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NEAF 2025

Started by pbealo , Feb 04 2025 10:06 AM

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114 replies to this topic

#26 pbealo

Apollo

topic starter

Posts: 1,458
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Loc: New Hampshire

Posted 18 March 2025 - 09:53 AM

Does our booth have AC power?? I'll bring my Spilhaus Space Clock, but it looks better plugged in.

Peter B.

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#27 Defenderslideguitar

Aurora

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Joined: 05 Oct 2016
Loc: South West Connecticut

Posted 18 March 2025 - 12:35 PM

There is power somewhere as I recall think we corded it into the booth Others will recall

I can bring cords and a power strip

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#28 Dave Cook

Ranger 4

Posts: 321
Joined: 29 Nov 2020
Loc: San Diego

Posted 18 March 2025 - 01:39 PM

Get'n the Unitron 510 ready for NEAF!

Unitron 510 (3-12-2025)-2a.jpg

Complete with a shiny new photo-guidescope. Now I just gotta touch-up the paint a bit.

I was never a Unitron guy but that 510 is drool-worthy

/slobbers embarrassingly

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#29 Airship

Ranger 4

Posts: 309
Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Posted 18 March 2025 - 03:23 PM

The 510 is pure magic. We enjoy sharing it at outreach events. The kids love it!

If I recall there is power depending on the specific location of the booth. I brought a lithium-ion battery with a 120vac port on it as a backup.

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#30 GoodAsh

Viking 1

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Joined: 15 Jan 2013
Loc: New Jersey

Posted 18 March 2025 - 03:37 PM

Does our booth have AC power?? I'll bring my Spilhaus Space Clock, but it looks better plugged in.
Peter B.

We do not have power Peter.

Al

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#31 deSitter

Still in Old School

Posts: 21,741
Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 23 March 2025 - 07:51 PM

We do not have power Peter.

Al

But we have batteries Barry. Get the inverter Vernon! Roger Roger. Huh? What?

-drl

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#32 Airship

Ranger 4

Posts: 309
Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Posted 23 March 2025 - 08:00 PM

I'll bring a lithium ion battery with a 120vac output. It drives the AC motor on my Unitron 510 all night long, it should run a clock fairly well unless it has a significant current draw.

Speaking of NEAF 2025...

I'm getting my scopes outside to catch a bit of starlight to make sure that they are in good working order, and I can find all of the bits'n pieces.

For example...

...an original 1980 Meade 2080 LX from the first production run. Wonderful scope with excellent optics and mechanics along with a few quirks that were unique to the first-run units. For example, if you look closely the (all-metal) secondary mount has only 2 (teeny tiny) adjustment screws.

A joy to use!

Edited by Airship, 23 March 2025 - 08:03 PM.

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#33 abe

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Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Loc: Madison, Wisconsin

Posted 23 March 2025 - 09:19 PM

LX 2080 (3-17-2025)-2.jpg

...an original 1980 Meade 2080 LX from the first production run. Wonderful scope with excellent optics and mechanics along with a few quirks that were unique to the first-run units. For example, if you look closely the (all-metal) secondary mount has only 2 (teeny tiny) adjustment screws.

A joy to use!

It's probably just an artifact of the period when I grew up, but I still find these early Meade SCTs to be among the most attractive, well-built, and ergonomic scopes ever made. Nice setup - cool finder.

Edited by abe, 23 March 2025 - 09:19 PM.

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#34 deSitter

Still in Old School

Posts: 21,741
Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 23 March 2025 - 09:45 PM

It's probably just an artifact of the period when I grew up, but I still find these early Meade SCTs to be among the most attractive, well-built, and ergonomic scopes ever made. Nice setup - cool finder.

Yes - they are real lookers.

-drl

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#35 photiost

Soyuz

Posts: 3,566
Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Loc: Montreal, Canada

Posted 28 March 2025 - 04:14 PM

Last minute decision, looks like I will be attending Neaf this year along with 3 members from our club.

Our little group will be arriving late Friday afternoon.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

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#36 GoodAsh

Viking 1

Posts: 875
Joined: 15 Jan 2013
Loc: New Jersey

Posted 28 March 2025 - 04:58 PM

Last minute decision, looks like I will be attending Neaf this year along with 3 members from our club.

Our little group will be arriving late Friday afternoon.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Make sure you stop by to say hello!!

Al

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#37 Defenderslideguitar

Aurora

Posts: 4,515
Joined: 05 Oct 2016
Loc: South West Connecticut

Posted 30 March 2025 - 08:16 AM

Frank

So happy you folks are coming down for NEAF

Looking forward to seeing you at the Classic booth

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#38 photiost

Soyuz

Posts: 3,566
Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Loc: Montreal, Canada

Posted 30 March 2025 - 01:04 PM

Looking forward to seeing everyone !!

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#39 Airship

Ranger 4

Posts: 309
Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Posted 30 March 2025 - 01:32 PM

Let's see here... bringing the Unitron 510, a Meade 2080 LX... gotta bring a little orange...

...a sandcast C5...

...and a C90 Astro.

Gonna be a fun couple of days!

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#40 Airship

Ranger 4

Posts: 309
Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Posted 02 April 2025 - 07:10 PM

All packed and ready to go! Joyce and I will be heading out tomorrow morning for a 10+ hour drive out from Dayton, Ohio...

There are 9 telescopes packed in there somewhere: 2 Celestrons, 2 Meades, 2 Tascos, a Questar, a Coulter, and a Unitron. Last year I forgot about our personal stuff (like clothes). This year I planned ahead. I'm not sure that it helped.

Edited by Airship, 02 April 2025 - 07:10 PM.

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#41 GoodAsh

Viking 1

Posts: 875
Joined: 15 Jan 2013
Loc: New Jersey

Posted 03 April 2025 - 12:03 PM

All packed and ready to go! Joyce and I will be heading out tomorrow morning for a 10+ hour drive out from Dayton, Ohio...

Car NEAF 2025 (v2).jpg

There are 9 telescopes packed in there somewhere: 2 Celestrons, 2 Meades, 2 Tascos, a Questar, a Coulter, and a Unitron. Last year I forgot about our personal stuff (like clothes). This year I planned ahead. I'm not sure that it helped.

Thanks for going above and beyond for our display this year!!

Al

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#42 ccwemyss

Gemini

Posts: 3,377
Joined: 11 Aug 2016
Loc: Massachusetts

Posted 03 April 2025 - 01:05 PM

I'll be driving there Saturday morning. Heading out around 8AM usually has me arrive between 11 and noon, depending on traffic. Need to get home before 7 to pick the dog up from the kennel, so I'll be leaving around 3. I'll come and hang out for a while after transferring a couple of scopes to others.

Looking forward to seeing folks and chatting.

Chip W.

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#43 Defenderslideguitar

Aurora

Posts: 4,515
Joined: 05 Oct 2016
Loc: South West Connecticut

Posted 03 April 2025 - 07:16 PM

Cant wait to see everyone

Packing is harder than years past it seems

it is however a labor of love

see you there

Keep looking up

Barry

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#44 John Higbee

Apollo

Posts: 1,064
Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Loc: Virginia

Posted 04 April 2025 - 04:26 AM

Will miss seeing all of you this weekend...take (and post) plenty of pictures!

Here's are two (virtual) scopes for the exhibit!

Hope to see you all at NEAF 2026...all the best, John

Edited by John Higbee, 04 April 2025 - 04:27 AM.

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#45 GoodAsh

Viking 1

Posts: 875
Joined: 15 Jan 2013
Loc: New Jersey

Posted 04 April 2025 - 02:29 PM

We’re making great progress…more to come!

Pictured left to right, David L, Jack C, Al C, Dave K, Barry B, Mike T, John G, Joyce G

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#46 photiost

Soyuz

Posts: 3,566
Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Loc: Montreal, Canada

Posted 04 April 2025 - 04:26 PM

Whst a Great team !!

See you all tomorrow

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#47 combatdad

Vanguard

Posts: 2,221
Joined: 28 Dec 2012
Loc: Culpeper, VA

Posted 04 April 2025 - 05:47 PM

The end product shown in the group photo looks great, but we basically started with an empty space. I'll be posting more pictures taken during the setup as the night goes on...and we'll have plenty more over the weekend.

Dave

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#48 combatdad

Vanguard

Posts: 2,221
Joined: 28 Dec 2012
Loc: Culpeper, VA

Posted 04 April 2025 - 06:09 PM

Al, Jack, and John started the setup. Barry was unloading his car and...unloading his car. I'm still not certain how Barry got two 5 inch and a 6 inch refractor with huge mounts in his car!!