On Saturday, I purchased from Doolsduck, the early 1960s Royal Astro Optical 50mmx500mm f10 refractor he had up for sale here in IIS.
This evening, I've finally managed to take some decent photos of the new acquisition.
I still need to take care of a couple of tasks before I put this classic scope to work. I need to get a suitable height table for the patio/balcony of my flat to set the scope up on, and for safety reasons (anyone in the future who might wind up with this scope) I need to scratch the heck out of both sides of that SUN filter so it is unusable.
I love my Tak NJP & Big 10" CF newt - but couldn't live with the baby green mount colour anymore - so had it stripped down & powdercoated in Apollo 11 colours.
Also changed the colour of the Skywatcher white tube rings & mirror cells from the 'scope Jet black, and also powder coated the white Ioptron tripier legs silver to match it all.
There were a few minor gremlins with performance post mods due to slipping locknuts on powdercoated surfaces, but that's all sorted now.
The project took about 2 months and only cost me around $750
Must be the result of watching all the episodes of "Wheeler Dealers"
Mmm ... I still think the Unitron look is better - white OTA with black trim (all the metal bits) apart from bare metal sliding surfaces.
The classic look though is white OTA with the trim in gleaming lacquered brass or better - phosphor bronze - the lens cell, focusser, finder, sliding weights and the mount ... with silver engraved circles...
Yesterday I finally detached the camera from the scope and have decided to enjoy some casual short visual sessions from our backyard in the coming weeks.
I already have forgotten what a joy it is to look at the nightsky!
Saturn with a few moons at zenith were just beautiful, so was the mighty Jupiter and the Galilean moons. Waxing crescent moon was a wonderful sight as well, and so was just surfing across the Milky Way - the Lagoon stood up for sure, but then unfortunately clouds rolled in before I could locate the Helix in the East that I dedicated so many photographic sessions to.
I am not an experienced observer at all, but the 13mm Nagler I bought from a fellow IIS member seems to be a perfect match to the little and rather fast CFF, beautiful wide field and really sharp stars to the edge of the field. I only wish both eyes could enjoy the view simultaneously - I now understand why some go for a binoscope!
Yesterday I finally detached the camera from the scope and have decided to enjoy some casual short visual sessions from our backyard in the coming weeks.
I already have forgotten what a joy it is to look at the nightsky!
Saturn with a few moons at zenith were just beautiful, so was the mighty Jupiter and the Galilean moons. Waxing crescent moon was a wonderful sight as well, and so was just surfing across the Milky Way - the Lagoon stood up for sure, but then unfortunately clouds rolled in before I could locate the Helix in the East that I dedicated so many photographic sessions to.
I am not an experienced observer at all, but the 13mm Nagler I bought from a fellow IIS member seems to be a perfect match to the little and rather fast CFF, beautiful wide field and really sharp stars to the edge of the field. I only wish both eyes could enjoy the view simultaneously - I now understand why some go for a binoscope!
Looks Fabulous Suavi theyre a fantastic scope from all accounts..hard to beat a great APO. ..gives your eyes some fun too.
PS:Try some doubles too..eg Antares!
Bigjoe.
Earlier I posted pics my Tak FOA-60Q mounted on my newly acquired Tak PM-1 mount. Recently I was going through my old Unitron collection and thought the 60mm OTA looked about the same diameter tube as the FOA-60Q which in fact it was, both exactly 68mm in diameter. Considering I've had the Unitron for nearly 50 years it is near new condition and mated with the PM-1 mount perfectly. I've spent the past few nights reacquainting myself with the Unitron and apart from the dreaded purple halo (in some people's opinion) the scope was sharp and clear even by Tak standards. Stars are pin point and on higher powers show textbook diffraction rings. Jupiters bands were sharp and contrasted but the purple halo was quite evident. Funny I never really noticed the purple fringing when I was younger, never bothered me and still doesn't. I've yet to try out my fringe killer filter when I can find it.
Earlier I posted pics my Tak FOA-60Q mounted on my newly acquired Tak PM-1 mount. Recently I was going through my old Unitron collection and thought the 60mm OTA looked about the same diameter tube as the FOA-60Q which in fact it was, both exactly 68mm in diameter. Considering I've had the Unitron for nearly 50 years it is near new condition and mated with the PM-1 mount perfectly. I've spent the past few nights reacquainting myself with the Unitron and apart from the dreaded purple halo (in some people's opinion) the scope was sharp and clear even by Tak standards. Stars are pin point and on higher powers show textbook diffraction rings. Jupiters bands were sharp and contrasted but the purple halo was quite evident. Funny I never really noticed the purple fringing when I was younger, never bothered me and still doesn't. I've yet to try out my fringe killer filter when I can find it.
Looks lovely.
Had the 4inch F15 Alt Az which my Parents got for me late 70s..purchased from Astro Optical at Clark St Crows Nest ,as a reward..
Was about 375 from memory....I stupidly sold it some years ago to a Farmer in Jamberoo.
It snapped to focus and had RAZOR SHARP images...aperture fever kicked in I guess.
PS:
+1 for the Fringe killer; not much of a colour cast, if at all..aging yellowing eyes do the job for some!
Bigjoe.
Earlier I posted pics my Tak FOA-60Q mounted on my newly acquired Tak PM-1 mount. Recently I was going through my old Unitron collection and thought the 60mm OTA looked about the same diameter tube as the FOA-60Q which in fact it was, both exactly 68mm in diameter. Considering I've had the Unitron for nearly 50 years it is near new condition and mated with the PM-1 mount perfectly. I've spent the past few nights reacquainting myself with the Unitron and apart from the dreaded purple halo (in some people's opinion) the scope was sharp and clear even by Tak standards. Stars are pin point and on higher powers show textbook diffraction rings. Jupiters bands were sharp and contrasted but the purple halo was quite evident. Funny I never really noticed the purple fringing when I was younger, never bothered me and still doesn't. I've yet to try out my fringe killer filter when I can find it.
Having owned and used the shorter focal length version of this scope (the guidescope version essentially), I can attest to how razor sharp they are - it resolved many clusters FAR better than I expected.
Sure, there was purple around bright objects, but since it doesn't distract from the detail, it was totally unnoticed.
