???Does anyone know anything about this scope???

Hey fellow astronomers,
Im in the process of buying this telescope w/o the base and i dont know anything about it. i was hoping maybe someone knew the name and maybe knew something about the quality of the optics i.e WAVE f/?, fully multi coated?. Please see attached pic.
Thanks alot and clear skies
nick

Attached Image:

Sonotube construction (heavy) with a 10" Meade mirror. Mirror quality could be anywhere from decent to very good. Fast mirror at 4.6 and so so mirror cell. Can be modified to perform well if the mirror quality is there.

GG

Meade Starfinder Equatorial.
This looks like an AC model. Which means pre 1994 or so.

I cannot tell the size for sure, but if it is the 10 inch, then I had one just like it. Still have the tube, but sold the mount years ago. The pedestal on your mount looks too short for that, tough.

They made them in 6, 8, and 10 on one mount, and then 16 in a larger one.

Mine has very good optics. I think F4.5, but as the other fellow said, may have been 4.5.

They made them for years......

THey were a good "kit" scope. Worked out of the box, but could be improved by changing the focuser and several other things. Had a good mirror cell. The mount was simply inssufficient for the weight. It had no adjustments for polar alignment--just heft the whole tripod around. Also--no way to adjust the dec or the speed of the motor--therefore, one could not guide with it.

But--you are not buying the mount.......The tube and optics and cell worked pretty well. The only downside was the focuser. At least in my 1995 edition.

Alex

You know, it just occurred to me. If that is not a Starfinder EQ mount, then the tube has been movced from another scope. That means it may be a Dob-mounted starfinder originally.

The optics, etc. would be the same. But--The mirror cell would be much different. They were not designed to be spun around the way an eq mount is. That would be something to consider.

Alex