Skylight 4" F15 reveal.

[Dave1]

That's right folks, I purchases the original prototype 001 Skylight 4" F15 telescope which Richard Day of Skylight telescope created in 2009. Which some of the members here tested, before letting the Astronomy press review the telescope, one of those magazines was Astronomy Now. It was made in the image of a Cooke refractor telescope , which separates it apart from the later Skylight AR101.15. Richard created a wonderful box to house the telescope.

Can not wait to use this telescope!

Will upload photo's as soon as possible.

Edited May 2, 2018 by Dave1

[Roy Challen]

Nice! I see you like your long achros...

[Dave1]

Yes I certainly do

[Chris]

Ah that's stunning! I had the Skylight 60mm f/16.7 and was daft for letting it go. You're in for a treat, and such a prestigious scope in particular too! All i can say is enjoy  

[Alan White]

That looks rather a fine scope and has history to boot, enjoy.

[Dave1]

@Lockie I bet you regret letting the Skylight 60mm go. There is no false colour what so ever in my Skylight 60mm. Excellent optically. 

@Alan White Yes the history was on of the attractions. That and the fact I hold the 4" F15 telescopes as "the" classical telescope for viewing planets. Good job its arrived in time for planet season.

[Chris]

24 minutes ago, Dave1 said:

I bet you regret letting the Skylight 60mm go. There is no false colour what so ever in my Skylight 60mm. Excellent optically. 

I do. The Crawmatch focuser was like butter, the depth of focus was superb, the field was flat with stars like tight orbs on an inky black sky, and the scope itself looked flipping fantastic. There was a sense of occasion when using the skylight, but then again now days there is a sense of occasion when using any scope!

p.s. it was also fab for white light with a binoviewer.

[DirkSteele]

That is a beautiful scope.  I always enjoyed looking at Richard's creations at Astrofest.  Shame he has not attended the last couple.

[Dave1]

@Lockie Yes I find exactly what you say to be the case. Quite a few people that have never looked through long focus refractors, comment on how good the stars are, and the contrast between the stars, the inky black back ground. 

@DirkSteele Richard is sadly not as active anymore on the astronomy front, due to personal reasons. I think now if you supply him with lenses he will make a telescope around them, and he may have the odd telescope come up every now and again for sale. 

Edited May 2, 2018 by Dave1

[nightfisher]

Very nice, i have had the pleasure of viewing through a skylight 4" F13 with carton lens, nice scope

[Doc]

What a scope I would love to have this. And being number 001 even more special.

[MZack]

I’m delighted to add that a while ago this summer I purchased 001 from Dave complete with the box Richard made. It is in my observatory shown here sitting on an old Irving tripod mounted on an AYO Alt Az with encoders. I have also mounted it on an APM fork mount also with encoders. Needless to say it’s performing really well and I’ve recently replaced the 100mm Skywatcher tube rings it came with, with a pair of 105mm TS Optics CNC rings. 

[Rainmaker]

6 hours ago, MZack said:

I’m delighted to add that a while ago this summer I purchased 001 from Dave complete with the box Richard made. It is in my observatory shown here sitting on an old Irving tripod mounted on an AYO Alt Az with encoders. I have also mounted it on an APM fork mount also with encoders. Needless to say it’s performing really well and I’ve recently replaced the 100mm Skywatcher tube rings it came with, with a pair of 105mm TS Optics CNC rings. 

What a fine acquisition….. there’s something special about these long focus instruments by Richard Day.

I have one of the three all brass ones, I mostly use it for lunar and solar viewing….

[MZack]

That brass version is absolutely beautiful. Is it the 4 inch?

[Rainmaker]

1 hour ago, MZack said:

That brass version is absolutely beautiful. Is it the 4 inch?

Yes, full brass 4” F15, Richard made three such OTAs, two went to customers and he kept one of them for himself, albeit without optics.

[Rainmaker]

More scopes should have the ‘character’ of these Skylights….

[F15Rules]

10 hours ago, MZack said:

I’m delighted to add that a while ago this summer I purchased 001 from Dave complete with the box Richard made. It is in my observatory shown here sitting on an old Irving tripod mounted on an AYO Alt Az with encoders. I have also mounted it on an APM fork mount also with encoders. Needless to say it’s performing really well and I’ve recently replaced the 100mm Skywatcher tube rings it came with, with a pair of 105mm TS Optics CNC rings. 

Congratulations!! 

That's a beautiful looking scope and I'm sure it will perform as well as it looks.

It would be lovely to read a detailed report on the scope's performance once you've had a good session or two with it!

Dave

[Marki]

I own one of the Skylight F15's baby brothers, the 100mm f13 wih carton lens (no.19). If that f15 performs anything like as well as the f13 (and it should be even better....), you'll not regret this purchase! I think Richard made some truly beautiful telescopes, that are every bit as good to look through as to look at! I look forward to reading your first light!

[John]

On 28/09/2021 at 00:37, MZack said:

I’m delighted to add that a while ago this summer I purchased 001 from Dave complete with the box Richard made. It is in my observatory shown here sitting on an old Irving tripod mounted on an AYO Alt Az with encoders. I have also mounted it on an APM fork mount also with encoders. Needless to say it’s performing really well and I’ve recently replaced the 100mm Skywatcher tube rings it came with, with a pair of 105mm TS Optics CNC rings. 

That brings back memories - I think I observed with that particular scope at an SGL star party quite a few years ago

 

[MZack]

47 minutes ago, Marki said:

I own one of the Skylight F15's baby brothers, the 100mm f13 wih carton lens (no.19). If that f15 performs anything like as well as the f13 (and it should be even better....), you'll not regret this purchase! I think Richard made some truly beautiful telescopes, that are every bit as good to look through as to look at! I look forward to reading your first light!

I  managed a first session a couple of nights ago albeit under hazy conditions. Superb crisp views of the moon low in the north east. Quick iPhone 7 shot and a sketch of Jupiter from my log book attached. Did a few double stars in Aquila too. Trying out my different eyepieces to see how they each perform. My old volcano top 18mm Orthoscopic was a clean and clear view and bettered the TV 19mm Panoptic. My APM UFF eyepieces were just as good with a wider field of view. More observations to come.. weather pending.  Best. Malcolm. 

[MZack]

47 minutes ago, John said:

That brings back memories - I think I observed with that particular scope at an SGL star party quite a few years ago

 

Quite possibly. This is the prototype that was in the 2010 Astronomy Now write up. I have a copy of the article. 

[philj]

Congrats, that is a lovely scope. I tested that very scope in the early days for Richard to give him feedback. I fondly remember the views, doubkes, lunar and planetary. If I hadnt just brought a vintage f15 the month before I would have relieved Richard of it.

Enjoy

[philj]

Here you go MZack, your telescope in 2010 when I was testing it. It didnt have the brass dew shield at the time so I cobbled up a temporary one.

 

Pictured on my old Celestron CGE in my observatory at the old house. Observatory sorely missed but the rapidly light polluted skies are not.

 

[Mr Spock]

Nice looking scopes. There's just something right about brass scopes.