Telescope badge petition thread

[Mercury]

We have badges for camping and fishing and paracord knotting, I think we ought to have one for Astronomy!!


I think in order for you to get it, you should post a pic of your MT with your astronomy gear, whether it's binoculars or a telescope, and a description of your favorite object to view. 


Here are my pics along with my submission for the artwork for the badge, feel free to criticize and download it to change it. 


My favorite objects to view are open Star clusters like the Beehive Cluster or the Pleiades.  I also love looking at Jupiter and it's moons.







I sometimes use my multi to adjust the collimation of my secondary mirror.  Gotta be careful, one slip and that tool goes sliding down the tube and smacks into the primary mirror!

[SAK Guy]

I second!  Pics soon!

[bounding star]

Nice idea. Maybe rename the badge "stars" or something rather than "scope" to avoid confusion with weapon scopes

[Grant Lamontagne]

I dunno, a redneck like me might misconstrue a Stars badge...





Def

[kkokkolis]

Some for starters. Full list follows
Terrestrial and Astronomical Optics
1.   TELESCOPES
1.1.   Skywatcher 12'' Newton/Dob 305/1500 f/4.9 Flextube
1.2.   Skywatcher 8''  Newton/Dob 200/1200 f/6
1.3.   Celestron C6 SCT 150/1500 f/10
1.4.   Skywatcher 6" MCT 150/1800 f/12
1.5.   Skywatcher 5.1  Newton/Dob 130/650 f/5 Flextube
1.6.   Celestron C4 MCT 102/1325 f/13
1.7.   Orion 80ST f/5
1.8.   William Optics Zenithstar 66ED Petzval Refractor 66/400 f/6.1
1.9.   Stellarvue F50W RACI f/4
1.10.   (100-120 ED?)
2.   MOUNTS
2.1.   Celestron 6/8SE GOTO (6" SCT, 6" MCT, 5.1" Newton, 4" MCT, 66ED, 80ST)
2.1.1.   Logitech Wireless Rumblepad™ 2
2.1.2.   RS232 to USB
2.1.3.   Southern Stars Skywire
2.2.   Skywatcher Dobson 12'' (GOTO upgrade?)
2.3.   Skywatcher Dobson 8''
2.4.   Skywatcher Dobson 5.1" (+4" MCT & 66ED & 80ST)
2.5.   Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod
2.5.1.   Head
2.5.1.1.   Manfrotto 808RC4 &
2.5.1.2.   Novoflex Magic Ball w Quick Release plate
2.5.1.3.   Berlebach Universal Binocular Mount
2.5.1.4.   SteadyPix Universal Smartphone Adapter
2.5.1.5.   Agena L steel adaptor
2.6.   Vixen Portamount
2.6.1.   Vixen Plate
2.6.2.   Photo Thread Adapter
2.7.   Bresser Lightweight Altazimuth Tripod (AZ0)
2.8.   Hama Mono 8 Monopod
2.9.   Parallelogram Custom Wooden Bino Mount
2.10.   Broomstick
2.11.   (Custom Wood tripod?)
2.12.   (Dual Mount?)
3.   BINOCULARS- MONOCULARS
3.1.   Canon 18x50 IS UD AW Modified Porro
3.2.   Zeiss Terra 8x42 ED Roof
3.3.   Pentax Papilio 6,5x21 Reverse Porro
3.4.   Stellarvue F50W RACI f/4
3.5.   Bresser 10x50 Porro
3.6.   Rocktrail 10x50 Porro
3.7.   Asahi Pentax Type 561 8x30 Porro
3.8.   CCCP 8x30 Mono Porro
3.9.   Zeiss 1x Diopter compensation spectacles
3.10.   (Minox Macroscope 8x25x?)
3.11.   (Giant 80-100 45-90 degrees?)
3.12.   (Vixen SG 2.1x42?)
4.   MICROSCOPES- MACROSCOPES- LOUPES
4.1.   Bresser Researcher ICD LED 2x-4x Greenough Stereoscopic Microscope
4.1.1.   Widefield 5x eyepieces pair
4.1.2.   Widefield 10x eyepieces pair
4.1.3.   Widefield 20x eyepieces pair
4.1.4.   Extreme Widefield 10x eyepieces pair
4.1.5.   Extreme Widefield 30x eyepieces pair
4.1.6.   Celestron Digital Microscope Imager 15x (50x measured)  2MP USB
4.2.   Pentax Papilio 6,5x21 Reverse Porro (8x@50cm)
4.3.   Belomo Hastings Triplet 10x21
4.4.   Tasco 50x-80x Field Microscope
4.5.   Radioshack 5x-10x-15x triple lens
4.6.   Victorinox 5x & 8x Swiss Army Knives magnifying lenses
4.7.   (Minox Macroscope 8x25?)
5.   DIAGONALS
5.1.   William Optics 2'' Carbon Dielectric 99% Push & SCT
5.2.   Optcorp 2'' Dielectric 99% SCT
5.3.   Celestron Star Diagonal 1.25'' Push
5.4.   William Optics Amici 45 1.25"
5.5.   StellarVue RACI Diagonal
5.6.   Synta 45 Amici 1.25'' Push Erect Image
5.7.   Celestron T2 Female (C90) 45 Amici 1.25''  Erect Image
6.   FINDERS
6.1.   Stellarvue F50W RACI f/4 (2 Celestron Quick release Mounts)
6.2.   Celestron 50mm Straight Through Finder
6.3.   Rigel Quickfinder
6.3.1.   6 mounts +2
6.4.   Telrad
6.4.1.   2 mounts
6.5.   William Optics Multi Reticle Finder
6.6.   Synta Red Dot Finder (4 x 6 mounts)
6.7.   Heliopod
7.   EYEPIECES
7.1.   Baader Aspheric Hyperion 31mm 72 2.00''
7.2.   Baader Hyperion 24mm 1.25''
7.3.   Baader Hyperion Zoom 24-8mm 40-70 2.00'/1.25''
7.4.   Baader G Ortho 18mm 40 1.25''
7.5.   Baader G Ortho 12.5mm 40 1.25''
7.6.   Baader G Ortho 9mm 40 1.25''
7.7.   Baader G Ortho 6mm 40 1.25''
7.8.   TeleVue Nagler 22mm T4 82 2.00''
7.9.   TeleVue Nagler 17mm T4 82 2.00''
7.10.   TeleVue Ethos 13mm 100 2.00'/1.25''
7.11.   TeleVue Nagler 12mm T4 82 2.00'/1.25''
7.12.   Televue Delos 10mm 72  1.25''
7.13.   TeleVue Radian 8mm 60 1.25''
7.14.   Televue Delos 6mm 72  1.25''
7.15.   TeleVue Radian 5mm 60 1.25''
7.16.   (Explore Scientific 30mm 82 2.00''?)
7.17.   Explore Scientific 24mm 68 1.25''
7.18.   Explore Scientific 20mm  100 2.00''
7.19.   Explore Scientific 9mm 100 2.00''
7.20.   Explore Scientific 6.7mm 82 1.25''
7.21.   Explore Scientific 4.7mm 82 1.25''
7.22.   William Optics 24-8 Zoom 1.25''
7.23.   Stellarvue 23mm 50 Reticle 1.25''
7.24.   SkyWatcher Super Plossl 25mm 50 1.25'' (digiscoping)
8.   BARLOWS/ REDUCERS
8.1.   Antares 0.63x SCT
8.2.   GTO Proxima 1.5x 2.00''
8.3.   Orion Shorty Plus 2.0x 1.25''
8.4.   Televue Powermate 2.5x 1.25''
8.5.   Denk 2x Multiplier 2.00"
8.6.   Baader Q Barlow 2.2x 1.25''
8.7.   Skywatcher Coma Corrector
9.   FILTERS
9.1.   Sirius Optics VFS 1.25"
9.2.   BS Astro 2" filter Wheel 4x2.0'' M48 with:
9.2.1.   Baader OIII 2.00''
9.2.2.   Thousand Oaks LP2 Narrowband Nebula Filter 2.00'
9.2.3.   Baader UHC-S 2.00''
9.3.   Baader Moon & Skyglow Neodymium Broadband 1.25''
9.4.   Orion Ultrablock Narrowband 1.25''
9.5.   Skywatcher Moon  1.25''
9.6.   Celestron Moon  1.25''
9.7.   Celestron Wratten 12 Deep Yellow 1.25''
9.8.   Celestron Wratten 21 Orange 1.25''
9.9.   Celestron Wratten 25 Red Tricolor 1.25''
9.10.   Celestron Wratten 56 Light Green 1.25''
9.11.   Celestron Wratten 58A Green 1.25''
9.12.   Celestron Wratten 80A Blue 1.25'' 
9.13.   Baader Astro Solar Filter
9.14.   RealD 3D Variable Polarizing Filter
9.15.   58mm UV Hama x2
9.16.   Celestron Green Laser Pointer Quick Release mount
10.   FIELD MAPS
10.1.   Deep-Sky Hunter Star Atlas
10.2.   Deep Sky Atlas
10.3.   Sky Atlas 2000
10.4.   Pocket Sky Atlas
10.5.   Orion Deep Map 600
10.6.   Tri Atlas
10.7.   Paper and eBooks
11.   CASES
11.1.   B&W Type 61 with Lid Pocket (eyepieces & maps)
11.2.   Televue Ethos soft case (grab n' go eyepieces & diagonals)
11.3.   WO soft case (66ED)
11.4.   Videocamera case (C4 or ST80)
11.5.   Aluminum Celestron Kit Case (Canon 18x50 UD IS AW & Zeiss Terra ED 8x42)
11.6.   Stanley Fat Max Xtreme Roundtop (accessories case)
11.7.   Stanley Fat Max Xtreme OpenMouth (6" MCT or 6” SCT)
11.8.   Toolchest (6" MCT or SCT)
11.9.   Hard Suitcase with C4 or C6 foam
11.10.   Aluminum Toolchest (Bresser Researcher ICD & Accessories)
11.11.   Aluminum briefcase 1 (Cat's accessories etc)
11.12.   Aluminum briefcase 2 (Grab n’ go Hyperion 24, Zoom, Q Barlow etc)
11.13.   Elementary School Backpack (PortaMount accessories)
11.14.   Executive (field maps & books)
12.   APPS
12.1.   SkySafari Plus
12.2.   RedShift
12.3.   StarWalk
12.4.   SolarWalk
12.5.   Luminos
12.6.   Skykey
12.7.   Stars 3D
12.8.   Astromist
12.9.   Pocket Universe
12.10.   GoSkywatch
12.11.   Starmap
12.12.   Star Atlas
12.13.   Star Charts
12.14.   Observer Pro
12.15.   Scope Help
12.16.   Planets
12.17.   Planetarium for Smarsmurfch
12.18.   NexRemote
12.19.   Nexstar Observer List
12.20.   Nexstar Control Pad
12.21.   Celestia
12.22.   Cartes du Ciel
12.23.   Stellarium
13.   OBSERVING AIDS AND OTHER STUFF
13.1.   Observing (ironing) chair
13.2.   Dark Sky Apparel Hooded Observing Vest
13.3.   Biking gloves x3 (Car, Binoculars, Hooded vest)
13.4.   Hotech Laser Collimator
13.5.   Concenter MkII
13.6.   Southern Stars Skywire
13.7.   iPhone 4S
13.8.    iPod 3
13.9.   LG GPad V500 8.3
13.10.   Acer Netbook (Nexstar & Rumblepad)
13.11.   Sony Vaio 17" (Nexstar & Rumblepad)
13.12.   Logitech Wireless Rumblepad 2
13.13.   Sony Cybershot T700
13.14.   Olympus fe 25
13.15.   Many Red lights etc
13.16.   Books, field books, planispheres and Maps
13.17.   Accessories, adaptors and tools
13.18.   (Glatter 635mm & TUBLUG?)
13.19.   Victorinox and Leatherman multitools and SAKs
13.20.   Hyundai Matrix GLS Telescope Cargo Car with red lights (b. 2003)
13.21.   Suzuki Ignis (b. 2004)
13.22.   Winter clothes and Timberland boots
14.   SITES: Hellas (Greece)
14.1.   Piraeus Urban
14.2.   Alepochori Suburban
14.3.   Syros Island Suburban
14.4.   Mt Kithairon Suburban Dark site
14.5.   Mt Kyllini Dark site
14.6.   Mt Chelmos Dark site
14.7.   Wherever whenever whatever
   

[SAK Guy]

[kkokkolis]

Some more. I don't have pics of my 8" Dobson (similar to Mercury's) and 6" Maksutov but the later is home and I'll take a pic.

What I like to observe. I like planets and the moon (mainly my 6" Maksutov), globular clusters (all telescopes), nebulas (8" and 12" dobsonians, 6" SCT), open clusters (WO 66ED, binoculars), terrestrial and marine targets ((WO 66ED, Canon and Zeiss binoculars), birds (same), insects and flowers (Pentax binoculars), sand and stones (Pentax binoculars and Bresser microscope and Belomo loupe), everything in Nature and Cosmos in fact. I like optics maybe because I wear spectacles from a young age but I was careful to always get the best buys, not the cheapest, not the most expensive. Most of my optics give ~90% of what the best can give and worth the 10-33%, except some of the eyepieces which are the best in their class. Optics can be VERY expensive if you don't have some rules and inhibitions.

[kkokkolis]

The image isn't shown.

[Reinier]

[kkokkolis]

Is that for Def, the bicentennial bearded guy or the two babes? I hope the third.

[Etherealicer]

Is that for Def, the bicentennial bearded guy or the two babes? I hope the third.

Babes and binoculars... I know where this is leading

[Mercury]

Nice pics and list kkokkolis!!! 


Your telescope gear makes me want to go buy more telescope gear!!!!  I already have another scope planned, maybe three...


I didn't actually list my gear in my initial post, and after kkokkolis's pics it seems rather puny, but here's my list:


Orion XT8 8" Newt/Dobsonian F/5.9 Telescope with RDF Finderscope and 2" Crayford focuser
Orion Sirius Plossl 25mm and 10mm eyepieces
Orion 2x Shorty barlow magnifier
Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars
Hailey's optics 12-100x70 Zoom binoculars
Vista explorer tripod with binocular adapter
A few various star chars and books
Orion moonmap(neat tool!)

[toolguy]

I dunno, a redneck like me might misconstrue a Stars badge...
Def

I can't read any of the vendor signs nor the badges,so the question must be asked.What event were you attending that would draw Jeff Foxworthy and Willie Nelson?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[zoidberg]

I dunno, a redneck like me might misconstrue a Stars badge...
Def

I can't read any of the vendor signs nor the badges,so the question must be asked.What event were you attending that would draw Jeff Foxworthy and Willie Nelson?

Inquiring minds want to know.

SHOT 2012.

[zoidberg]

We need some more names to get us over the line. 

Mercury
SAK Guy
kkokkolis
zoidberg

[kkokkolis]

Your telescope gear makes me want to go buy more telescope gear!!!!  I already have another scope planned, maybe three...

Don't rush things. Enjoy what you have and build it up gradually. Exploit used equipment, most amateurs keep their tools in excellent condition and most used pieces I bought were in a similar condition with the new ones, but the price is 33-66% (except the Alpha segment, Astrophysics, Televue, Leica, Takahashi where even 75% is considered good). Ask before you buy, most things are already used or reviewed by someone else. Beeing an American is a major advantage because most telescopes and accessories cost less than half the European price. Japanese amateurs bought their Pentax eyepieces from the US if  that tells you something. Ask in our telescope thread, I've used several things myself. Just don't ask me about astrophotography.

[Mercury]

Your telescope gear makes me want to go buy more telescope gear!!!!  I already have another scope planned, maybe three...

Don't rush things. Enjoy what you have and build it up gradually. Exploit used equipment, most amateurs keep their tools in excellent condition and most used pieces I bought were in a similar condition with the new ones, but the price is 33-66% (except the Alpha segment, Astrophysics, Televue, Leica, Takahashi where even 75% is considered good). Ask before you buy, most things are already used or reviewed by someone else. Beeing an American is a major advantage because most telescopes and accessories cost less than half the European price. Japanese amateurs bought their Pentax eyepieces from the US if  that tells you something. Ask in our telescope thread, I've used several things myself. Just don't ask me about astrophotography.

Astrophotography is a tree I'm not likely to bark up very soon.  I am loving visual astronomy and starhopping in particular.  The 27 Messier objects I've found so far were done by first locating the constellation, identifying key stars, and doing dead reckoning triangulation to determine the location of the DSO itself.  It's incredibly rewarding to know I successfully navigated the sky and found a faint fuzzy something. 


After my initial 7 or 8 sessions with this scope, I have determined that I need a riser for it, because I hate hunching over.  I also have determined that I am for sure going to buy a smaller scope for grab and go because setting up this DOB sometimes takes longer than I have time for.  Mainly because to use it at all I have to carry it outside in two pieces, set it up, let it cool, place covers over 3 post lights, set up my stool, set up my table, etc.  Whereas with the smaller scope, if I have ten or twenty minutes I can run out and check out what I want to then come back in.  Like tonight, I have beautiful skies but I have to work, so I might only get 30 minutes or so.  Heck, it will take that long for my DOB to cool down.  I can't leave it out because of thieves, so I have to place it on the porch immediately prior to observing. 


I plan on checking out some used gear, if you happen to know anyone with an Orion Starblast 90mm refractor or something with similar optics then I'm game for it. 

[kkokkolis]

I know what you are saying. Congratulations about your progress, 8" of aperture and dob simplicity helped you, that's for sure. Take your time with objects and be sure to dark adapt as much as possible, this will help you enjoy everything better.
For used equipment try Cloudy Nights Classifieds and Astromart. com. The latter has a little fee. Be careful about skums though, check everybody's feedback first.
About the riser, people use small tables from IKEA or similar cheap and lightweight furniture. But a better option is an observing chair. Observing chairs cost around 100$ but when when seated you actually see better and of course avoid getting tired. A cheaper alternative are ironing chairs. Much cheaper (I bought mine from Aldi for 15€) they are heavier and lack the on the fly change of height, but once setup theyhave the same functionality.

[bounding star]

I dunno, a redneck like me might misconstrue a Stars badge...

Def

How about "astro" then?

Also, my extremely modest list:
Tasco 17T
Galileoscope
Edu-science 150 power
Some really decent old binoculars I can't find

Please don't judge me, I love astronomy much more than that list would tell you...

[kkokkolis]

Bounding Star and Saturn avatar, I would never have thought you might be interested im Astronomy.

[Mercury]

Whoo hoo another astronomy lover!


I also agree that Astro is a much better tag for the badge.  I've updated the previous artwork, what do you guys think?

[kkokkolis]

It is great. Why don't they give the badge to us? 

[Mercury]

I know c'mon guys!!! 

[kkokkolis]

Some more pics. My star closet, some of my equipment cases, my former terrestrial setup with Hyperion eyepieces.

[kkokkolis]

My most used currently telescope is also the smallest, just 66mm. But as a refractor it is perfect for all kinds of targets and covers lower magnifications, from 12x to 80x, but it can go higher with a barlow. I love that telescope.

[SAK Guy]

Exceptional!!!! 

[zoidberg]

It is great. Why don't they give the badge to us? 

I know c'mon guys!!! 

A couple more names and it might make the short list.

Mercury
SAK Guy
kkokkolis
zoidberg
bounding star

[Mercury]

What model is that refractor, and what are it's optic specs?  I'm looking for a decent grab and go, and it's gonna be awhile before I can afford the 90mm I am looking at.

[kkokkolis]

It is one of the smallest and not available any more, William Optics 66ED Zenithstar refractor at f/6, a 4 element Petzval design with flat field. In the same line they had thw SD and APO models. Now they make 80mm models and up. It's natural successor is the Astrotech 72mm. Most people prefer the Skywatcher 80mm ED which is 50% longer but the portability of this 66 is superb. It doubles as a spotting scope with a 45 degrees Amici diagonal which gives correct orientation to the image and it has an SCT thread on the focuser. It bridges the gap between binoculars and telescopes. It is a little diamond and I bought the last specimen in Greece new just before the local representative went out of business.
Your 8" is the most versatile telescope that can show all kinds of objects. I suggest to stay with it and add some good eyepieces around 30-24mm, 12mm and 6mm before you go for a second telescope.

[kkokkolis]

The small refractor fits in a small case, with his astro and terrestrial diagonals and finder. It can be mounted anywhere. I usually use a Manfrotto tripod.
The golden scope is my planetary. It's the one I keep ready in our living room now, because we have a nice planetary circumstance this season. I usually keep 2-4 telescopes and my binoculars case ready in the living room, with access to the balcony, because there isn't much time to prepare every night.
You can see the ironing chair next to the Maksutov. It worths more than any telescope, especially if you are reaching the 50s.