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Hello from new member in Watford

ArnieVXR

By ArnieVXR
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ArnieVXR

ArnieVXR

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Hello everyone,

I'm Arnie and I'm a lifelong [mostly[ armchair astronomer with a bad habit of buying more kit than I can realistically use.

I became interested in astronomy back in the late 1970s when I joined the Southport, Ormskirk and District Astronomical Society. I spend many a Friday night down at Fernley Observatory in Hesketh Park, waiting for the clouds to part so we could open the dome on the magnificent 6-inch Cooke refractor.

I often wonder what happened to the SOADAS observatory trust that was spawned by three members of the society, so if anyone has any stories please let me know :)

I've always had big aspirations when it comes to kit so, though my first scope was merely a 20x50 spotter (followed by a trusty 60mm japanese special), I purchased a lovely 12" f/6 mirror from Roland Tarver while I was still at secondary school. I never did get it finished, though many of the parts still lurk in my parents' garage,

Fast forward to the late 1990s and you'd find me in Watford with an 8-inch LX10 and more sky pollution that you can shake a stick at. The Meade became a Nexstar 11, which was joined by a 'fleet' of other telescopes, as I scratched itch after itch. Noteable additions include a 500mm dobsonian, some 4x100 Helios binos and an utterly enormous 8.5 inch refractor.

A slipped disk in 2007 has put paid to much of my observing, so the most I've done in recent years is with my binos. I'm going through a period of consolidation, as I try to settle on something I can mount permanently and use with ease. Keep your eyes on Astro Buy Sell is all I can say!

Anyway nice to meet you all.

Cheers

Arnie

Watford, Herts

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ronin

ronin

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The Thorogood scope at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge is a 6" Cooke, the history of that one is known and does not match with the one that you have met. However it is likely somewhat similar if not identical.

If you want a read: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/about/thorrowgood.telescope

Big scopes and slipped disks do not mix well. :grin: :grin: :grin:

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ArnieVXR

ArnieVXR

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Welcome to SGL Arnie.. From Preston, Lancs..

Hi Mate,

Preston! I used to cycle there on Saturdays to work at Queensway on the corner of Friargate and the Ring Way. My Dad used to be the manager there.

Many years ago now...

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ArnieVXR

ArnieVXR

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Hi Arnie & Welcome to SGL.  What scope do you reckon you'll keep or is it a case of buying another.

Buying another is always an option :)

Seriously, though, my ego has been buying great scopes based on what I was desperate to own as a teenager.

The big refractor at the Fernley Observatory lead to buying my 8.5-inch refractor. This scope was originally put together by an ATM and was relatively light, as in I could pick it up and mount it myself. Richard Day built me a beautiful OTA for it and it now takes two people to safely lift it off the ground. My EQ6 doesn't have a hope in hell of holding it now, so I'm putting together a big altaz mount. It really needs storing fully assembled, but I don't have permission from the missus to build a shed that big. I should sell it to someone who will use it :(

Years ago I visited Phil Horrocks' workshop in Padiham, just after he set up Cosmotron. He'd just build a 20-inch dobsonian for someone. It was huge, and I knew I'd have to own one. My 500mm (so not 20-inches) dobsonian gives utterly amazing views of DSOs. While it's smaller than the refractor, it also weighs a ton. It either needs rebuilding with wheels or moving on :( :(

My Nexstar 11 is probably ideal for my location. The goto makes finding objects a dream and the aperture is big enough really show off the brighter objects. Saying that, the goto function is a bit flakey these days. Last time out it simply didn't work. :( :( :(

My 150 F/5 Evostar refractor is a personal favourite of mine. Great images and a compact package. And I can hide it from the missus in a cupboard, so it gets fewer complaints...;)

Finally (IIRC) my 80mm goto Celestron refractor is great, but fails to get any skytime due to fierce competition from the other scopes.

I can't think what an ideal scope would be. My back has deteriorated considerable since 2007. Bending over to star hop or reach an oddly positioned eyepiece can be crippling, so a good dobo with motors and a goto would probably be best. I'd have to sell a lot of kit before I'd be allowed something new, though.

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