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[jglover]

Hey Joe,

if you or any of the forum members are thinking of upgrading your scope, may I suggest this one:

www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/514124/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1



Unfortunately, my yard shed observatory is not quite big enough......... ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

John,

These are beauties!

courtesy of cloudynights.com

These scopes are of the top most quality...I would even say professional observatory caliber. The baffles are meticuliously planned out and made. Are these for sale?

I want one!

Thanks for the link and I recommend all to pay a visit to the site to view all the pics.

[Rocketman]

Nice!

I'll buy one when I win the lotto. ;D

[jglover]

Actually, I think this is just a hobby for this guy. All those scopes you see in the background are his, or his neighbors/friends. I cannot imagine what those huge refractors must weigh or the mount it is gonna take to support one! And, if you have to ask about the price.......LOL

[jglover]

rocketman2 said:

Nice!

I'll buy one when I win the lotto. ;D

LOL, and about a two ton mount to hold those scopes!

[starbux]

Big achromats aren't all they're cracked up to be. Recently I went to the Chabot Obsrvatory/planetarium near Oakland, CA. There was a 20" Brasheer refractor and an 8" Alvan Clark refractor (both antiques) and I got to look at Jupiter and the moon respectively. The chromatic aberration in the 20" was absolutely horrid (comparable to my 102mm f/5 achro at highest power). The 8" had a sharper view of the moon than the 20" had of Jupiter (they should have switched targets), with some false color but not as bad as the 20".

But the bottom line was, as far as viewing the planets go, it was more satifying to see them thru the amateur scopes (some of them homemade) set up outside the domes then thru the big refractors themselves. They may look impressive, but I wouldn't spend my lottery winnings on one.

[jglover]

starbux said:

Big achromats aren't all they're cracked up to be. Recently I went to the Chabot Obsrvatory/planetarium near Oakland, CA. There was a 20" Brasheer refractor and an 8" Alvan Clark refractor (both antiques) and I got

I've had a chance to look through the 18" Clark at Dearborn Observatory in Evanston, though it was many years ago when I was in school. At the time I was there, there were no planets visible so we mainly looked at doubles and a few bright DSOs. The CA was not objectionable but you could definitely tell it was there. Then again, the 18" Clark has something like a 22 foot focal length so that does tned to help a bit.

The scope has a pretty interesting history. The lens in this scope was actually used to discover Sirius B, by the Clark's in 1862. At the time of the discovery, this scope was the largest refracting telescope in the world. It eventually came to Northwestern by way of bankruptcy of the University of Chicago (the first one, not the current one) in the 1880s, via the Chicago Astronomical Society. The mounting and tube were refurbished in 1911 and replaced with a modern, metal tube and mounting. The original optical tube (minus the optics) and mount were then donated to Adler, where they are now on display.

The Clark scope has been pretty much relagated to public viewing sessions at Northwestern. For the astronomy classes, they used the 14" SCT at the Lindheimer Observatory...which unfortunately is now just a piece of history. I imagine they are now using portable scopes for the astromony class viewings since the demise of Lindheimer.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It is quite an interesting story of the Clarke. One of my fellow Telscope Operators at the Adler, Mia, gives views there at the Deaborn Observatory. I think she also registered here as a member, but I haven't confirmed it yet.

That's really too bad on the dissapointing views thru the refractors Malcolm, but Sometimes...I like the views thru amateur scope better too!...

[jglover]

admin said:

It is quite an interesting story of the Clarke. One of my fellow Telscope Operators at the Adler, Mia, gives views there at the Deaborn Observatory. I think she also registered here as a member, but I haven't confirmed it yet.

Joe,

I'm thinking about heading up to NU one Friday evening to take a look thru the scope again. I saw on their website the scope is available on Fridays from 10 to 11pm for walk in public viewing. Last time I was in Dearborn would have been winter quarter in 1977 and about all I remember about the views thru the scope was it was COLD. I'd be interested to hear from one of the operators of the Clarke scope though, so hopefully Mia is reading if she is a member here!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

John,

Let me know which Friday you plan to go to NU, and I'll join you. And really, we should put out the call for all Chicago Astronomer members to join on in and invade the Dearborn Observatory.

My next free Friday will be the 19th of August.