mikeDnight

Just imagine the day when your next baby arrives. Here's just a taster! Just an hour after being born she was standing on her own three legs. Mike

Every time I see someone elses FC my heart rate increases. Is that sad or what? New mount? Curiouser and curiouser! That's one of those guard dogs that's got springs in its feet isn't it? Very tricky to escape from! Mike

That's just so beautiful to look at, who cares about the tube holder! Don't forget to drink plenty, because with all the drooling you'll be doing until your clamp arrives, you could badly dehydrate. Just dream about what you've got to look forward to. I'd also be curious about what you think of your silver diagonal. Mike

It does seem rather a lot of money just to get rid of CA, but of course there's more to it than a mild colour fringing arount bright objects. In 2003 I also felt the apo's were over priced and couldn't have that much of an advantage over an achromat, that was until I saw a Vixen fluorite in side by side compares with a 4" Tal and a 6" SW achromat. The Vixen showed intricate detail on Saturn that far exceeded the detail shown in either achromat. So really the gain lies more in definition and contrast rather than colour free images. In order of highest quality of image, the Vixen soared ahead of the other two scopes, but the 4" Tal outstripped the 6" F8 SW achro quite noticeably. Mike

Its a shame the Tal is no more, though I have to admit I had a real preference for the early Tal refractors. They were optically excellent and mechanically decent. As far as their finish though, they were as rough as rats, but I liked that about them. They were tough and utilitarian. The later Tals came with plastic lens cells which never quite did it for me. Don't mourn them for too long though, the SW EDs are still available and they really are outstanding refractors. Mourn the EDs if the politicians fall out with China. Mike

You're a Very Lucky Gucky! Mike

I have little desire to travel abroad anymore, and so as my travel kit I've got this easy to transport set up. Mike

Though I've posted pics of my frac in the past, I've never posted pics of it undressed before. Honestly, the silly things you do when it doesn't stop raining for months on end!

Don't look now but it looks like THE THING is bursting out of your guide scope and attacking your Tak. EEK!!

It's a refractor! :-)

Here's one of my early scopes, circa 1983. Made by a Burnley firm called Cosmotron, this 4" F10 achromat was the start of my obsession with refractors. Optically it was uncoated and showed a little too much red but never the less was able to deliver some seriously nice views of some brighter DSO's and the moon. The mount left a bit to be desired but the whole thing only cost £99, so I didn't complain too much. Mike

I quite like you're scope too Stu.My grab and go altaz is simplicity itself, a bit like its owner. I decided to use my Vixen tripod as it has a wider spread and is somewhat chunkier than the Chinese aluminium tripod though still lightweight. I also did a bit of a paint job on the altaz head. All I need to do now is design slow motion drives in both axes and it would be near perfect for my scope. It's certainly a better altaz than the Vixen Ports, which vibrates like a tuning fork and couldn't carry my NP101 without serious vibration issues. The big plus though is that it's as cheap as chips and the whole setup can be carried over one arm. Mike

Im not certain what kind of foam it is other than its fairly hard stuff. It was given to me by a friend who's got it given to him from a museum he works at where they used it for packing boxes securely. The green foam was cut fromfrom several layers of interlocking excersise matt. I used that for a decade and it never wore out. Mike

After deciding to lighten my load a little and stick only with 1.25" eyepieces, I've spent an hour playing, cutting out my new hard foam to hold my latest acquisition, a 20mm Pentax XW. Attached are images of the before and after. Mike :-)

Here's one scope I found at Astro Fest 2005. Wallace is stood next to it but no sign of Grommet.

Just been having a rummage through some photos and found this picture of my FS128. Makes my mouth water! Mike

You've a great collection of scopes there Dave. I'm particularly fond of the F13 Vixen. I bought one in the mid 80s but sold it around 1993 and deeply regretted doing so. I've many happy memories with that scope, though it upset a few Newt lovers over the years, as it could regularly knock the spots off reflectors double its aperture. Mike :-)

By the time I got to play with Patrick's telescopes things had got a little overgrown and in need of some TLC. The southern sky was clear for observing the moon though, but alas Patrick was in no fit state physically to observe with them. Very sad! I probably didn't help matters, as I'd kept him talking until about quarter to three in the morning in his study, by which time he'd finished off about a pint of whisky. I have that effect on folk! He was in fact a wonderful host and a true gentleman towards my wife. After only 24hrs with Patrick, my wife Chrissy had been won over by his charm. That's something I've not been able to accomplish in 37 years. Mike

I don't suppose you'd believe me if I told you this ones mine?

Dodgey its in it. To me they all look like escapees from One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.Here's another inmate, paulastro, a top planetary observer but what a loon! Yet I feel privelaged to observe with them all, but it is usually dark and most people never see them face on. :-) (Sorry, I can't attach his photo, it must be too freaky!)

Attached are some fracs along with some of the sorry looking characters that they attract. Mike

A few days ago I contacted Nick Hudson at True Technology Ltd to enquire about the prices of refractors advertised. I had bought from Nick a number of times over the past twelve years and have always had a warm, friendly and rapid response to my enquiries. This time was no different! True Technology have been supplying Takahashi telescopes since the mid 90s and so have a great deal of knowledge about the instruments being offered. My enquiry included a question about the prices of certain scopes, which on the True Tech website seemed higher than some competitors. I received a rapid response from Nick and was given a revised price for the telescope I wanted, and I placed an immediate order for the scope. The telescope was in my hands less than 24hrs later. It just proves that its worth enquiring before making a final decision. It certainly paid off for me! I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to Nick Hudson f at True Tech for a great service and a very warm and understanding manner, as well as a super fast service. Mike

I forgot to mention the map was drawn on a cylindrical grid, allowing a quite accurate representation of features. Mike

The above pencil and wash sketch mapping the Martian surface, was made using a Takahashi FS 128 F8.1 Fluorite Apochromat, and compiled from twenty of the best eyepiece drawings chosen from those Id managed to make during that fine apparition. Mars was around 25 seconds of arc in diameter when at its best. No colour filters were used. Mike

FS128, X149, 2003 Mike