<em>Here's a trip down memory lane for me while I'm desperate and scopeless! Hope you enjoy it!</em>
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/60mm.jpg" width="215" height="300">
<strong>Early 1970's</strong> — Hanimex 60mm Refractor. My first 'real' scope. It ain't much by today's standard, but at that age I loved it!
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/Newt1.jpg" width="194" height="300"><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/newt2.jpg" width="262" height="300">
<strong>1974 to 1985 — 8" F7.6 Newtonian.</strong>
This baby had a few mods over the years. I added a 60mm guidescope, declination slow motion control and motor drive. It was purchased in kit form from Astro Optical in Crows Nest, although at the time they were known as "The Amateur Astronomers Supply Company"! (showing my age). It had the best optics of any scope I've ever used.
A friend of my brothers is a panel beater, so he organised the spray job. It was deep blue with an overspray of white, looking like spider webs. I thought it was pretty 'groovy'. The original photo was black & white, but I used Photoshop CS to colourise it back to its 'original'. It's pretty close! Gotta love Photoshop's colour replacement tool!
... I sold it in 1985 to pay bills! It was my first year out teaching and I was getting posted around the countryside and couldn't justify keeping it. Big mistake!
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/AR6.jpg" width="277" height="300">
<strong>2002 to 2005</strong>
After nearly twenty years (how time flies when you're having fun!) I decided to buy a Meade LXD55-AR6. That's not me in the photo, in case you were wondering! I thought I'd come back with a vengeance! 6" refractors were unheard of as amateur scopes in the 'good old days'. The AR6 was a treat! Nice optics, reasonable Go-To mount and all the bells and whistles. After about 18 months I was finding it a bit of a hassle to assemble when I wanted to do some observing.
I'd always wanted a SCT, ever since Celestron first brought them out in the 70's. So I bit the bullet, put the AR6 up on ebay, sold it and...
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/lx90.jpg" width="150" height="236">
...ordered a Meade LX90 from Bintel!
...it's not here yet...
<hr>
<strong>Here are some photos taken back in the 1980's with the 8" Newt:</strong>
<img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/Moon.jpg" width="100" height="150"><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/jupiter.jpg" width="150" height="150">
Moon: 16/7/83. 9mm eyepiece + projection, 2 secs
Jupiter: 13/7/83 6mm Unitron Orthoscopic (aah memories!) + full projection, 2.5 secs
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/messier8.jpg" width="150" height="150"><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/swan_nebula.jpg" width="150" height="150">
Messier 8 (The Lagoon Nebula): 13/8/82. 20 mins, prime focus. Tri-X film
Messier 17 (The Swan Nebula): 19/8/82. 10 mins, prime focus. Tri-X film
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/orion.jpg" width="150" height="150"><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/owl.jpg" width="150" height="150">
Messier 42 (Orion): no date, but probably same as previous 2 mins, prime focus. Tri-X film
Messier 27 (The Owl or Dumbell Nebula): no date 30 mins, prime focus. Tri-X film
<hr><img src="http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/trufflehunter/astro/omega_centauri.jpg" width="150" height="150">
Omega Centauri: 19/8/82 12 mins, prime focus. Tri-X film<hr>
My Best scope to date.
) and 60mm refractor.
