Just a quick poll.

What did you get for your first real Astro scope? What I mean by real is the first scope that you got that you really attribute to your current interest in Astronomy.

ETX-90RA, 1996. I was 16

My first scope was an old Focal spotting scope I bought at the flea market when I was around 14. With it I saw Saturn and was hooked. My first real scope was a Jason reflector mounted on an EQ mount. I sold it to a friend, who gave it to his oldest daughter, who has passed it down to her younger sister. After almost 20 years, it's mirrors are still in great shape and still has great views.

Roger

I didn't "get" anything. I built my own 6" Newtonian. It appeared in the February 1962 issue of Sky & Telescope. It was in there primarily for the two pier mount I made from a 1932 Ford rear axle. Fortunately I was able to procure a issue on the Astromart bulletin board.

My first telescope was/is an Intes Micro MN56, purchased one year ago. It now shares viewing duties with an STF Mirage 7, depending on conditions and targets.

Andrew

Started with an Orion 6" SVD reflector... loved it! great start!
I now have a 10" LX-200GPS and an Orion ED80... and love them both! 8)

I did the same as Darrell! I have a friend named Derek who is really into optics. However he really wasn't into telescopes he was into making a tracking missile head or some such nonsense! but anyway I hounded him for a few years about telescope optics and finally one day he showed up at my house with an 8" mirror kit complete with grit and pitch and a book named "ALL ABOUT TELESCOPES" by Sam Brown. over the next few months I ground and polished that glass.I had to parabolize it three times :C because I went to far twice and had to return it to a sphere! I made the spider and fibreglassed the tube and even made a mount from plumbing parts as described in that book. The scope turned out great and I will never get rid of it! Although I currently am using an LX200 12" Classic in my dome I often pull out my 8" in the yard to look at stuff! 8)

In 1969 (I was 14) started with a 6" f/8 that was given to me - sans primary mirror. Made my own mirror for it and it served me well until the early '80's. Now split my time between 13" f/4.5 and 8" f/8 Newts, both homemade. Still have the 6" tho.

Doug

What did you get for your first real Astro scope? What I mean by real is the first scope that you got that you really attribute to your current interest in Astronomy?
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Good question:

My first scope was a non-descript 60mm refractor that I cost me $5 at a yard sale. Pretty tore up but early one morning on the Arizona desert I caught a glimpse of the Orion Nebula and I was hooked. For a while that scope sat outside on a second story balcony until someone used the neighbors ladder and to steal it.

My first real scope was an Orange Tube C-8, the old pumkin.

These days I have several scopes, I would have to say my main scopes are both 12.5 inch Newtonians, one is an older Discovery which I have reworked, it has 1288mm Focal length, F4.06 and was refigured by Alan Raycraft. The OTA is about 50lbs and 52 inches long so it's like an overweight 10 inch, easy to move and fits in most any small car.

My other main scope is a 12.5 inch F6 Research Grade which I recently purchased locally. It seems to have very good optics but sits large on its mount so it pretty much stays at home and gets rolled out for the evening.

Oh well...

jon isaacs

In 1970 my brother in law lent me a 3" reflector with a BAD tripod mount and NO focuser. You had to slide the plastic eyepiece in and out until you got a clear image. But I saw Saturn and Jupiter well enough to get the lifetime bug. I had to give it back when my nephew got big enough to use it.

I built a 4-1/2" f4 reflector - using a Coulter (Idyllwild, CA) kit - around 1976 - again with no focuser. I still use this today, on an old camera tripod. I am working on a Dobsonian mount for it I write this. It picks out dim galaxies pretty well.

A year ago my wife bought a Meade DS90-AT 90mm f11 refractor. I use this for high power views.

Someday, I may buy a "real" telescope - probably using the Astromart ads! But I make the best of what I have.

Clear skies finally again tonight!!!!! Regards,

Rick W