mikeDnight

But just think of the money you'd have saved over the years if you'd just bought something like that to begin with. I tell myself that if I'd done that I'd have missed out on the learning process, and the pain that goes along with it. And of course, by suffering from costly mistakes in this way, there's a certain deep appreciation that comes along with it, which can't really be had any other way - or at least that's what I keep telling myself! I feel sorry for all these young whipper-snappers who do start out by buying a brand new Tak or TEC, or similar top end scope, because they're going to miss out on all that suffering.

That makes me feel much better Dave, as I hit 62 last Sunday. I'm just weather beaten, though never got out of my teen's mentally. I'm still waiting to grow up!

Ouch!

Are they carrying handles on the mount Nicola? If so I think you may have won Jeremy over! 😅

What a fab report Sunshine. I was with you all the way, and loved how you described the view as being 3D. That dark nebula really does create that effect as bright nebulosity almost explodes from behind the black walls of dust. And your description of the Airy disc's of the stars was wonderful too. Stars through a nice refractor remind me of little Christmas bourbles suspended on nothing, and contrasting binaries are some of the most beautiful. The sight of them never ceases to leave me in awe! Never feel embarrassed at spending a long time looking at just one object, because only then will you really observe it. I hope there's another exciting instalment of Sunshine's Adventures Among The Stars soon!

When starting out in astronomy I'd spend hours oggling the scope advertisements in Sky & Telescope, and would also longingly admire the telescopes of astronomers as shown in photographs in the books of the day. Although at the time I understood little about the various attributes of the different designs on show, it was the refractor that always seemed to grab at my heart strings. Back then, most refractors were terrifyingly long and terrifyingly expensive, but that added to their appeal. When I eventually managed to get my hands on a 4" F13 Vixen achromat I felt I'd got the scope of a lifetime. Even deep sky through that scope was really quite spectacular. I was definitely influenced by the choice of other observers and of course the hassle free nature of refractors compared to reflectors. Mirror coatings back then we're not what they are today! Below are a few pic's with franc appeal that motivated me. Amateur Telescope Making book 2. This is what I wanted, and in some ways still do. Good old Patrick with his trusty 5" refractor looked like how I imagined a real astronomer to be, and a real telescope of course. Then there's the awesome Richard Baum, historian, author, & visual observer, who's equally awesome planetary sketches fuelled my enthusiasm both for sketching, and for being a patient and careful observer.

For me its everything that John says above, plus they are so beautiful to look at as well as look through. I think the day of the beautiful reflector are long gone, and now remain largely in the classic/vintage realm. Also, the wonderful true stories from historical greats at the sharp end of a small refractor plays a part. Wasn't it Newman who told a young E. E. Barnard that the best thing he could do with his 5" equatorially mounted F15 would be to search for comets? Barnard did so and built a house out of the award money. It really shows the skill and determination of Barnard as much as it proves the ability of his refractor. I can imagine the comments if someone on SGL or CN suddenly decided to comet sweep using a 5" F15 refractor today. "Not possible!" "Not enough aperture!" "You can only sweep for comets using a rich field telescope!" "You can't sweep using an equatorial!" - and likely much more, all negative of course, and all completely wrong! And imagine the eyepieces that Barnard must have had available to him. Yet he succeeded despite any obstacle.

I particularly like the three More Blue tube rings on your TSA Mark. It will definitely stop any mid tube flop. 😅

I thought that, until my back gave way while putting it on my G11, and I slid down the 6 ft tall pier in absolute agony, desperately clutching the £10,000 tube assembly of my precious FS152. At the time my pier was sunk permanently into my back lawn and I didn't have an observatory. The scope had to be mounted and dismounted with each observing session. Had I had the brains I was born with, I'd have shortened the pier and observed from a seated position, making mounting the scope much safer. Instead, I eventually sold the FS152. The lesson has now been learned, but my bank account couldn't take another hit at that level.

Here are some pic's. From what I remember, you simply need to unscrew the large hand clamp on the altitude/clutch arm and pull the axis shaft out. Then swap it to the other side and reassemble. The Alan key was just to connect/disconnect the sections. The smaller black knob just alters the angle of the altitude arm. Hope this helps!

That worked for me when I sold my FC100DC and bought an FC100DZ. She suspected nothing! For some reason however, the white camouflaged didn't quite work in the same way when she caught me quickly trying to smuggle the FS128 through the hall way and past the living room. I tried to give an off the cuff, but plausible explanation, but ended up sounding more like Norman Collier performing his faulty microphone act. I thought I'd better remind her about who's boss in this house, but she cut me short by saying, rather dismissively - "Go and play in your shed!" "It's not a shed!!" I retorted, "It's an obser~!" as I closed the front door.

No need to tender your resignation Dave. Vixen are cousins, and so still the same family in my mind. Do you know if Canon Optron made your objective? I'd imagine they did!

I heard of one chap who printed himself a winning ticket for a brand new Tal refractor. Then he walked into Stockport binocular and Telescope Centre, paid for the scope, then asked them to deliver it along with the winning ticket. It wasn't me!

When I attend events such as PAS, I like to people watch. There you'll see brave and apparently fearless men walking proudly through the crowds of enthusiasts, with everyone's eyes following them as they carry an expensive scope they've just bought, out of the building. And you can hear, almost audibly, everyone's thoughts saying - "He's in bother when he gets home!" This is why every astronomer should build or buy an observatory. They are great places to hide things!

I know of at least two nutters, sorry, enthusiasts in Cheshire. Couldn't possibly mention them by name though, as this would doubtless breach some stupid modern day convention or something.

He's probably head in hands at the moment, worrying, and asking himself how on earth he's going to sneak his impulsive purchase past the wife.

That's a modest and achievable list of wants as far as equipment goes. When it comes to the "beasties", you could move to the UK. All we have to worry about, beastie wise, are the Adder, which keep themselves to themselves, and Weresheep, that sneak up behind you when on the moor's at night and cough loudly just like humans. They make me jump every time! A sheep once ate my hotdog, and there was one time when a duck swallowed my meat pie. I'd only taken one bite and then it was gone, swallowed almost whole! Scary!!!😨

Dito! I've just had a look and what do you know - I've got one!

That's a very pretty refractor Dave. And those lovely LVW's are pretty sexy too! 😍 Of course hammerite green may help to camouflage that EM2 before anyone notices the miss match. 😂

Did they have a problem?

I'm just puzzled as to where you go after a FS128, if the 128 was a bit of a handful? My guess would be either something along the lines of a FC100, TSA102, or given Dave's appreciation for F15's, may be he's found a classic 4" Unitron or Polarex, or something equally desirable that I'm going to become envious of?

I haven't been to Astrofest since 2007, and by the sound of it I haven't missed anything. They couldn't get a Service Charge from me when eating out in Kensington in 2007, so they wouldn't stand a cat I hell's chance of getting £50 for a lecture. At the chance of sounding like a tight fisted northerner, I think it's time to put it out of its misery.

And that makes how many 12.5mm & 9mm Tak eyepieces you now own Jeremy?

Dont get it! Surely youve to look along the scope to aim, so doesn't an angled finder make things even more difficult? Plus Ed Ting says that real astronomers use straight through finders, and everyone knows he must be right.