Museum of Astronomical Telescopes in Japan

[John]

This report has been recently posted on the Cloudynights forum:

http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/articles/a-visit-to-the-museum-of-astronomical-telescope-r3040

Some simply amazing scopes there and in large quantities as well

Which will you be dreaming about tonight ?

[RobertI]

A truly amazing collection. I love those massive equatorials with what seems like tons of counterweights.

Thanks for posting the link.

Rob

[laudropb]

Some amazing scopes on display.

[Chris]

Thanks for sharing, John. I think I'll be returning to gork slack jawed at these scopes time and time again 

[Dave In Vermont]

What a wonderful array of fantastic instruments!

Thank you very much!

Dave

[sungazer]

WOW  It would be worth a visit to Japan just too go there   I have room for a 6inch refractor at home if they are clearing out !!!

[Putaendo Patrick]

Thanks! I now feel a little weak in the knees - those vintage Pentax scopes! And plenty of lovely looking "simple" refractors which really did make astronomy into a popular hobby in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

[baggywrinkle]

Wish I had know about that or if it existed in 1990-1992 when I lived in Tokyo.

Today Japan has really severe LP and the megalopolis corridor from Tokyo to Osaka is an almost continuous city. You need to be down in Kyushu Island or up in the north of Shikoku and Hokkaido for darker skies.

[Piero]

What a great link John! An truly amazing collection! Those Pentax's 150mm F7 look gorgeous, but nightmare for one's wallet I guess!

Thanks for sharing!

[Owmuchonomy]

I have been doing business in Japan since 2003 and didn't know about that! At the moment I don't have any trips planned but it will be on the list.

[Dave Lloyd]

Blimey, I'd be like a fox in a henhouse.