[kangabill (Bill)]

I've finally got time to dust off a Meade 4500 reflector I bought 5 years ago for about $250. About 3 months after buying it the previous owner showed up with a neat little aluminum box with 5 Plossle lenses, 6.5, 12.5, 15, 20, 25 and 40mm and said, "I Forget these, they go with the 'scope"

The mounts had a lot of rattle, loose nuts all over and partially stripped worm gears which I fixed without any trouble. No wonder his kids couldn't see anything (the reason he sold it)

So here I sit, one Meade Telescope, country air, a maths Degree from a long while ago, and a new deck about 10 foot up in the air that I built for the wife's clothes line but is a great platform.

I did an on line Certificate and Diploma in Astronomy about 5 years ago when on night shift work through a great guy, whose name I forget but he sounded Indian or from the Indian area. It was hard work, interesting and great.

My computer is close to cutting edge and I've got quite a bit of software including the UK Skymap (very early but great version) and Distant Suns a recent version.

How am I steaming so far, how far will the Meade go before it runs out of steam and did I get a good deal????

Give it a couple of nights and I'm out for my first test ride, any hints.????