Classic Scopes" in the use pool:

 

Cave 12.5" Newtonian Reflector:

79 Cave Model D Transportable.jpg

 

C14 Orange Tube in the original fork mount:

C14 Jun 22.jpg

 

 

 

 

 


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#10 John Higbee

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Posted 24 October 2024 - 11:37 PM

....and:

 

Spacek 6" f/15 Achromatic Refractor:

med_gallery_210832_10405_30018.jpg

 

 

Tinsley Saturn 6" f/16 Achromatic Refractor:

done (11).jpg


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#11 jragsdale

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 07:42 AM

You kidding?! A few of my scopes are so big they aren't going anywhere but just outside of my garage. I also cheat a little and use my NV device on some scopes along with an H-alpha filter so not only can I use them for bright surface DSOs but I can also view faint emission nebula as well, even from Bortle 7.

 

Thompson Optical 10" f/10 Refractor

 

20240720_223707_copy_351x495.jpg

 

Jaegers 6" f/15 Refractor

 

20240223_185116_copy_924x1539.jpg

 

Edmund 6" f/5 "RFT" Reflector

 

20241008_191004_copy_725x933.jpg


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#12 highfnum

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 08:48 AM

5 inch Jeager F5

6 inch Jeager F10

10 inch DS-10


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#13 Jon Isaacs

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 08:51 AM

My 13.1 inch Starsplitter Dob turned 25 this year so it is now a classic.  It's an urban backyard scope that I use for planetary, double stars and brighter DSOs.  It has a full thickness Royce mirror so it can take a while to cool but with San Diego's mild climate, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. I do use it quite regularly. It is definitely worth it.

 

6446676-Birthday Dob CN.jpg
 
The 22 inch still has a couple of years to go before it becomes a classic.  It stays in the high desert but I did set it up a couple of times in San Diego on it's way to the high desert.  The views were actually quite impressive but it's too big to be practical in my small backyard.

 

Starsplitter 22 -1.jpg
 
Jon

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#14 steve t

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 10:03 AM

At this phase in my life, the rule is, if I grunt when picking it up, I set it back downwink.gif  

 

Over the past few years my, 50+ year old, 4" F/10, Newtonian has become my most used scope due to its light weight, quick cool down, and less effected by poor seeing when compared to my 6" F/8 Newtonian.


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#15 Bomber Bob

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 11:39 AM

At this phase in my life, the rule is, if I grunt when picking it up, I set it back down...

 

Great rule of thumb!   Another reason I asked the question.  Getting old(er) sux for Big Old Scopes. Honestly, if a 12" Cass popped up locally, I'd have to pass; or, I'd get it rather than see it junked -- then immediately look for a new owner on CN!  (Okay, I'd "bust a gut" once to get some Mars / Jupiter / Saturn views -- then spend a couple of weeks recovering.)


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#16 jragsdale

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 11:50 AM

At this phase in my life, the rule is, if I grunt when picking it up, I set it back down...

 

Great rule of thumb!   Another reason I asked the question.  Getting old(er) sux for Big Old Scopes. Honestly, if a 12" Cass popped up locally, I'd have to pass; or, I'd get it rather than see it junked -- then immediately look for a new owner on CN!  (Okay, I'd "bust a gut" once to get some Mars / Jupiter / Saturn views -- then spend a couple of weeks recovering.)

Sometimes I think the wheel was invented in order to move big telescopes in and out of the garage.


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#17 clamchip

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Posted 25 October 2024 - 11:58 AM

My first home away from home was in downtown Bellevue WA. To my south across the street Bellevue Square a

huge shopping mall. QFC groceries corporate headquarters and flagship store right next door to my east. North side

of my pad was a dentist building. To the west dense residential. My favorite meal at the time was hot dog and baked bean stew.

I could eat it and still maintain a 34 waist because I lived on the top floor of my building and would carry my Edmund

4 inch f/15 piece by piece down 3 flights of stairs to the parking lot to observe planets and moon unaffected by all the artificial lighting.

In fact I always thought it was pretty good, and read cities can be blanketed in a bubble of very stable air. But I would pack up my

Edmund 4 inch f/15 heavyweight daddy long legs and go to nearby Cougar mountain Nike missile site for some dark sky. 

To this day a scope I use a lot I shoot for fast out the door and lightweight. A C8 on a lightweight Unistar and aluminum

tripod is just about the most perfect instrument. My Edmund likes this mounting too.

Robert

 

post-50896-0-67826800-1464142499_thumb.jpg

post-50896-0-10099700-1633995320.jpg


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#18 x-ray

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Posted 26 October 2024 - 10:58 PM

I'm restoring this 1895 Brashear / Warner and Swasey for a group in NYC, Pioneer Works to be installed in a new public observatory.  It is 12.5 inch f/15, about 7000 pounds.  It is big and old and is a magnificent machine. You may be thinking why put a telescope in New York City.  The most used telescope in the world is the 12" Zeiss refractor in LA at the Griffith observatory,

 

Alan Sliski

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#19 jragsdale

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Posted 26 October 2024 - 11:14 PM

I'm restoring this 1895 Brashear / Warner and Swasey for a group in NYC, Pioneer Works to be installed in a new public observatory.  It is 12.5 inch f/15, about 7000 pounds.  It is big and old and is a magnificent machine. You may be thinking why put a telescope in New York City.  The most used telescope in the world is the 12" Zeiss refractor in LA at the Griffith observatory,

 

Alan Sliski

Gorgeous work of art! Even an outreach scope that focuses on solar system objects, stars and bright DSO objects is perfect for inspiring the public and youth of today. Working on my own 12" f/16 Alvan Clark refractor at the moment but I'm going to fold it to avoid the 7000 pound part of the equation. Once you're done share as many photos of the before/after/during as you can! Even the trivial photos can really help paint the whole picture.


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#20 rwiederrich

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 08:25 AM

Gorgeous work of art! Even an outreach scope that focuses on solar system objects, stars and bright DSO objects is perfect for inspiring the public and youth of today. Working on my own 12" f/16 Alvan Clark refractor at the moment but I'm going to fold it to avoid the 7000 pound part of the equation. Once you're done share as many photos of the before/after/during as you can! Even the trivial photos can really help paint the whole picture.

You've got a 12" Clark?   Do you have or are going to build a mounting for it?  Sheeeeesh!

What as sight that must be.

 

Rob


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#21 jragsdale

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 08:31 AM

You've got a 12" Clark?   Do you have or are going to build a mounting for it?  Sheeeeesh!

What as sight that must be.

Yes, it's the 1868 12" Clark first ordered by Westleyan University, then sold to Miami University then gifted to Leslie Peltier. It's in fantastic condition and reportedly gave unbelievable views, even Alvan Clark Sr commented on how it was one of the best lenses he had ever seen/made.

 

I have a 12" Schaefer mount with a 30" saddle that can hold up to 250lbs (pictured in my profile pic) that I plan to use with the folded Clark scope. I built a pulley/hoist system in my garage so I can add/remove scopes from the mount by myself.


Edited by jragsdale, 31 October 2024 - 08:33 AM.

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#22 rwiederrich

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 08:36 AM

The biggest scope  I have to show is my ole 10"f/15.  The objective was built in the early 70's by Jim Schwartz an MIT professor.  Great views.

 

 

 

 

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#23 John Rogers

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 08:36 AM

1958_Cave_10-inch_F8.jpeg

 

1958 Cave 10-inch F8.  It needs some TLC, but is great for the Moon and planets as long as the wind is not blowing.


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#24 rwiederrich

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 10:42 AM

"I have a 12" Schaefer mount with a 30" saddle that can hold up to 250lbs (pictured in my profile pic) that I plan to use with the folded Clark scope. I built a pulley/hoist system in my garage so I can add/remove scopes from the mount by myself."

 

Yes....I've seen the mount and the pulley system.  I had built a pulley system in my OB for the 10" f/15.  No other, real way to do it.  Unless you have an army on standby.

 

Love your rebuild of the 10" scopes.

 

Rob



#25 jragsdale

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Posted 31 October 2024 - 10:44 AM

The biggest scope  I have to show is my ole 10"f/15.  The objective was built in the early 70's by Jim Schwartz an MIT professor.  Great views.

That's incredible! What is the mount on that beast?




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