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Post by davy on Sept 11, 2015 18:47:57 GMT
Was forwarded an advert from one of the guys in my band that stirling astronomy society is having an open night at there observatory sat 26th sept so im planning a trip over to have a look around this historical telescope that was restored in the 1970's I believe. . Been looking for an astronomy club to visit .
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 11, 2015 21:19:22 GMT
Was forwarded an advert from one of the guys in my band that stirling astronomy society is having an open night at there observatory sat 26th sept so im planning a trip over to have a look around this historical telescope that was restored in the 1970's I believe. . Been looking for an astronomy club to visit . She's a beaut!!
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Post by davy on Sept 13, 2015 13:59:36 GMT
Yeah absolute cracker..credit to the folk who restored it..it's so easy to take the easy route and bin these old scopes and bang in a large relector or trus scope.. nice to save a bit of history now and again.
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 14, 2015 11:44:08 GMT
Not many people left interested in doing restoration
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 23, 2015 14:24:18 GMT
I wish I had the skillset, honestly.
When I first was researching VA/EAV I immediately saw video as the solution to large aperture Newts with intermediate to long focal lengths.
I wonder how many unique scopes like the one above could be given new life with a video camera.
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Post by davy on Sept 23, 2015 15:01:53 GMT
Hopefully find out this Saturday
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Post by davy on Sept 24, 2015 17:40:30 GMT
That's Saturday night a go, er ..uncle john has signed up for the trip to stirling astronomy society open night at Stirling observatory. .looking forward to it..uncle john is great company
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Post by davy on Sept 27, 2015 12:04:56 GMT
update from last nights visit to stirling observitory,parking in stirling on a saturday night is challenging because of its vibrant night life,the hotel the observitory is sat on is very posh looking but 10 out 10 for the staff ,we asked at reception for directions and were given these without a fuss,great to see even when we were not guests of the hotel,we were directed to a small conferance room where there was a presentation on a screen projector ,we sat and watched images of deep sky and solar mixed in with astrophysics information,we waited till it as darker and went up to the roof and had a fantastic view of stirling castle and other historic buildings,we were given a presentation of the night sky by our guide before we were shown into the observitory,the observitory is fantastic and been well looked after since its restoration,the moon was the target for the large reflector scope and we all took turns at having a look through it, all in near to original specs,it has had a r/a adjuster made to compensaate the clockwork mechanism thats missing,a telrad finder is fitted as well. was a very good visit and the stirling astronomical society members there last night are very knowledgable and made the night a pleasure.i hope to take a trip to one of there club nights soon..well done S.A.S DAVY
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 27, 2015 14:04:32 GMT
Thanks for the update davy. Well, that was certainly a surprise! An observatory in a busy night-life area. PLUS it's built on top of a pub!!! What kind of weird and wacky astronomy is that? I was expecting a report from an observatory out in the quiet dark country Moors of Scotland.
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Post by davy on Sept 27, 2015 14:29:49 GMT
This is old school astronomy 1889 was first put to use when Stirling's lighting was run by gas .. Light pollution what's that lol
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 27, 2015 15:01:49 GMT
yeah True! That's like many old observatories around the world. They were built in dark cities We have one about 20 minutes from here (I used to be a member). An old English sea captain built a foundary in Ballarat in the 1800's so he could make the enormous mount for his huge 26" Reflecting telescope (well, it was huge back then). He was invited by James Oddie (famous Australian Astronomer in the 1800's) They continued making telescopes at the site which is now the Historic Ballarat Observatory, but nothing can be seen in the sky because it is now surrounded by the 'electrically illuminated' modern city of Ballarat. They get thousands of visitors every year, but not to look at the marvellous historic telescopes. No, these tours are so visitors can look at the famous Astronomy themed Lead Light windows in the old buildings at the Observatory observatory.ballarat.net/about-us/stained-glass-windows/
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Post by davy on Oct 1, 2015 16:30:35 GMT
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 1, 2015 17:04:44 GMT
Excellent pics davy. Yeah, the Modern Focuser and Telrad bracket sort of kill the Mood for Authenticity
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 1, 2015 19:44:37 GMT
She's still a beaut, tho! I love the brass!!
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