Telescopes of FaintFuzzies.com
My primary telescope, the 22" f/4 reflector with Pegasus Optics primary mirror built in 1999
22" f/4 in my backyard
The reflector was home-built with 1/2" Baltic Birch with a very fine Pegasus Optics primary mirror. 1/14th wave and 0.975 Strehl ratio. The bearings can be removed and the whole telescope fits in a small sedan such as my previously owned BMW 330i. It fits along with everything I need for an observing session, including a short ladder, table, etc.
The 22" reflector packed in the Volkswagon New Beetle vehicle.
Left rear: Rocker box and mirror box with the upper cage.
Right: Truss poles, large REI camp table (under trusses), 3-step ladder, then equatorial platform (hidden to the right of the ladder, can see only one small metal part)
Front: Various cases of eyepieces, books, etc.
My setup at Golden State Star Party
2009 Everything here plus tent goes in the VW
Beetle in the background. Blew me away when I was able
to pack everything in the car. I even had some
folks walk by and asked me, "Where is my motor
home?"
Packed at Golden State Star
Party 2009
22" f/4 disassembled
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My first serious telescope. The
Criterion RV-6 6" f/8 reflector.
This model was made very well known for quality and
affordability and launched many people into the hobby
during the space age in the 1960s and the early 1970s
and some are still observing today.
It launched my hobby in the late 70s.
I observed deep sky objects in my parent's backyard with
the RV-6 and saw detail that I would not have imagined
as a kid. I started taking notes and sketching during my
middle and high school years. During my school years, I
took about 400 pages of notes and sketches and really
launched my deep sky passion. Thanks to the founders of
Criterion to make this possible for this kid from the
70s.
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Star Party Telescope: 30" f/4.3 Starmaster with Swayze
Optics primary mirror
At Texas Star Party 2006.
SkyTracker GOTO System powered by Sky Commander.
There is a larger scope behind me to the right.
That is Larry Mitchell's 36" f/5 Obsession.
Looks small as it is 75 yards away.
Taking the scope cover off the
30" at the Texas Star Party 2006
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My first large telescope: Home built 16" f/4.5
reflector with a well figured Meade primary mirror.
Note: I sold this telescope to a TAC member at about
2004. Prior the the 16", I had the Celestron C8
"classic". One of the original orange tube C8's with a AC
drive from the 80's.
The 22" just built sitting next to my
old 16" f/4.5 with an outstanding Meade mirror. Taken in
1999.
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Public Star Party
Telescope: the 4" f/11 AstroTelescopes "planet
Killer" refractor
The optics on
this thing is actually very good. The optics shows very
little chromatic color at bright objects, such as
Jupiter. But for very bright objects, such as
Venus, the color is evident but a lot less than most
achromats, but I can see chromatic color in many apos as
well. I was a little surprised that I was able to
use 450x on Jupiter at GSSP. The seeing was
incredible and the view as astounding for a 4"
telescope, but of course my 22" at full aperture was
even better. The focuser is rotatable and has the best
non-Feather Touch focuser I've ever used. Better than
the Takahashi or TeleVue focusers. It won't carry a 8
pound CCD camera, but it wasn't designed to.