Low cost astronomy

[oldtrucker]

I regret selling my 8" Vixen catadioptric... but it was a grunt to carry everything around. I may be in the market for a more portable telescope.

How much are one of those worth?
This one is only 11 kilos but bulky due to its size.

[Jlabute]

I purchased the tube for about $1000 many years ago, plus eyepieces $$, plus diagonal $$, and a motorized mount (2x telescope cost).

I see the scopes are still pretty close at $899US. All together fairly bulky, expensive, and 50lbs of mount, tripod, and tube. Good tube tho.

https://www.vixenoptics.com/Vixen-VMC200L-Reflector-Telescope-p/58291.htm

[oldtrucker]

Just as I thought...made in China garbage. The main wide view eyepiece fell apart in my hand. Stuck it together the best I could-still works. Chinese junk.
Now I need to find some eye pieces for it. Where does a person get optics for one of these for a reasonable price-the optics are worth more than the telescope tube.
Ahh... it was only 40 bucks, and I see that the price for new one retail has come down to around $200 which speaks for the product, quality , and I don't expect any miracles with anything that says " Made in China' on the label. I see why the dude I bought it from wasn't sad to get rid of it.
If and when I upgrade, I'll buy something European or US made.
The Tasco that I had was a thousand times the quality of this telescope.
For $40, I figure even if it completely disintegrates next time I take it out, I was able to look at some cool stuff.

[Jlabute]

If you have what I am thinking, it probably takes standard 1.25" eyepieces. There are a number of places in Canada that sell new and used eyepieces in various focal lengths and qualities. There is 'astrobuysell.com' which is Canadian, plus various retailers of telescopes and accessories across the country, and even in Burnaby. Sirius Science in Penticton may also have something.

[oldtrucker]

Well, Penticton is close...thanks for the tip.

[oldtrucker]

Nice crescent moon with deep shadows in the valleys and craters. Mountain peaks and crater lips glowing.
Venus right beside the crescent moon.
Jupiter big and bright in the south.
Saturn coming up soon.
Can't enjoy any of it as I can't stand still for any more than 1 second without being eaten by skeeters.

[Catsumi]

^^ There is always a price to be paid when gazing at lips and peaks OT. Suck it up, buttercup.
Skeeters extract their payment too.

[oldtrucker]

^^ There is always a price to be paid when gazing at lips and peaks OT. Suck it up, buttercup.
Skeeters extract their payment too.

I've been watching you nearly every night since I bought this telescope and so far it hasn't cost me a cent. Do the skeeters work for you or something? If they are, what are you doing with my blood?

[Catsumi]

"Catsumi, the Mosquito Tamer" is busy collecting vials of your sanguine fluids, sweetie, for analysis, possible replication and then, in the event of success, into the nitrogen bath with your twin.

Thought I better get on this cryoproject, just in case, well, you know. SofBunny might end it all.

BTW, I am missing my curtains in these early morning sunrises.

[oldtrucker]

Tried to get a look at Saturn and Mars but it's really smoky. Maybe when the wind changes or it rains and clears the air out, I'll try taking some pics through the wide angle lens and post them for all to see.

[oldtrucker]

Tried to get a look at Saturn and Mars but it's really smoky. Maybe when the wind changes or it rains and clears the air out, I'll try taking some pics through the wide angle lens and post them for all to see.

Can't bring it up big or clear enough to take pics or even see much detail...oh well.

[Jlabute]

Hmmmm too bad. Well, comes down to quality optics, filters, useful magnification, and good viewing conditions. The Sky chart seems to indicate good viewing conditions though, lately.

[oldtrucker]

There is another thread on the eclipse tonight, so I'll just describe what I saw using my telescope... umm not much.
Full moon has no shadow definition and is usually to bright. Just a much larger red moon. Could see the shadow moving slowly across the surface... well it looked slow but the shadow was moving at about 3500 km/hr assuming the eclipse was a total of 1 hour long.

Had some peeps over that have never looked through a telescope before, I showed them the Orion Nebula, Luna, Pleiades and a eyeful of stars in a seemingly black empty section of sky. Not much else to look at right now. Enjoy watching peeps faces light up when they have their first look, say and have the 'wow!' moment.

[oldtrucker]

I just measured on google earth...line of sight from the airport area to a point up past Crawford- 17 km. Looking at a person working on a log house. If I knew the person, I could recognise them ( not clearly) at 17 km.
Also measured- A ring on a persons hand at 3 miles. Not 100% clear at these distances...but wow!...not bad for a 4.5 inch reflector.

[Jlabute]

That’s great! People who have never looked through a telescope usually go wow. People who read astronomy magazines then get their first telescope are sometimes disappointed, lol. I am thinking of getting a scope again. Something much smaller than what I had, maybe in the 70 to 80mm range, doublet or triplet.