Anyone own a Jason Comet 480?

I picked this up at Goodwill last night for $13. I did a quick optics check in the store and they appear to be in working order.

It came with all lens caps, 1 .965 eyepiece, and three screws in place of the original legs (they actually work fine).

An Astromart and google search doesn't turn up much info other than lack of praise for the optics and a mention that the base seems well made (actually the whole scope seems to be metal).

It is marked 'Made in Japan'.

Any insight? How bad is it?

What is a Jones-Bird Design?

Thanks for any info...

Well, for $13 how bad can a working scope be?

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Hi:

I have a Jason Comet 480 and a few years ago i had one I sent to Uncle Rod...

The base is nice but optically these seemm to be about like every other Newtonian with a corrector in the focuser I have ever owned, not so hot, I am quite sure splitting Castor is beyond the capabilities of my scope.

It's cute thought.

Jon

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Let me add to what I said about the 480. The optics are certainly OK. Remember this is a 3-inch scope. It's probably comparable to your average Short Tube 80. The only really bad thing on Elizabeth's Comet (which has a black tube)? The horrid little finder (single element objective).