Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 16, 2024 21:11:26 GMT -6
The Chicago Astronomer arsenal of gear grows
16 June 2024
16 June 2024
I was contacted sometime ago about gear laying about and if I could utilize boxes of stuff for the Chicago Astronomer's teaching activities.
Most certainly!
Arranging for a meet was difficult, but we made it happen and our gracious hosts, Raina and Michael made us feel at home an welcomed us. Raina's dad was an avid amateur Astronomer and had assembled a collection of accessories, including a 90mm ETX scope. Now, there are two scopes, but only the ETX was located...the other will pop up soon. The couple wanted one to take on camping trips and would donate the other one to me, along with associated gear.
Diving into the boxes, plenty of eyepieces and accessories, but I examined the ETX first...and it was a good one for camping. Needed slight cleaning, but overall - a good solid scope. There was a Meade eyepiece box that had a full assortment of 1.25" eyepieces....and we had a complete set-up for camping. I even found a screw on Meade Solar Filter and the power cord. This Grab & Go kit will be light enough and not to take up a lot of room while camping with tents and stuff.
We put the ETX through it's paces by doing some solar observation on this Sunny Father's day and it produced a nice image of the solar disk, displaying the current large Sunspot groupings. I tutored Michael in proper set-up and safety procedures to peer at the Sun and all worked out very well. They will enjoy the set-up at their next camping trip.
Success...!
I took the remaining boxes and went thru the items....
Included are: filters-some exotic, adapters, eyepieces, legacy software
....and an assortment of odds & ends that Maria organized. Some of the many accessories are for a larger scope, perhaps a 8" SCT. There is an electronic focuser, bino-viewers, Diopters lenses, laser collimator and an Illuminated eyepiece.
Also.... a great set-up of Tele-vue eyepieces ( few double "MMs" for Binoviewer use...all of which will bring much clarity to Chicago Astronomer Telescopes
I do appreciate Raina & Michael for thinking of me and enhancing the Chicago Astronomer with this generous contribution that I will call "The Jack Collection". And most of all, for her Dad ...assembling all of his gear over the years, as it will bring enjoyment and connect thousands with the cosmos.
Onward.
Astro Joe