Thank you, she (Tilley) is my forever scope! First time I didn’t have my eye on something else. Statistics: Posted by Caldwell 14 — Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:46 pm ..read more

Here’s mine. My one and only scope, a Tele Vue 102 Nice! Statistics: Posted by helicon — Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:42 pm ..read more

Here’s mine. My one and only scope, a Tele Vue 102 Statistics: Posted by Caldwell 14 — Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:11 pm ..read more

Here are my fracs, an ES ED127CF and an ES ED80. The 127 was a free door prize at the RTMC, in 2015 IIRC. I recently moved my AP rig over from the 6" Mak-Newt MN152 and 12" GSO F/4 Newt astrograph. I got frustrated with collimation and flexure issues of the latter. The 127 worked fine but the 80 has some alignment issues that I need to figure out. IMG_1544_small.jpg IMG_1548_small.jpg The wiring mess looks the same for both scopes. It's not too bad, and they have the same stock focuser, so I had to figure the focuser bracket out just once. IMG_1546_small.jpg Statistics: Posted by SkyHiker — Mo ..read more

Well here it is. The AT102EDL on a iOptron AZ pro mount and tripod. I am impressed with both the scope and the iOpton mount. Hopefully the clouds will clear soon and i will actually be able to give it a try. While it wont compete with my big dobs in the deep sky it should do the brighter stuff and in just fine. It should be the perfect travel scope. Statistics: Posted by Mike Q — Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:07 am ..read more

Thanks for the input everyone, much appreciated! You all make good points as well. As for it being "low" for comfortable observing that's a good point. I do have an extra tripod for an old Celestron that I can make something for. I welded this up for casual observing with my 90mm Ca-K and 8SE", so this little 4.5" scope shouldn't be a problem: P04.jpg As for it being an f/4, I have no problem with that. Collimating is a bit more of a trick obviously that with an f/8, but I had a 10" at f/4.5. Patience and common sense is your friend The owner contacted me not long after I made this post ..read more

20231117_132017.jpg Here's my new starfield 102 Ed Doublet with 0.8x reducer/flattened and ASI585MC. OAG is also fitted with ASI120mm. Sorry but since I received it last week the weather has been shockingly bad. Expected first light somewhere around January in the next decade by the look of the forecast. Statistics: Posted by nickarp2000 — Sun Nov 19, 2023 8:13 pm ..read more

Hey all, I made a mistake last night and looked on a local buy and sell for telescopes... For a grab and go; I'm currently using my "Towatron" a 60mm f/7 made from the objective from a Tasco 55VTE and a cut down 60mm Celestron Astromaster scope. Great views and very lightweight, but limited being only 60mm. 55_reg.jpgImage2 (2).jpgImage2.png But I want something larger for visual, and something I can take to RASC obserivg sessions that has a little more "ooomph", yet still being lightweight. I saw this for $150CDN, it retails for $350 here if it's available. I'm thinking this would b ..read more

Correction: I stated earlier that David H Levy's fishing reel drive Dobsonian scope was about the size of a 4.5". It's actually a 6" scope. He used it for comet hunting. Do you mean the Comet Hunter by David Levy and Scott Roberts? That's a 6" Mak-Newt, the MN152, which I have. Probably the best scope I own, good for visual and AP. Sorry, not trying to hijack this post, just wanting to clear this up. Actually, I'm talking about a 6" reflector he made with a manual fishing reel drive. He won an award for it at the 1988 Riverside Telescope Makers Conference. It's featured in the book "Unusu ..read more

The problem I see with these is having to stoop over to view unless you bring a large tall pedestal upon which to place it. Wooden barstool. Drill three shallow holes for the scope's feet with a Forstner bit. But it won't, of course, fold down for transport. That's a good idea... Statistics: Posted by helicon — Sun Nov 19, 2023 4:06 pm ..read more