mikeDnight

I've been on edge for days Jules, wondering if you'd take the plunge and grab the 120ED, but after all that waiting, are you just going to show us the box? Mike

When I got my first look through an SW 120ED, had I not already known that it was a SkyWatcher scope, I would have honestly believed I was looking through a Tak. That's how good they really are, and the clarity of image is very much that of a fluorite objective. I've owned five SW ED's and can honestly say I've never seen a bad one. Any differences in visible CA was so minuscule as to be inconsequential. Im sure youll love yours when it arrives! Mike

Beautiful! Some exciting times ahead I'm sure! But all those scopes and you can't afford a nail to hang your picture on, or you may have saved up for the nail but can't afford the hammer? I suppose you could be prioritizing! Mike

Here's another refractor pic with Gain and Adele at HAS on the day of the Venus transit 2004. Adele is wearing the baseball cap. The little bear with his back to the camera is Floppy Bear, and belongs to my wife. He goes everywhere with us but is a bit camera shy. Mike. ?

"Hungry for the hobby"! That perfectly sums up how I felt in january 1980 as I walked the streets of my home town, trudging through deep snow with a small bag of tools over my shoulder. I was an apprentice plumber and the reason for my trudging in my spare time was to earn enough money to buy a beautiful Prinz Astral that was in Dixon's window. Back then many houses still had unused outside toilets who's lead pipework would freeze and burst in the cold weather. I would wipe solder joints around the lead for £10 a pop. It took me an age to acquire the sale price of £110.00 for that 60mm frac, but my hunger for astronomy kept me at it. As humble as that little telescope was, it still managed to fuel my enthusiasm, and ive still got my rubbish sketches of Sun spots, lunar craters, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars made using crayons crayons. I didn't really know what I was doing but it was thrilling all the same. I also acquired a second hand pair of 60mm binoculars that had a broken bridge, which I held together with plastercine. Laughable by today's standards but I was a serious astronomer, at least in my own eyes, and with my simple binos and frac I observed all the Messier objects visible from my parents back garden and explored the solar system. It was a fantastic time! If i were you I'd avoid that Tasco like the plague. You may end up throwing that Tak of yours in the bin! ??? Mike ?

It's a long story which I won't bore you with, but I met Gain in 2002/2003. We used to attend the Astronomy Centre every Saturday night and just seemed to hit it off, having a similar, somewhat twisted sense of humour. Gain did have short hair back then and it suited him. I think he's in denial about the aging process, or am I slightly envious having lost my thatch? ? I have many fond memories of the times we observed and associated together. Both he and Adele were great fun! We live quite a distance apart and as my wife is very ill now I rarely get chance to wander too far from home. I've attached some images of the YOUTHFUL Gain looking through my FS128 in 2003. Also attached is a pic of myself and my youngest son Daniel at Huddersfield Astro Society, on the morning of the Venus transit June 8th 2004. I'm sure Gain will elaborate if you show him the pics! Mike ?

A few years while in a friend's garage, I noticed there was a 60mm Astral refractor stood on its dew shade and leaning against the wall. I asked him where it had come from and what he was going to do with it. He dismissively grunted "It's going to the tip!" I grabbed hold of it and told him "It's mine now and its not going to any tip!" Last night I pulled that little scope out from under the bed, where its been hiding for about four years, and tonight I aimed it at Venus. It has no mount and no finder, and has a few war wounds after being momentarily in my friends possession. Still, after behind balanced against the window frame and with some careful aiming, the little 60mm F15 Astral delivered a beautifully sharp view of Venus. When I pulled it from under the bed yesterday, it was with the intention of cleaning it up and giving it a respray, and then to find a suitable mount for it. I thought it might be a nice little scope to give to my six year old grandson. Now after playing with it for only a few minutes, I'm wondering if I shouldn't just keep it for myself, after all, it was just such a scope that set the whole astronomical ball rolling for me almost 37 years ago. That may be a little selfish though! This afternoon Peter Drew kindly gave me a small equatorial that can, with a bit of adaptation, carry this little gem. Attached are a few pics of this maltreated little fellow and I'll post more as its situation improves in the new year. This 60mm Astral is really a very nice little scope and I'm glad I grabbed it out of my friends unkind hands. Mike ???

Wonderful scope array Vicky! The next time you see Gain though, please tell him to get his hair cut. Having more hair than me should be illegal! Mike ?

I'd be better off with a box brownie!

I used to get a thrupenny bit every Saturday morning for spending money until I was 6yrs old, then I got sixpunce. Today that would be two and a half New pence. With that I'd rush round to my local paper shop which had a big cardboard box full of toys for boys. I'd kneel for a good half hour in front of that box, rummaging through heaps of rubber spiders, pea shooters and plastic spectacles with big plastic noses attached. Everything that a 6 to 9 year old needed for survival, especially as there were only two other boys in the area. The rest of my friends were girls and we made their lives pretty miserable. I think I single handedly kept that paper shop in business until i was nine years old, when some sicko introduced new money, which for some reason seemed to bring my reign of terror to an abrupt end. I can honestly say that with Xmas puds, sixpunces pass easily through the digestive tract where as 50p pieces just smash your teeth to bits. Mike

Bad language and religion all in one post? There are children participating. Me! ???

If incompetence is the qualifying factor then

Here's my offering. Of course I purposefully left fingerprints on the tinkertoy camera lens to give it that dreamy effect. All hand held! Eat your heart out Damian! Mike

Thanks for that Olly, I may try the V section wheels for starters and see where I go from there. Also, the garage door opener seems a great idea! Mike

That's a great additional thread Stu! We'll make an artist out of you yet! Mike

That would be wonderful John! There's quite an impressive Tak following on SGL now and to hear about the astro adventures of their owners would be an inspiration to many. Not just to Tak owners or prospective Tak owners, but to anyone using a small aperture scope of good quality. I think its time Takahashi recognise our loyal service and pay us a commission! £££. Mike.

I'm glad you chose to use the word "thank" rather than the word "blame" there Stu. So far, I don't think anyone's been disappointed! Mike ?

I'm considering using some kind of mechanical method of opening and closing my roll off roof. Up until a couple of weeks ago it rolled with little effort just by pushing. Since ive carried out some essential repairs the roof has proved to be quite a bit heavier. I can still move it ok, but as im getting older, 54 presently, I'm just planning for the time when I might not feel like giving myself a coronary or a slipped disc. I'm looking for ideas and inspiration! Some kind of mechanical or electronic method of opening a runoff roof is what I'm looking for, but not sure about my options. Hopefully there will be some on SGL who can point me down the path I need to go. Thanks in advance, Mike

There's just something sexy about an elegant scope like that with a dew shield caked in ice! Gosh that's gorgeous ! ? (May be I should stop thinking out loud so often!) Mike

Mars apperition 2016 from UK theough a Takahashi FC100DC. X170

I like the mount! It's always nice to see the little ones playing nicely together! ? Mike

All you need to do now is to find some genious who can devise a multi prism device that can funnel the images from each scope into one eyepiece, and your laughing. ?

There aren't that many impressive positions a scope can pause in in the dark. Weather permitting, I'll try to get a milkyway background once the moon is out of the way. Ill need to use a better camera than this thing on my tablet though. Mike ?

I hope these pics aren't repeats of previous posts, but I'm sure you'll forgive me if they are. I know that at least some haven't been seen before and should probably never be seen again. I found a black and white photo from about 1980-81showing my first refractor, a 60mm Astral, and a rather scrawny pup with uncontrollable hair stood alongside it. Many scopes have come and gone since that first scope, some of which have been included here and ending with my present telescope, which I feel happier with than any of those proceeding it. The first and last photos were taken from almost exactly the same spot. See if you can see a common theme! I'll give you a clue, it isnt progressive hair loss, nor is it the continuing poor dress sense. Mike

From the 1950's to the 70's the Unitrons were state of the art refractors which commanded a very high price for a top of the range unit such as that in the original post. Although in this advert (attached) a $128 down payment is required, the overall cost is nearer the price of a house, and was a significant outlay for the period. By comparison a modern day state of the art 4" refractor is chicken feed. I think the Unitron is a truly beautiful refractor and if i had the money for such a beauty id pay it. Thankfully im stoney broke and console myself with the sobering thought that the scope i possess will whopp the socks off the Unitron in terms of fov, light transmission, CA, optical quality and portability, and only cost as much as a small second hand car. Mike