What refractor(s) do you use?

[BT Technologies]

Sounds great Brad. Yes, you have the dreaded new telescope weather!!

Hopefully it will clear and warm up this weekend so you can put the TOA-150 through its paces.

Originally Posted by BradH

Brian I will when it clears up, I should have know ordering something this nice would bring bad weather for a while it went from 80 to 20 degrees after ordering.

Its here and its a big. I will get it mounted this weekend and wait for clear skies.

Brad

[BradH]

I got the TOA mounted and had a few breaks from the clouds but not many. I looked a few stars and thats about it. I cant wait for some clear skies.

The scope is a keeper, and I will report more when the skies clear.

Brad

[jrcrilly]

Originally Posted by jrcrilly

Hi, gang.

I use a Vixen NA130SS, a TV Genesis, and an A&M/TMB CF 80/480 refractor.

Made some changes.

Now it's a Meade 127ED doublet, an A&M/TMB CF 105/650, and the same A&M/TMB 80/470.

[mjs]

For the past 20 years I've used what was, to a more youthful self, my dream scope: a 4" Celestron branded Vixen. Keep in mind, back then this was a $1700 scope; I got it in an even trade for an excellent 6" f/5 newtonian OTA.

The guy I traded with wanted to keep the GP Polaris mount, so I've always just used the refractor on the pier the old 6" f/5 newt was on, an old Criterion with the pier cut in half and a two-foot chunk of pipe welded into it to elevate the mount's head. I've grown to know this setup well and, while it has limitations, it works well enough for the lunar and planetary observing which is really the best option for my light-polluted environs.

Last year I found myself with a few spare pennies and bought a Zhumell 8" dob to replace the 6" f/8 dob I built a number of years ago, the Sonotube assembly now showing the cumulative effect of too many nights of Indiana dew. Wow, what an enlightenment! Now I'm thinking about building a split-ring mount for the Zhumell, and if I ever have spare pennies again I'd like to get one of the EQ-5 mounts for the refractor. I'm used to using setting circles so am unsure what Goto would bring to the table. I guess I need to think about it some more!

I'm planning on starting semi-serious double and variable star observing this year, and have discovered that I have an absolutely ridiculous but nevertheless very real sentimental attachment to that old Celestron refractor.

Mike

[reconair]

Tak TOA130, FS78 and FS60S.

[Mike528]

Hi all:
I currently have the TOA150, TOA130S, Celestron C80ED, TV Pronto. The TOA150 is the workhorse but due to back issues the TOA130 will be my main scope this spring/summer. Did take the 150 out in April to a public star party and was floored by image of Saturn. I will be sad when I sell this scope......

Mike...

[reconair]

I use Taks -- TOA130, FS78, and FS60C. I guess I already answered this question, sorry. I did however, add a Mewlon 250 to the list.

[Belgrade]

I own and use the Meade LXD75 AR6-AT (i.e., a 6-inch achro)! By the way, I'm nothing but very, very happy and satisfied with it. I am planning to purchase by end of the year a grab-n-go refractor (80-90mm) with an alt-az mount/tripod for quick set up and viewing in my backyard and/or the trips out of town.

[Paramount]

Hi
I use a TMB 115 f7 with matching field flattener
Best wishes
Gordon

[neilfleming]

Originally Posted by neilfleming

I use a TOA-150 and a couple of FSQ's. Also have a TV-60is.

...Neil

Times have changed. I still have my FSQ, but sold the TOA-150 and TV-60is in order to obtain a Zeiss APQ-130 and a TMB 203 F/7.

...Neil