philtodd

Looks great - and similar to my 6" Fullerscope Newt from the 70's ! I've used that for so many years, even without a motor drive and poor polar alignment (how on earth anyone was expected to get that accurate with just a big bolt to connect the mounting to the pier ?)

23 hours ago, Maideneer said:

This has been helpful y'all.  Like I said, I'm not going to probably ever go hardcore DSO AP, just want something for light work eventually.  Yes I can eventually grab something else if I so choose, who knows...the technology might improve in the next 5 years.

Anyway, I think I am going to go for the 8" Edge HD AVX.  That seems to be a nice sweet spot for a lot of things.  Can someone tell me if this set-up would work or if there are things you would include/exclude?

• Advanced VX 8" EdgeHD Telescope

• DEW SHIELD DX FOR C6 & C8

• STARSENSE AUTOALIGN

• NEUTRAL DENSITY MOON FILTER - 1.25"

• 8-24MM ZOOM EYEPIECE - 1.25"

I might add in the reducer and possibly a better finder. But looks like my buying list! 

52 minutes ago, Maideneer said:

I think I'm gonna wait on a reducer because I'll think about getting a Hyperstar which I am reading does a fantastic job and I also have to think about a proper camera.  Right now I'm going to solely focus (ha) on visuals for a while so I can get familiar and acclimated to everything.

Sounds sensible. Will be very interested to hear how you get on.

21 hours ago, Maideneer said:

This has been helpful y'all.  Like I said, I'm not going to probably ever go hardcore DSO AP, just want something for light work eventually.  Yes I can eventually grab something else if I so choose, who knows...the technology might improve in the next 5 years.

Anyway, I think I am going to go for the 8" Edge HD AVX.  That seems to be a nice sweet spot for a lot of things.  Can someone tell me if this set-up would work or if there are things you would include/exclude?

• Advanced VX 8" EdgeHD Telescope

• DEW SHIELD DX FOR C6 & C8

• STARSENSE AUTOALIGN

• NEUTRAL DENSITY MOON FILTER - 1.25"

• 8-24MM ZOOM EYEPIECE - 1.25"

I might add in the reducer and possibly a better finder. But looks like my buying list! 

I recently downloaded Stellarium (0.21.0) and that mag 7.55 star is there, on top of the galaxy ...

22 hours ago, John said:

This archived webpage is fun - it has links to the catalogues and manuals for a lot of scopes of that era:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160131042244/http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/

Not sure all the links work but some certainly do.

Well, I think I found my very first Tasco 60mm telescope in one of these catalogues, with  a fixed single eyepiece that you pulled out to increase the magnification.  Model #5V Stargazer !! 

That looks pretty good. Am thinking myself of getting a 9.25 SCT for a mix of visual and imaging. 

On 20/03/2021 at 18:18, nfotis said:

I got a used C9.25 XLT from a forum member (my other is a Skymax 127). I feel that's about the limit of portability (I can carry it in an IKEA shoulder bag)

For planetary observation and imaging, it's a very good match. If you have a camera up to 4/3rds or so (or maybe stretch to APS-C), you shouldn't have much problem with the image quality (depends on the particular specimen, of course, and the variety of quality). This particular model is a bit flatter than others, because the primary mirror is slower than a regular SCT from Celestron.

Ed Ting has a nice comparison of the C9.25 with other SCTs:

 

The Edge HD additional cost is acceptable if you are planning to do imaging of DSO objects and plan to use the whole image circle with a large sensor. Planetary imaging uses only the center of the circle, so no problem (it seems that the Edge HD are more consistently good, but I don't have numbers to prove it).

If you are planning to use Hyperstar for imaging, the C9.25 might be better than the C8, if you can manhandle alone the package. A HEQ5 mount is enough for visual with the C9.25, and near the limits for long exposures with this OTA, from what I understand.

N.F.

 

That Ed Ting video is really useful showing the telescopes side by side.

Related to this, is there any issues with the scope and kit needing to cool down before observing? Would it be better to store in eg the garage (surely no more of a security risk than being in an obsy outside?)

Good question - am looking at a C9.25 as well, for visual and AP, would be interested to see what folks think of it. 

Wow - great images! 

My first scope was a Tasco, but down in size! Instead of separate eyepieces, it has a single extendable eyepiece with magnification gradation marks as you pulled it out! But it got me started in Astro!! Unfortunately its long gone now.

Here's the MKIV atop the steel pillar, a close up of the cleaned up MKIV, the 4" reflector finder with the 4" refractor I found in a charity shop,  the MKIV with the scope mounting rings. and lastly the telescope on the bench ready for a cleaning. 

Good question, I'm just starting to research a similar buying question myself. Interesting to read that a c11 is thought probably too heavy / bulky unless you have a permanent set up.

That was my first scope as well  ! And have stuck with Fullerscopes ever since.

As an aside, I found a 4" Fullerscopes refractor in a charity shop last year for £40 so had to  buy it! No mounting, but has mounting rings. Lens needs a careful clean, and the steel tube needs a clean, otherwise not bad condition.

After quite some time, a quick update!  So the scope, mounting and everything is here at home. I have renovated the Mk IV, disassembled, lubed and cleaned, reassembled and it all moves so smoothly! All re-touched with Hammerite black .Have thoroughly cleaned the worm-drives, but have not done anything else to the motors. Pics to follow. Am now moving on to the  scope itself, will be getting the mirror recoated along with the 4" finder.

Am probably then going to decide whether to sell - its just physically too big! 

Hi all

Thanks for comments, I am definitely thinking now of a bit of refurb and keeping, that has to be a more cost effective option. BTW, the pillar is a very heavy duty custom made steel job. Am going to get a shed / observatory anyway so it can all live in there while being sorted out over time.

Phil

Hi all

Got to see the scope last week, pics attached here. Mounting on its pillar, stored in a shed! Mk IV turns easily, looks great. Mirror is a little cloudy, so will need resilvering (along with the mirror in the guide scope). Did not get  a chance to try out the motors and drive electronics. Also got a chance to measure everything so as to start to think about observatory size needed.

Phil

Thanks again (esp Clive!), I'll get a proper look at it next week, and will post some pics. I had my 6" Fullerscope Newt re-silvered last year, so will see what the 11.75 mirror looks like. I did read somewhere that they can be hard to collimate.  Anyway, more to follow next week!

Phil

Thanks all - good advice and comments.

I'll sort out some pics and post them here. The MK4 has dual drives, so they would need to be upgraded. and yes, its a 1.25 inch rack and pinion focuser I think. It has a 4" Newtonian finders-cope with it as well.

Its a lovely scope, and its hard to know whether its better to start afresh with a (much) smaller new scope that has all the modern bells and whistles! I think I'll need to get some idea of what it would cost to get the mounting checked out and the drives upgraded. Any ideas where I could get that done?

Thanks all

Phil

Hi all

I inherited an 11.75" Fullerscope Cassegrain bought by my grandfather in the '70s but never used and has been in storage ever since. I think its a 1/4 wave mirror. Its on a Mk4 mounting and has a custom made steel pier. I'm sure the mirror would need re-silvering, and the Mk4 would need a bit of refurb plus new drive motors etc. But it does all look in very good condition.

Its quite a beast and probably rather bigger than I would buy myself!

But the question is whether to refurb mirror and mounting, OR sell the scope but keep the mounting to use with a smaller new scope, OR to sell it all as is and buy something smaller but modern (better drives / electronics).

Any thoughts anyone?