my first ever look was with a 60mm tasco desktop telescope from the early 1970's - it was my brothers. the next decent look was with a friends fathers home made 8" newtonian scope - blew me away with saturn. it was a few years after that i bought a second hand tasco 90 refractor with .96 eyepieces. it was rickety but served a purpose. all through that time my dream was to get a C8. I did that and more since.....
First real telescope was a Focal 60mm refractor on an EQ mount back around 1978 and had it for for quite a few yrs before selling it But interest in Astronomy was before that
and I remember going into Astro Optic supplies in the city around then and drooling over the Orange celestron
My first telescope I made myself in the 70s. I spent all the money I earned working during the summer school holidays on a Carl Zeiss Jena 540/50 achromatic cell, two eyepieces and accessories, and put it all together using a tube rolled from paper and a mount made from plywood.
It definitely got me hooked, despite its limitations, at least for a while. I was later drawn towards other hobbies but returned to visual astronomy in the late 90s, when I bought a 6" Mak. I've added a Dob and an 80ED since, but the Mak is still my favourite.
My first telescope was a Tasco 4.5" reflector on a EQ1 equatorial mount, which I was given as a christmas present when I was 12 years old. Ignited a real passion for astronomy that I have had ever since. With that scope (as a young teenager) I learned about telescope optics, polar alignment, and had lots of fun star hopping around the southern stars, with a copy of Ian Ridpath's "Guide to the Stars and Planets" in hand. I even considered astronomy as a career for a while, until I was told that there were limited job opportunities in Australia. Ended up studying engineering at university instead but continued to maintain an interest in astronomy.
I actually kept that scope until I was 32, when my wife and I moved from metropolitan Adelaide to country NSW. We gave the scope away before we moved, and then a few months later I purchased an 8" dobsonian. WOW - what a difference a large modern scope made, with views I could have only dreamed of a kid.
At the beginning of last year I took the plunge and bought an 8" f4 imaging scope and a EQ6. 12 months later I upgraded again to a Vixen VC200L with Robofocus. Suddenly what was a hobby became a full-blown obsession!!
Apart from that first scope (the tasco) which I gave away, I still have all the others, and really enjoy getting them all out when we have family and friends visiting. It's a real thrill to be able to share the wonders of the night sky with others. For example, a friend recently saw the rings of Saturn for the first time "I can't believe this is real" he said "I can actually see Saturn, that is so amazing". He was glued to the eyepiece for the rest of the evening.
OK
Mine was a Meade ETX90. It sat on a tabletop and gave stunningly clear views from my rural backyard. The most portable
It inspired me to get further knowledge and I did a masters in Astronomy.
Old Japanese (I think Toya) 50mm refractor. Push-pull drawtube, BEAUTIFUL alt-az mount with deep green felt tube clamshell with oak legs to the tripod. Was my fathers, and was his uncle's before that.
Since then, let's see - 15 more since then, and 3 pairs of binoculars.
Mine was a Meade 125EX 2 and a half years ago as a birthday present. I thought I was getting a lawnmower, there where that many boxes. I really had no idea it was a scope but apparently Carolyn decided it was a must after we visited Parkes earlier that year.
After a couple of issues and some research I changed for an ED100 and a HEQ5, built an R.O.R and got thoroughly sucked into imaging and am now on the upgrade path after recently getting a new mount and picking up a beautiful Tak FS 60 at the end of last year. Trying to hold off on the next scope until I really understand what I want to focus on.
What really attracts me to this hobby though is that I am learning so much about cosmology, astro physics, astronomy, image capture and processing, its absolutley fascinating stuff and my library is continually expanding.
Tasco 50mm refractor. It used the old 0.96" eyepieces. I got just in time for Comet Halley - and then continued to use it until 1995 when I got my 10" dob as a 21st present.
I should add though, that I had an older brother with a 4" SCT who went on to be a professional astronomer and I was a member of the BAA (astro society in Sydney) from about age 12. We used to catch the train together into meetings at Sydney Observatory.
The 10" dob worked a treat, especially when I lived in Wagga and when I visited Narrabri. I got to know the sky pretty well and spent lots of time going over various atlases and NGC 2000 planning my observing nights.
I was overseas in Zambia for 2005-2010. In 2009 I got a cheap 80mm while holidaying in the UK (visiting my brother!) to take back to Zambia to enjoy the dark skies (I lived in a remote village near the Angolan border - best skies!!). Twice the region lost electricity for 6 weeks straight.... absolute astro bliss!!
In 2011 I got a CGEM 9.25" and in 2012 a 16" GSO dob and an 80mm APO refractor.
I would consider myself a fairly experienced observer, but a newbie imager (since I only took up imaging in 2011).
LX90 and a dslr. Starting cheap and then Incremental upgrades is by far the most expensive and frustrating way to attack astro photography, if only I had known...........
My first scope was a collapsible refractor. My grandmother bought it for me when I was 9 or 10. It was white and silver, 3 piece tube that slid in & out to achieve focus, and had a small tripod - about 6" high. I used it on & off for many years. It was a bit like a pirate telescope. I still have the lenses somewhere (30 odd years later).
Now I have a Celestar 8 and I've recently purchased a HEQ5, which I haven't used yet.
My first scope was a 60mm Tasco refractor with a straight through zoom eyepiece-my then wife and kids gave it to me for my birthday back in 1986, I think. It was totally useless for astronomy, but I managed to find Saturn with it.
Wetted my appetite, so I got a Meade 2120LX3 and used it for a couple of years-while I had it, I also got a Meade 80mm refractor on a G.E mount-I loved the sharp, contrasty images so much, I have only owned refractors since.
2 Astro-Physics Starfires, Televue Pronto, Televue 102mm and several lesser refractors until my current Stellarvue 90mm Raptor.
I've been on the waiting list for 5 years for another Starfire, but reckon I will die long before my turn comes up!
My first telescope when I was 14 in 1971, was a 8" Newtonian kit from Astro-optical supplies. I got the tube made locally and had to drill the holes for the mirror mounts and rack and pinion focuser.
Now don't laugh; as at first I mounted the 8" mirror in its cell with the aluminized surface underneath resting on the cell. As all the mirrors I had seen had their reflective surfaces on the back and not on the front. After a phone call to Astro Optical as I could not get focus; they informed that, that was a first.
Made it myself when I was ~12yo, out of 35mm dia magnifying glass (objective) in cardboard tube, and eyepiece was borrowed from japanese microscope (Corona, 100x).
I counted 14 stars in Pleiades with it !
The first "real" telescope was given to me by my dad for 14th birthday, it was 45mm dia, 760mm FL, 44x ("Juraj Vega").. very good optics.
I will never forget the Saturn I saw through this instrument. I still have eyepiece and focuser, but the rest of it was lost.
First real scope was a Tasco 60mm refractor in 1974 from...what was the name of the Crowes Nest shop???
First scope that got me going was my dads navy spy glass, for want of a better name, that collapsed down in three tubes, probably all of 25mm in aperture! Use to stick it out the bedroom window ( which I shared with three older brothers) when they were all asleep.
Matt
My first telescope didn't come into my life for many many years after my interest in astronomy was ignited. When I was twelve I spent a night at the Perth Observatory, with the then director Dr Ivan Nikolov, which ignited a life long interest in astronomy. Being from a very humble (read poor) background a telescope was beyond attainable. Although, an old astronomer friend did give me a pair of binoculars which I used for years until stolen.
My first scope was obtained in my twenties and was an 8" Newtonian on an equatorial mount. As a fitter and machinist, I completely rebuild the telescope mount and tube assembly, including adding a fine focus control, and that was in the early 80's, well before they became popular; it was made out of a tiny planetary gearbox mechanism. I had that scope for quite some time before the missus made me sell it, to finance some furniture for our new house. Damn, I would have been quite happy to sit on the floor
After selling that scope, I was fortunate to be able to use some of the equipment at Perth Observatory on an ongoing basis, and also worked there on a part time for over 11 years, so the necessity of owning a telescope became irrelevant until I stopped going to the observatory in 1999, after a motorcycle accident prevented me from doing so.
I didn't purchase another telescope until after my divorce, when she left me and married one of my good mates....poor b*****d! This was a good thing, as I certainly would never have been allowed to buy a telescope whilst married At least, not without a fight; and it just wasn't worth it going there And as for my mate, I just didn't realise he was such a good mate until he took my missus
Now though, I have four telescopes and some great eyepieces (with another new Delos on the way). I think I may be overcompensating for the lack of telescopes in my marriage. Although, I would prefer to think that it is a nice consolation prize instead Mind you, I certainly have so much more money now.
My dream for a long time has been to attend Stellafane, the home of telescope making. It is finally happening this year Only 44 more sleeps, before I depart for the US, where I will be also visiting quite a few observatories. So, astronomy in my life is alive and well.
LOL Lester, : )
I looked through a primaryschool mates fathers 60mm tasco in 1974 at Saturn and rings and hounded the olds for one til I got a 50mm version for xmas, only knew of main planets to view ? always interested from them days but life took turns and wasn't till in my late 20's that i seen an astro mag article, how to make a 6" F10 dob newt, including grind & polish mirror, so I scaled everything up to an 8" F10, Cumbersome but the planets were real crisp with upto 7-8 bands on juup at times : ) I built another four 8" newts, and four 6" newts, and a 10" F7, sold them all !
In the 90's i built a barnDoor platform with a 6v stepper motor to work with my 1st ever camera, 2nd hand Pentax film slr & 50mm F1.2 lens : ) And this hobby has grown from there !
I will add a photo of my 1st home made 8" F10 scope, but will have to find the film print and take a digi of it to attach !
Edit : Pic of 1st Home made scope 8" F10 'Big Red' Focuser behind, Modified binoculars for finder with crosshairs. Also my son & daughter who are aged 28 & 22 now
Last edited by astronobob; 14-06-2013 at 10:20 PM.
Reason: add Pic
My first scope was a 60mm Tasco refractor on an alt az table top tripod when I was 7 I think. Pretty wobbly but I didn't know much better. I enjoyed the views of the moon, but that was about it for astronomy. I mainly used it to look at birds, animals, etc.
At about 15 a mate of mine was into astronomy, and just knew what was where and when in the sky. It left me wondering "How does he know this?" and eventually I started buying astro magazines to try to learn about it. For a long while I used my brother's 20x80 Bushnell spotting scope until he wanted it back. I used to like viewing the moon and chasing Messier Objects and other fuzzies.
At about 21 I lashed out on a pair of Pentax 7x50 binoculars which I still have. A few years later I bought an 8" f/6 Newt on a Samson equatorial mount with motor drive and drive corrector on RA. I bought it second hand from an old fellow in St Ives who made the scope himself. This was back in the 80's when most newts were about f/10 and occasionally an f/8. The optics were superb. I sold that after about 5 years or so as it wasn't being used - I was in trouble for spending too much time in the back yard with the scope...
After a break of nearly 20 years (and after retiring from rescue, so I was looking for something to do) I decided to get back into astronomy and bought a C8 on a CG5 mount. A C8 was my dream scope 20 years earlier when I had the 8" newt.
Next I bought a PST and the solar bug got me. I bought a pair of 20x80 binoculars which I still have as well. Then I moved out of town and built the obs. After a year or 2 with the C8 in the obs, I bought an EQ6 and mounted a C11 and an ED80 on it side by side. About the same time I got interested in spectroscopy and got a staranalyser.
Then I sold the C8 and the PST since I found the SM40 etalon on the ED80 performed better for solar work. An then I built my L200 spectrograph for the C11. I also bought a second hand 16" lightbridge for visual work... "the visitor's scope".
I got my L200 just about ready to go when my job changed. I now have a much more challenging and satisfying job, and to be honest I just don't feel inclined to spend a lot of my home time doing the technical stuff like sorting out and running the observatory to do spectroscopy... but I just can't bring myself to let go of it yet. So for now I entertain myself with solar imaging - now with a Lunt LS60F etalon on the ED80 - and other less technical pursuits at home, but I want to get back into spectroscopy at some stage...
Al.
Last edited by sheeny; 15-06-2013 at 07:22 AM.
Reason: typos
Let's talk first telescopes.. what was yours?
So let's get it going here too.
But interest in Astronomy was before that 
This was a good thing, as I certainly would never have been allowed to buy a telescope whilst married 
At least, not without a fight; and it just wasn't worth it going there 
And as for my mate, I just didn't realise he was such a good mate until he took my missus 
) I decided to get back into astronomy and bought a C8 on a CG5 mount. A C8 was my dream scope 20 years earlier when I had the 8" newt.
