Does your telescope have a name? - Page 2

bones · #21 05-06-2009, 08:56 PM

My wife gave my scope a name when I got it - "Celest."
It is after all a Celestron.

She asks me every now and then "Are you taking Celest out tonight?" She's jealous because I take Celest out more than her.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #22 05-06-2009, 09:02 PM

Annie's contribution to the science of Astronomy deserves the highest of recognition.
Can't imagine how hard it must have been back then, being a woman in this field of work.

kinetic (Steve) · #23 05-06-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodstar

I call it "The Mary Rose" after the famous ship in King Henry VIII's battle fleet. King Henry VIII spared no expense in the construction of his Mary Rose, and so it has been for me with mine! I like to think of setting sail each time I go observing, on a cosmic voyage of discovery. It seems particularly apt when I go voyaging through the constellations which were once collectively known as Argo Navis.

Rod,

after reading your thoughtful post I tried and tried to find an explanation
Bill Arnett wrote about an image he created probably a decade or so ago.
I could not find the text

but I found the image!
It is a wonderful image even though I think it is a composite.
Originally it was only two ships, he's added the third later if I
recall correctly.
It shows ships of exploration, ready to set sail on a voyage of
discovery. Your post made me recall that image.
I bet you can recall some beautiful voyages onboard Mary Rose.

Steve

TrevorW · #24 05-06-2009, 09:53 PM

Both my scopes are black

The 3" I call Winky

the 8" I call BBB

Cheers

Glenhuon (Bill) · #25 05-06-2009, 11:32 PM

I remember one of the members in the ASSW called his 8" short focus reflector "Canetoad", cause it was short, squat and green

Bill

Enchilada · #26 05-06-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

I remember one of the members in the ASSW called his 8" short focus reflector "Canetoad", cause it was short, squat and green

Just hope the telescope tube wasn't as ugly nor was as poisonous!!

Wavytone · #27 05-06-2009, 11:46 PM

Better call mine "Strop" (grotty) and "Delvene" - blonde, leggy and ... I leave the rest to your (filthy) imaginations...

Blue Skies (Jacquie) · #28 06-06-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

I remember one of the members in the ASSW called his 8" short focus reflector "Canetoad", cause it was short, squat and green

Bill

I remember the Canetoad - and the goat suit! (say no more!)

My 8" dob is the Redback because I wanted it to be black and the place I moved into just as I was finishing it had a lot of redbacks in it, but I don't refer to it that often.

Other names I've come across: the Purple People Eater, the Downpipe, the Howitzer and the Binosaur! (but I've not been lucky enough to view through the latter.

) And one called Bruce, because it is a blue Meade SCT - true blue, you see, so it needed a true blue name!

Jen · #29 06-06-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

Not sure about all this.

I refuse to confess anything myself, other than that I did give it a name or three when I was trying to get it in the car.

Cheers

wavelandscott (Scott) · #30 06-06-2009, 05:17 AM

Interesting thread!

Maybe I am just a boring and unimaginative person (off topic for this thread

) but, I've never named a telescope.

I have named other innanimate objects in the past (car, golf club, baseball bat) just not a telescope.

I call them by what they are listed in my signature as seen below...

I guess I have just not been inspired to a particular name for any of them...At least not yet!

Barrykgerdes · #31 06-06-2009, 07:22 AM

I have given my telescope some names "unrepeatable on this forum". especially when it stops tracking because I knocked the power off!

Barry

ngcles · #32 06-06-2009, 09:52 AM

Hi All,

Well I'm finally persuaded (after having had it for 6 years) that my 18" 'scope needs a name and I've thought long and hard about it overnight.

I've a friend with a 20" who calls his 'scope the "Total Perspective Vortex" (see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

I'm a bit of a fan of Greek mythology as it applies to astronomy, so I went looking for something apt there to name the scope after and have settled on this which I think fits nicely given the size of the 'scope and the nature of its most frequent observing targets:The Argus Panoptes.

The Argus (there was only ever one) was Hera's (Juno) faithful servant: an all-seeing, never sleeping, (in some versions) giant watchman.

You can read a brief account here on Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_Panoptes

It just seems to fit.

Best,

Les D

wavelandscott (Scott) · #33 06-06-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngcles

Hi All,

Well I'm finally persuaded (after having had it for 6 years) that my 18" 'scope needs a name and I've thought long and hard about it overnight.

I've a friend with a 20" who calls his 'scope the "Total Perspective Vortex" (see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

I'm a bit of a fan of Greek mythology as it applies to astronomy, so I went looking for something apt there to name the scope after and have settled on this which I think fits nicely given the size of the 'scope and the nature of its most frequent observing targets:The Argus Panoptes.

The Argus (there was only ever one) was Hera's (Juno) faithful servant: an all-seeing, never sleeping, (in some versions) giant watchman.

You can read a brief account here on Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_Panoptes

It just seems to fit.

Best,

Les D

Well Done and Congratulations!

I like the story and the "fitting" name. May your Argus Panoptes keep watch on clear dark skies and never sleep...

Cheers,

Glenhuon (Bill) · #34 06-06-2009, 01:20 PM

Phil still has the Downpipe I think. Never saw the Binosaur completed, was still a work in progress when I left for over east. Would be an awesome instrument to have a look through.

Bill

MrB (Simon) · #35 06-06-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngcles

I've a friend with a 20" who calls his 'scope the "Total Perspective Vortex"

I like it!

Never named my scope, tho if I had to I'd probably call it 'Dusty'......

multiweb (Marc) · #36 06-06-2009, 05:44 PM

I call them names alright when they don't track properly

Otherwise no. I spent so much time with my C11 lately pre and post mods that my wife got jealous and did give it a name "big john". So if I need something she'll turn around and say "go and ask big john". Is that good or bad?

Enchilada · #37 06-06-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Never named my scope, tho if I had to I'd probably call it 'Dusty'......

pgc hunter · #38 06-06-2009, 09:26 PM

I don't name my scopes, but perhaps the title "Backbreaker" would be appropriate for my 12", while the 10" can be "backbreaker Jr"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

I have given my telescope some names "unrepeatable on this forum". especially when it stops tracking because I knocked the power off!

Barry

let me guess......the linguistic form of the rude finger in Eta Carina?

AlexN · #39 06-06-2009, 10:39 PM

I named most of my scopes...
The 6" f/8 achro was "The Big Honkin Refractor", Name given to it by its previous owner, seemed fitting enough!
The 8" newt was "the light bucket".
The Megrez 102ED was "old yella", because it was yellow
the ZS66 was "mini-scope".. obvious reasons.
The C11 was "The beast".. again, obvious reasons...

As for the 8" RC... Well.. I can't say I've named it yet... I considered "yee who is so hard to collimate." but its a bit long...

I'll get around to naming the RC...

The one I never named was the ST80, i figured it was just a guide scope... it doesnt need a name...

AdrianF (Adrian) · #40 06-06-2009, 10:44 PM

Yes my scopes have names but nothing i will repeat here, too many delicate ears. They only have names when i have to carry them down stairs into the yard.

Adrian