[cpoc]

Recently my parents came over for a visit and dad brought me my grandfathers old telescope (as dad has bought his own new higher quality telescope).

I've had a few attempts to use it (albeit with cloud coming and going quite a bit locally making it hard to have any chance of prolonged focusing)

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the model I have... the sticker on the tube states:

"Tasco
Reg no: 512266
Astronomical Telescope
Coated Lenses
D = 60mm F = 800mm
Model No: 12TE-5
Japan"

I've read that Tasco aren't that great at making telescopes (or at least more recently they aren't) but I suspect that my grandfather bought this some time ago and at the time Tasco may have been making reasonable scopes.

The eyepieces are 6mm and 12.5mm if I recall correctly, it also has a 2X Barlow, a solar lense, a right angle view finder adapter and what I assume is an image corrector (ie an in between piece to allow for terrestrial viewing up the right way).

I know that at least one of the eyepieces is a little mucky inside and I've cleaned the primary lens but whenever I try and focus on the moon I just get a big bright blob.

Does anyone have any tips or advice? Am I better trying to sell this and get a new one (which I would love... but I suspect that selling this will not get me that close to affording a new scope).

Thanks for any help and advice.