Remembrance of Things Past: The Bazooka

[Nightspore]

I’ve been into astronomy (and oddly, astrology) since I’ve been knee-high to a grasshopper. Both of these concepts, and even writing (cuneiform), probably originated in the fertile area situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Ancient Greeks called this region Mesopotamia (literally = between rivers), also referred to as Sumer. What is now termed astronomy was originally a development from these Sumerian astrologer priests/priestesses. We still recognise their zodiacal constellations. In fact, the earliest known author of written literature was a woman named Enheduanna, a High Priestess of Ishtar, who wrote hymns and poetry in praise of the Goddess. Ishtar was possibly inspired by the planet Venus, sometimes known as the morning and evening stars.

 

 

Mesopotamian astronomers/astrologers probably weren’t sure if they were the same planet or different entities altogether. As a consequence Ishtar/Venus always had a certain dualistic nature. It’s also a distinct possibility that the first ‘observatories’ were in the gardens dedicated to the gods and goddesses atop flattened, stepped pyramids known as ziggurats. It is likely that these very early ’astronomers’ were among the first observers to distinguish between the ‘fixed’ and ‘wandering’ stars we know as stars and planets. But, I digress.

 

 

My first telescope was a 50mm Tasco refractor. That and my father’s CZJ wide-angle binoculars were my initial aided introduction to the night sky. After I had a series of crippling strokes several years ago, and at a comparatively young age, which left me in a wheelchair and paralysed on my entire right side, I vowed that if I ever learned to walk again I would get a ‘proper’ telescope. I could actually see the night sky from the window of my room in a specialist neuro-hospital in Wolverhampton.

 

 

The Tasco is long gone, but a friend of mine owned a Sky-Watcher 130M Explorer which I’d looked through. When I was finally discharged from hospital I could just about walk. However, I was partially paralysed on the entire right side of my body. I decided to purchase the 130M, just to see if I could operate it. It seemed huge. Unfortunately, it was all a bit much for me. I ended up buying a Sky-Watcher 102mm Maksutov Cassegrain, and slightly later, an ST80 achromatic doublet as they were much easier for me to actually transport and use. The Newtonian OTA and its EQ2 mount/tripod ended up in a cupboard gathering dust.

 

 

After a lot of painful physiotherapy I had made enough progress to possibly actually use the 130mm behemoth I dubbed ‘The Bazooka’. I had to practice assembling it indoors. I more or less abandoned the clock drive (electric motor) unit as: (a) it didn’t actually do anything and (b) it was way too fiddly for me to set-up anyway. You can buy the Explorer without the drive at a generally less expensive retail price. There has been much gibberish talked about its primary mirror, which is spherical rather than parabolic.

 

 

I remember having a long argument, sorry, discussion, with someone who claimed they once worked for NASA about the extreme shortcomings of a mere spherical mirror. He/she (insert pronoun of your choice) even had pictures and diagrams! I mean, this was an inexpensive scope (I paid under 200 quid). I didn't expect Mount Palomar. Mind you, that was my fault for joining a ‘nutter’ astronomy forum in the first place I suppose.

 

 

One beautifully globally warmed, and very hot, June day I decided to experiment setting up the ‘Bazooka’ outside. I managed to get the OTA into the tube rings without incident. This had always been the tricky part for me. My initial plan had been to have a practice run for later in the week. Venus and Jupiter had been setting near sunset, both were fairly high and visible in early twilight. I was pretty fatigued by now, if not a little sunburned, so I left the scope outside and sought some indoor shade. I ultimately made the decision to leave the scope out and wait for Venus and Jupiter to become visible that evening.

 

 

When I spotted the planets I excitedly collected my few eyepieces and took them down to the telescope. I remember that it was the first time I ever used my Tele Vue 3x Barlow. I got a superb view of Venus, in Cancer, just over 50% illuminated. I was using a 17mm Celestron (BST) Plossl eyepiece in conjunction with the Barlow for around 160x. As it was still technically daylight there was no real glaring and I even observed cloud detail.

 

 

A little later I switched my attention to a 99.3% illuminated Jupiter. The seeing must have been good as there was a fair amount of surface detail and I even witnessed an Io/Europa occultation before Jupiter became too low to view. Later I waited for Saturn. The rings were wide open and the Cassini Division was really easily discerned. I used the Bazooka for several years before replacing it with a larger Newtonian. It’s still the only scope I’ve witnessed transient lunar phenomenon with, albeit with a new EQ5 mount. As a starter scope for visual, even with a ‘mere’ spherical primary, you can’t really go wrong with it.

 

 

Trip down memory lane over.

[+Stu]

Another good read, thanks. It's awesome you were able to achieve your goal after such adversity. My first scope when I was little was a tasco reflector that was actually used as a bazooka 😄

[Nightspore]

Thanks. I'm just really surprised I haven't dropped anything really expensive yet lol. I've fallen over a few times.

 

 

[+Streetbob]

My first scope was a SW130 too.   The tripod fell apart and It is gathering dust in the shed. I found it wasn’t easy setting up but I got my first view of Saturn with it and it did the job setting me on the path of greater ( and more expensive) things.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Streetbob
Missing words

[The Fellas on Google Plus]

What an engaging and revealing read, Dave. Thank you for sharing your incredible journey (and some interesting history, too). I'm glad you're still out there enjoying the sky😉. My first scope was a Sears tabletop toy refractor (does that even count 😜??) followed quickly by a Jason Model 311 refractor (does THAT even count 🤪???) and the great Tasco 11TR (I won't even ask, lol).

 

Love ya!

Reggie

[Nightspore]

3 hours ago, Streetbob said:

My first scope was a SW130 too.   The tripod fell apart and It is gathering dust in the shed. I found it wasn’t easy setting up but I got my first view of Saturn with it and it did the job setting me on the path of greater ( and more expensive) things.

 

Yeah, I had to replace the tripod/mount with an EQ5 after it disintegrated. That 130 set me on the path to penury lol. Enjoyable penury though. I'm pretty sure I've bought eyepieces I've either never used, just used once, or now can't actually find.

[Nightspore]

35 minutes ago, The Fellas on Google Plus said:

What an engaging and revealing read, Dave. Thank you for sharing your incredible journey (and some interesting history, too). I'm glad you're still out there enjoying the sky😉. My first scope was a Sears tabletop toy refractor (does that even count 😜??) followed quickly by a Jason Model 311 refractor (does THAT even count 🤪???) and the great Tasco 11TR (I won't even ask, lol).

 

Love ya!

Reggie

 

Cheers Reggie, you're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've been out under the stars with a scope a crazy nineteen times this year (since September). I think tabletop scopes count, I have a cute baby Orion tabletop Mak.

 

 

One Xmas, when I was a kid, my folks got me a German set of optics, basically a Meccano set with plastic lenses. I think it was an educational toy, typically German. I recall it was called Optik Universell or something. I could make astronomical and terrestrial telescopes, a microscope and opera glasses. It did teach me about optics at a young age though. No wonder Germany produces such fine optics, even if they're made in China now. 

 

 

"Vorsprung durch Technik" as they say. Clear Skies to you!

Edited November 29, 2023 by Nightspore
Gremlins

[+Bino-viewer]

A nice read, and its heartening to see you are still enjoying your astronomy so much.

 

Here's how it all began for me.

 

The ubiquitous Prinz Astral 60mm refractor (model number 100) which was a Christmas present around 1977 or 78.

The eyepiece extended out providing magnifications from 15x - 60x.

I think they were pretty common back them.

Optically it wasn't the best (i certainly prefer the Tec) but it gave me my first detailed look at the moon and Jupiters moons and Saturns rings.

I remember digging it out of the attic in 1986 to try and track down Halleys Comet (I failed !!)

 

There in the attic it stayed till my dad finally moved out of my old home in 2004. It was in such a poor state that it was only fit for the scrapheap.

I remember taking it there, and feeling only slightly sentimental, enough to make a promise to myself to buy myself another scope someday.

That turned out to be a 10" Newtonian and i really should have gone for something smaller, but thats aperture fever for you !!

 

 

 

[Nightspore]

13 minutes ago, Bino-viewer said:

A nice read, and its heartening to see you are still enjoying your astronomy so much.

 

Here's how it all began for me.

 

The ubiquitous Prinz Astral 60mm refractor (model number 100) which was a Christmas present around 1977 or 78.

The eyepiece extended out providing magnifications from 15x - 60x.

I think they were pretty common back them.

Optically it wasn't the best (i certainly prefer the Tec) but it gave me my first detailed look at the moon and Jupiters moons and Saturns rings.

I remember digging it out of the attic in 1986 to try and track down Halleys Comet (I failed !!)

 

There in the attic it stayed till my dad finally moved out of my old home in 2004. It was in such a poor state that it was only fit for the scrapheap.

I remember taking it there, and feeling only slightly sentimental, enough to make a promise to myself to buy myself another scope someday.

That turned out to be a 10" Newtonian and i really should have gone for something smaller, but thats aperture fever for you !!

 

 

 

 

Thanks Rob. I am getting back into it after a twelve month hiatus. I'm not really sure what happened to my old Tasco. The 'Bazooka' is in the shed, probably home to generations of spiders. I hope they enjoy it. Its slightly wobbly focuser lets it down. I used to thread a Baader helical (for fine focus) into the T-thread. This changed the focal plane a tad, but in the main there were no real problems. The Prinz Astral looks cool.

 

 

[+Glafnazur]

Great read Dave.

 

My dad made me my first telescope out of plastic piping, I don't know where he got the lenses from. My second scope was a Tasco but the mount was rubbish and I hardly used it, I preferred to use a pair of 8x40 binoculars I had back then.

 

My first scope looked something like this but the finish was a bit rougher. It might have had terrible CA but it helped to get me hooked and was one of the best things I've ever owned.

 

 

[Clive]

... The ubiquitous Prinz Astral 60mm refractor...

That was my first scope as well!  I remember my mother putting away cash each week to get it for my Christmas present in 1969.  I was amazed to see Saturns rings and Jupiter's moons and I got it just in time for close up views of Comet Bennett from my bedroom window overlooking Derby town centre.  In a modified form it eventually became the finder scope for my home made 10" newt.

[Nightspore]

45 minutes ago, Glafnazur said:

Great read Dave.

 

My dad made me my first telescope out of plastic piping, I don't know where he got the lenses from. My second scope was a Tasco but the mount was rubbish and I hardly used it, I preferred to use a pair of 8x40 binoculars I had back then.

 

My first scope looked something like this but the finish was a bit rougher. It might have had terrible CA but it helped to get me hooked and was one of the best things I've ever owned.

 

 

 

Cheers Dave. When I was at school I always meant to use a 6" piece of plastic piping I'd obtained as a Newtonian. I'd read an old book about grinding amateur telescope primaries. I must have temporarily lost my Elgin Marbles though, as it would have been easier to have just bought a spherical mirror lol. The pipe ended up cut into pieces to make HiFi speaker stands.

[Clive]

...it eventually became the finder scope for my home made 10" newt...

 

Resprayed with  silver Hammerite to match the main scope and with a new homemade focuser to take a  1.25" eyepiece.

 

[Nightspore]

7 minutes ago, Clive said:

...it eventually became the finder scope for my home made 10" newt...

 

Resprayed with  silver Hammerite to match the main scope and with a new homemade focuser to take a  1.25" eyepiece.

 

 

 

 

That's impressive, Clive.

[Caldwell 14]

[Caldwell 14]

Just now, Caldwell 14 said:

I started out with a Towa 339, a fl15 3 inch frac, but they had lots of different badges, Swift being another. They were made by circle T and just about as sharp as they came. Things haven’t changed to much, my current and final refractor is about 15 years old, the rather wonderful TV 102.

[Caldwell 14]

I used to a big fan of anything TAL too back in the day. I still think the TAL 100R and RS were some of the best achros of the day.

Edited February 4 by Caldwell 14

[philjay]

On 29/11/2023 at 14:57, Bino-viewer said:

A nice read, and its heartening to see you are still enjoying your astronomy so much.

 

Here's how it all began for me.

 

The ubiquitous Prinz Astral 60mm refractor (model number 100) which was a Christmas present around 1977 or 78.

The eyepiece extended out providing magnifications from 15x - 60x.

I think they were pretty common back them.

Optically it wasn't the best (i certainly prefer the Tec) but it gave me my first detailed look at the moon and Jupiters moons and Saturns rings.

I remember digging it out of the attic in 1986 to try and track down Halleys Comet (I failed !!)

 

There in the attic it stayed till my dad finally moved out of my old home in 2004. It was in such a poor state that it was only fit for the scrapheap.

I remember taking it there, and feeling only slightly sentimental, enough to make a promise to myself to buy myself another scope someday.

That turned out to be a 10" Newtonian and i really should have gone for something smaller, but thats aperture fever for you !!

 

 

 

Snap, the prinz astral 100 was my second scope but my first proper scope. The first one being a very poor 50mm refractor, make unknown. The 100 cemented my interest and it stayed with me for a few years being used as a guide scope, (we did guiding manually in those days) on a 6" newt/cassegrain which I built in the 80s.

Edited February 4 by philjay