danbrown Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 this telescope was given to me it has no labels and no eyepieces with it.... is it good or junk? any help is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
900SL Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 (edited) Edit: I'm no expert on old newts, but looks like a Vixen 150? Edited September 6 by 900SL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Drew Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 Could be a 6" Seben "Big Boss" Bird-Jones. What does it say on the sticker near the bottom end of the tube? 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 10 minutes ago, Peter Drew said: Could be a 6" Seben "Big Boss" Bird-Jones...... That's what it looks like to me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbrown Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 3 hours ago, Peter Drew said: Could be a 6" Seben "Big Boss" Bird-Jones. What does it say on the sticker near the bottom end of the tube? 🙂 not to look at the sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RT65CB-SWL Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 No expert on OTA’s, but the colour scheme looks identical to Vixen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ward Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Why did you not take a photo of the obvious label that's affixed to the bottom of the tube ... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigT82 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 9 hours ago, Peter Drew said: Could be a 6" Seben "Big Boss" Bird-Jones. What does it say on the sticker near the bottom end of the tube? 🙂 Think the sticker is just the sun warning, Zooming in on the drawtube there does seem to be an element screwed into the end so probably a Bird-Jones like you say 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigT82 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 https://www.omegon.eu/seben-teleskop-n-150-1400-big-boss-eq-3/p,3997 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornelius Varley Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 10 hours ago, Peter Drew said: Could be a 6" Seben "Big Boss" Bird-Jones. The same telescope was being sold under various brand names a few years ago, Event Horizon and VisionKing spring to mind. Ebay was flooded with them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornelius Varley Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 3 hours ago, RT65CB-SWL said: No expert on OTA’s, but the colour scheme looks identical to Vixen The colour is deceptive. It may look like a Vixen but is definitely isn't a Vixen. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantaylor2uk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Could it be an early Orion Optics Newtonian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic Geoff Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 I suggest you buy or borrow a 25mm Plossl eyepiece to see if the scope works. Judging by the other comments, you should set your expectations low. It probably does work, just not very well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 I'm pretty much 100% confident that the scope is either a Seben "Big Boss" 150mm F/1400mm "bird jones" or a clone of it. I've seen quite a few over the years there are quite a few tell tale design features such as the finder bracket design, tube clamps, 3-vane spider etc. This one, sold on Amazon for a crazy price, is in a black trim colour scheme: Seben Big Boss 150/1400 6" EQ3 Reflector Telescope Astronomy Scope Astronomical: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornelius Varley Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 33 minutes ago, iantaylor2uk said: Could it be an early Orion Optics Newtonian? Probably not. The telescope is either a Seben Big Boss 1400/150 Jones-Bird reflector or one of several other brands that sold the same model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantaylor2uk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 At link below is a photo of an older Orion Optics Newtonian which looks very similar https://images.app.goo.gl/TZWMRM5FSdTmBGLz5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosun21 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 40 minutes ago, iantaylor2uk said: At link below is a photo of an older Orion Optics Newtonian which looks very similar https://images.app.goo.gl/TZWMRM5FSdTmBGLz5 The Orion scope is a normal length tube whereas the Seben is a shortened Bird Jones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantaylor2uk Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Orion Optics make both f/4 and f/6 Newtonian, with the f/4 ones being relatively short tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 I would go with Mr Drews assessment on the scope. For the OP, is the scope tube steel or aluminium, magnet test will tell? This would then give a more informed answer, but who would doubt @Peter Drew, who has a lifetimes experience as an astronomer and telescope maker. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbrown Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 3 hours ago, Alan White said: I would go with Mr Drews assessment on the scope. For the OP, is the scope tube steel or aluminium, magnet test will tell? This would then give a more informed answer, but who would doubt @Peter Drew, who has a lifetimes experience as an astronomer and telescope maker. metal tube magnet sticks to it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 18 minutes ago, danbrown said: metal tube magnet sticks to it In that case its highly likely not an OOUK one as they are Aluminium. The three vane spider is also not OOUK. As I indicated before its even more likely the model note by Peter and John etc. The Bird Jones design is a compromise and reduces performance. In answer to your initial question, is it good or junk? Sorry to say it's more on the junk end than good end. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Brush Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Even if the OTA has the performance reported of the Bird Jones designs, it is still a bargain. The OP got it for free! There is a reasonable EQ mount and tripod, and a finder. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbrown Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 i found eyepiece set of 3 on amazon for 30.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orly_andico Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 a DIY motor drive on that EQ mount and it would be a decent wide field tracker.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan64 Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 On 05/09/2024 at 15:03, danbrown said: this telescope was given to me it has no labels and no eyepieces with it.... is it good or junk? any help is appreciated. Where is the specs-label of the OTA, which lists the make, model, aperture and focal-length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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