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Jupiter IO Transit 12-10-26

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Posts Made By: Charles Ryder

December 17, 2003 12:36 AM Forum: Takahashi

A Sophie's Choice : Sky 90 orTMB 80/600

Posted By Charles Ryder
If available, I'd go for a Stowaway f/7. 92mm, no color, .98+ strehl, Feathertouch focuser, nice case...

March 10, 2004 06:51 PM Forum: Takahashi

FS-102 okay on a Lapides Teegul?

Posted By Charles Ryder
I use an FSQ (13.2 pounds and heavier but shorter than an FS-102) on a Modified Teegul mount and it's very stable even at high powers. It's mounted on a Berlebach wooden tripod. I doubt the extra moment arm of the FS-102 would be enough to cause instability problems but I don't have direct edxperience with the FS-102 on the Teegul.

May 5, 2004 12:56 PM Forum: Takahashi

General ?'s about FS128

Posted By Charles Ryder
John-
I had a 128 on a Giro II alt/az mount attached to a Bogen 3058 tripod (rated at about 40 lbs.) It worked very nicely even for high power viewing. It also worked very well with a TOA 130 which is considerably heavier than the 128. A nice feature of the Giro is that it can carry two scopes at once if the optional second arm is purchased. I've had
the TOA and another 5" refractor on it together and high power views though each remained very stable.

May 22, 2004 02:30 PM Forum: Takahashi

Tak Lapides Teegul Alt az mount info

Posted By Charles Ryder
John-
I use a Modified Teegul on a Berlebach UNI-15 tripod with spec's per Richard Lapides's recommendations. I also use the eyepiece holder that Richard sources.

I find the Teegul a joy to use with any of my smaller scopes. I replaced the Tak slo mo knobs with larger 1 1/2" FocusKnobs knobs. Tracking under high power is smooth and the set up is very stable even with a 13+ pound scope (FSQ).

The photo shows the Teegul holding my TEC 6 but a Traveler, FSQ, Stowaway or similar all have worked just as nicely. I'm striclty an alt/az mount user and use a Giro 2 on either a Bogen 3068 or AP wooden tripod for my larger scopes. The slo mo controls on the Teegul, however, have spoiled me and I frequently find myself reaching for a small to use on the Teegul so I can use them.

July 12, 2005 09:53 PM Forum: Takahashi

I finally did it.

Posted By Charles Ryder
Once you've owned a Tak, you always come back! I own a Stowaway f/7 but just received a Sky 90 (I regretted selling my first one). Don't get me wrong, the Stowaway is a world class scope that I plan to hang onto but the Tak is a darn nice performer too and its superior aesthetics make the Stowaway look like a pipe bomb by comparison.

I've also had 3 FS-102's, an FS-78, a 128, a TOA 130 (what a scope!), and 2 FSQ's. Every one of them was a superb performer.

Congrat's on a great scope!

August 4, 2005 05:34 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Atten: 8 inch SCT owners....

Posted By Charles Ryder
Bill-

Yes, my AP 155 has shown better views than this and so has my Mewlon 180 and TMB 100. But I only have enjoyed such views once in each scope out of probably more than a hundred nights of viewing. Ironically, the best view I had was with the TMB 100...testimony on the impact of seeing conditions vs. aperture.

On the other hand, the best planetary views I've ever had were of Saturn through my 14.5" Starmaster last winter.

Charlie

December 9, 2005 02:23 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Nagler 4.8 deal

Posted By Charles Ryder
I'm a TeleVue eyepiece fan, owning many Naglers and Panoptics. I owned a 4.8 Nagler briefly but found it extremely uncomfortable to use, mostly due to the tight eye relief. There's a reason for the low $95 price...they're not moving due to much better alternatives available. Slashing the price is the only way they can be made competitive in today's marketplace.

July 11, 2006 07:56 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Repainting a chipped up Tak FS-102 - advice?

Posted By Charles Ryder
Perhaps TNR could supply you with a new tube. Might be worth a try.
Charlie

August 15, 2006 02:42 AM Forum: TeleVue

Solar Filter for the Televue 60?

Posted By Charles Ryder
I had a Thousand Oaks filter. model 3250, that worked very well with my former TV-60. Its diameter was larger than necessary but a supplied foam strip adhered to the inside the rim of the filter cell made the fit nice and snug. A secondary benefit of the foam was that no marks or scrathes were ever left on the scope's dewshield.
I think the price was about $70.

Good luck!

Charlie

January 10, 2007 03:34 PM Forum: Mounts

Alt-AZ Mounts

Posted By Charles Ryder
Hans-
Don't underestimate the capacity of the standard Giro II mount (that I bought fomr Markus/APM). I've had a Mewlon 250 on one arm of my Giro II and an AP 155 on the other at the same time. Movement was smooth on both axes. I had the mount on an AP wood tripod and vibrations at high powers were minimal (and the electric focuser of the M250 avoids focuser-induced vibrations).

I have a Modified Teegul on a Berlebach Uni-15 tripod that I use for smaller scopes. The Teegul would make a great match for your FS-78 or even something a bit larger.

Charlie

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