Those Pretty Telescopes

[Alien 13]

On 23/11/2022 at 11:29, Mandy D said:

Does this count as a telescope? The Dragonfly Telephoto Array:

Nice and with that Canon glass at 12K a pop expensive too...want one 😀

Alan

[CCD-Freak]

I saw this beauty down in New Mexico back in May.  6, count em 6  TEC 180s on a L600 mount !!!!!   Each one with an ASI6200 with EFW and filters.

My understanding is that it is being used to search for exo-planets.

Edited November 26, 2022 by CCD-Freak

[Moonlit Knight]

On 20/11/2022 at 19:23, philj said:

Still a big favourite scope of mine, 80mm f15 towa 339 heavily modified and modernised Just looks classy in my eyes

I had one too, amazing optics for a scope of its age

[gorann]

24 minutes ago, CCD-Freak said:

I saw this beauty down in New Mexico back in May.  6, count em 6  TEC 180s on a L600 mount !!!!!   Each one with an ASI6200 with EFW and filters.

My understanding is that it is being used to search for exo-planets.

I feel we are moving away from the subject, from beauty to pure quantity🥴

[Piero]

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

[niallk]

1 hour ago, Piero said:

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

I certainly consider them pretty

The 2nd one is all your own work, isn't it?  Beautiful job! (+on the observing chair too!)

[neil phillips]

5 minutes ago, niallk said:

I certainly consider them pretty

The 2nd one is all your own work, isn't it?  Beautiful job! (+on the observing chair too!)

Well its pretty big 😉

Looks great

[Ratlet]

2 hours ago, Piero said:

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

Another winner for pretty telescope.  Lovely finish on the wood.  Reminds me of an old TV set.  

Would rather a picture of this on my wall than a tak.

[paulastro]

On 19/11/2022 at 17:41, cajen2 said:

Oh, now you've done it - every Tak owner on here will post pics and it'll become another "I've got a Tak" thread....😄

I really hope not, there are far too many of them 😱

[Piero]

15 hours ago, niallk said:

I certainly consider them pretty

The 2nd one is all your own work, isn't it?  Beautiful job! (+on the observing chair too!)

Thank you 🙂

That's correct, the second dob and the chair were built from scratch.

The first dob is a substantial redesign of a Lukehurst dob. Here's a summary of the changes side by side. Not sure how noticeable is, but the mirror box is quite shallow too now (15").

Edited November 29, 2022 by Piero

[Piero]

2 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Another winner for pretty telescope.  Lovely finish on the wood.  Reminds me of an old TV set.  

Would rather a picture of this on my wall than a tak.

Thank you.

The second dob was finished with Ronseal yacht varnish. I finished the chair with Smith's CPES and Ronseal polyurethane. The finish was pretty and a bit easier to work with, so I applied it to the first dob too one year later.

[Moonlit Knight]

4 hours ago, Piero said:

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

Now that’s a telescope 

[CCD-Freak]

Here is another classic beauty....My Meade RG-880 with lots of upgrades.   At The Okie-Tex Starparty some years back.

[F15Rules]

14 hours ago, Piero said:

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

That chair is certainly a work of art, Piero!👍

Do you wear a parachute when observing at the top of it?

Dave

[F15Rules]

On 20/11/2022 at 19:23, philj said:

Still a big favourite scope of mine, 80mm f15 towa 339 heavily modified and modernised Just looks classy in my eyes

+1 for that Phil👍.

Here's Mark Turner of Moonraker Scopes' take on the same model, as commissioned by Neil English c 2014 before he went to the dark side of ships' funnels..🥴😁..

This scope, "Bessy", became a " gift scope", not to be sold for cash..I looked after her for several years, and she is currently in the care of Roger Vine.

A truly "pretty" (and pretty impressive) refractor with great achromatic optics.

Dave

Edited November 29, 2022 by F15Rules
Photo added

[Stu]

15 hours ago, Piero said:

Some very pretty telescopes in this thread! 

Not sure whether my dobs are considered pretty, as I focused more on their function, but I like them.  

 

Nice! I’m going to say ‘No’ to pretty, but a big ‘YES’ to beautiful 👍👍

[glafnazur]

How about this one, The Fry telescope at the UCL Observatory.

 

[Piero]

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

That chair is certainly a work of art, Piero!👍

Do you wear a parachute when observing at the top of it?

Dave

Thanks Dave  

That's a good question actually! The chair was designed taller than necessary, so that a child with adult supervision can sit and observe. With the 16" f4 dob, an adult would sit at about half height when the telescope points to the zenith. With the 12" f6, the seat needs to be placed higher but I generally stand when observing with that dobson. In conclusion, yes, for an adult, the chair is taller than necessary. It is comfortable for the back though.

[Zermelo]

15 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Would rather a picture of this on my wall than a tak

+1

[Piero]

15 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Another winner for pretty telescope.  Lovely finish on the wood.  Reminds me of an old TV set.  

Would rather a picture of this on my wall than a tak.

I can satisfy your request Sir!  

Here are the Google Photos albums. They show the building process from the most recent to the oldest photo:

• 16 f/4 "Nunki" : https://photos.app.goo.gl/DAZ8CqeRtJGe83jF8 
• 12 f/6 "Phoenix" : https://photos.app.goo.gl/qPdsWRQUiqxmm9ec9 
• Astro chair : https://photos.app.goo.gl/fxsWy3e5BVfkKWM9A 

[JeremyS]

3 hours ago, F15Rules said:

That chair is certainly a work of art, Piero!👍

Do you wear a parachute when observing at the top of it?

Dave

Looks like it needs a handrail 

[Mandy D]

16 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Another winner for pretty telescope.  Lovely finish on the wood.  Reminds me of an old TV set.  

Would rather a picture of this on my wall than a tak.

Definitely agree about the old TV sets. Here is a picture of an old radio I picked up on a car boot sale, just because it was pretty. It's a 1945 Sobell model 615 according to the label and internet. Last of the large radios to be produced and it still works.

I know it's not a telescope, so I hope it's OK to post. I suppose, you could consider it a radio telescope with a long enough antenna!

 

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

My modest offering. A Skywatcher P150i with the fixed dovetail plate removed, added black Orion tube rings, added a very nice TS Optics single speed focuser, 8x50 raci with a matching black clamp and Bob's knobs for easy collimation. After all the effort and expense it was sold and I'm still trying to remember why!

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by ScouseSpaceCadet

[F15Rules]

1 hour ago, Zermelo said:

+1

Ooer..some definite ATM here now (Anti Tak Mentality)..

Methinks they do protest too much!!

Joking apart, let's all just appreciate these wonderful scope photos - whatever type, brand, age or focal length they are..👏

Dave

[Zermelo]

2 hours ago, glafnazur said:

How about this one, The Fry telescope at the UCL Observatory.

 

Even the weights look beautiful