TELESCOPES and ASTRONOMY

Would you like to know more about the sky and stars? Is it a planet or a star?

Nothing rivals the thrill of looking at the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. The first time you look at the moon or the Orion Nebula will take your breath away. Yet many first time views at the stars are through an inferior department store telescope with a shaky mount. Disappointment is often the result.

Shown below are a selection of truely fine telescopes, as well a good selection of reference books on both telescope building and astronomy. You can purchase the complete instrument, or a fine kit. Each of these instruments will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment and allow you to seriously study the stars, planets, and comets.

4.5" Newtonian Telescope Kit: This is one of the lowest cost ways to get a high quality refelector telescope with a solid mount and high optical quality. A step-by-step video guide is included to assure your success in building this instrument. All the Optics are supplied, all parts and hardware, a 1 1/4 inch rack-and-pinion focuser, teflon bearings, and quality birch plywood mount, precut and ready for assembly. The specifications are: Primary Mirror 4 1/4 inch F10 focal length (43") with protected aluminum coating, a 10 mm Kellner eyepiece producing a magnification of 109X. Other eyepieces may be purchased as shown below. The length is 48" total and the weight is 16 lbs. This unit fits perfectly in the backseat of your car and can be easily carried and set up. Even when you move up to larger instruments, you will keep this telescope for a lifetime. Price is $225.00 plus shipping.

3" Reflecting Telescope: The Stargazer telescope comes complete with a hardwood tripod, and is ready to use. It was reviewed in the December 1995 Star and Telescope Magazine and they said,"Objects were surprisingly bright and clear in these small aperture scopes.....Good telescopes can still be found for under $250. The telescope is made in Canada by a small independent craftsman and astronomer known as Stargazer Steve. One only has to talk to him for a few minutes to realize that he is dedicated to providing high quality instruments at an affordable price for any amateur or youth astronomer. Price is $225.00 plus shipping. Note availability is January 1998 due to the popularity of this telescope.

-

Celestron C5 Tabletop Observatory: This telescope is and has been a favorite for many serious astronomers due to it's small size, razor-sharp optics, and exceptional capability. The primary aperture is 5 " and yet the total length is only 11", acheived by the folded Schmidt-Cassegrain optics. The C5+ has the advanced feature of a built-in tracking motor that runs from a single 9 Volt battery for 50 hours. The C5 is the best choice in a portable telescope and comes complete with a 25 MM 1.25" eyepiece, table-top stand, DC drive and hand controller, photo tripod adaptor, fork mount, and wedge. An optional padded case is available to protect your investment. C5+ Celestron Telescope price is $1249.00. Padded case price: $125.00

Celestron C4.5 Newtonian Telescope: The C4.5 is serious equatorial telescope for the beginner or intermediate level astronomy enthusiast. This scope is capable of visual viewing of deep space, planets, and nebulae. It will accept a variety of eyepieces giving it a wide range of magnification. The hardwood triopod provides ridged, shake free viewing. The Equatorial mount means that you can track stars and planets by adjusting one axis of the drive. A fine vernier on the mount and focus tube, combined with the counterweights and heavy mount provide for a terrific viewing experience. Price for the C4.5, which comes with a 26 mm Plossl eyepiece, and a 6X30 finder scope is $995.00.

-

Eyepieces: All eyepiece are exceptional optical quality Plossl eyepieces, and will fit any of the 1.25" eyepiece telescopes listed above.

SELECTED ASTRONOMY BOOK TITLES


BERRY, RICHARD BUILD YOUR OWN TELESCOPE, SECOND EDITION RICHMOND, VA WILLMAN-BELL 1994. FINE- NEW BOOK. 276 PAGES, 8" BY 10 5/8". LEARN HOW TO BUILD ANY OF FIVE DIFFERENT TELESCOPES USING READILY AVAILABLE MATERIALS AND COMMERCIAL OPTICS. BERRY PROVIDES STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING SCOPES RANGING FROM A 4-INCH f/10 REFRACTOR TO A 10 INCH DOBSONIAN REFLECTOR. THIS FINE BOOK HAS BECOME A RESOURCE FOR ANY ASTRONOMER INTERESTED IN BUILDING A TELESCOPE, OR FOR ANY DAD THAT WANTS TO HELP HIS SON OR DAUGHTER WITH A PROJECT THEY WILL REMEMBER FOR LIFE.COMPLETELY ILLUSTRATED, WITH LISTS OF SUPPLIERS FOR MIRRORS, LENSES, AND SPIDERS, THIS BOOK WILL ALLOW THE AMATEUR TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY, SERIOUS INSTRUMENT WITH NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF TELESCOPES. Binding is HARDBOUND. Book# 000022 US$ 24.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.


CHANDLER, DAVID EXPLORING THE NIGHT SKY WITH BINOCULARS BELMONT, MA SKY PUBLISHING 1994. FINE-NEW BOOK. 45 PAGES, ILLUSTRATED, 8 1/2" BY 5 1/2". IN THIS POPULAR COMPANION GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY PLANISPHERE, CHANDLER EXPLAINS THE BASICS OF BINOCULAR OBSERVING AND HOW TO SPOT A NUMBER OF INTERESTING CELESTIAL OBJECTS. GREAT FOR BEGINNERS. ARMED WITH THIS BOOKLET, A PLANASPHERE (SEE OUR LISTING) AND A PAIR OF BINOCULARS, YOU CAN EASILY FIND THE ORION NEBULA, CRATERS OF THE MOON, VENUS, MECURY MARS, THE MMONS OF JUPITER, THE RINGS OF SATURN, AND THE CONSTELLATIONS. Illustrated by DON DAVIS & DAVID CHANDLER. Binding is WRAPS. Book# 000015 US$ 5.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.


CHANDLER, DAVID THE NIGHT SKY-PLANISPHERE BELMONT, MA SKY PUBLISHING. FINE-NEW. A PLANISPHERE OR STARWHEEL. CARDBOARD, 10 INCHES SQUARE. UNIQUE, TWO-SIDED DESIGN FOR LOW DISTORTIONAND A LIGHT BACKGROUN FOR EASY NIGHT READABILITY. COMES IN THREE VERSIONS, DEPENDING ON THE VIEWERS LATITUDE: 20-30 DEGREES NORTH (S2032); 30-40 DEGREES NORTH (S3040); 40-50 DEGREES NORTH (S3850). COMPANION TO THE BOOK, EXPLORING THE NIGHT SKY WITH BINOCULARS, BY DAVID CHANDLER. Illustrated by AUTHOR. Book# 000014 US$ 5.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.


MACROBERT, ALAN M. STAR-HOPPING FOR BACKYARD ASTRONOMERS BELMONT, MA SKY PUBLISHING 1993. FINE-NEW BOOK. 160 PAGES, ILLUSTRATED, 9 BY 11 INCHES. EXPLAINS HOW TO MANEUVER AMONG RECOGNIZABLE STAR PATTERNS TO LOCATE INTRIGUING BUT INCONSPICUOUS CELESTIAL OBJECTS NEARBY. 14 STAR-HOP SAFARIS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TO HUNT DOWN ASTRONOMICAL BIG GAME- 160 OBJECTS OF VARYING DIFFICULTY. EACH STAR-HOP INCLUDES A DETAILED MAP, OBJECT DESCRIPTIONS, AND PHOTOS. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS COVER HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE A BACKYARD TELESCOPE, FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY, READ STAR CHARTS, AND OBSERVE FAINT OBJECTS. Illustrated by AUTHOR. Binding is HARDBOUND. Book# 000016 US$ 22.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.


REY, H.A. THE STARS: A NEW WAY TO SEE THEM BELMONT, MA SKY PUBLISHING 1996. FINE-NEW BOOK. 160 PAGES, ILLUSTRATED, 8 1/2" BY 11". AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE GUIDE TO LEARNING THE CONSTELLATIONS. WRITTEN FOR OLDER KIDS AND ADULTS, IT'S WONDERFULLY WARM, SIMPLE STYLE HAS MADE IT A TOP SELLER FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. CLASSY CARTOON ILLUSTRATIONS AND STAR CHARTS ROUND OUT THIS FINE GUIDEBOOK OF TIMELESS KNOWLEDGE. Binding is WRAPS. Book# 000013 US$ 10.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.


THOMPSON, ALLYN MAKING YOUR OWN TELESCOPE CAMBRIDGE, MA SKY PUBLISHING 1980. FINE- NEW BOOK, W/DUST COVER. 211 PAGES. FEW EXPERIENCES ARE MORE SATISFYING THAN PROBING THE HEAVENS WITH A TELESCOPE YOU'VE MADE YOURSELF. THIS CLASSIC BOOK TELLS YOU HOW TO DO JUST THAT WITH BASIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A 6- INCH REFLECTOR. LEARN HOW TO GRIND, POLISH, AND TEST A MIRROR. Binding is HARDBOUND. Book# 000021 US$ 14.95. Please contact C.B.SCHROCK, Purveyor of Machinery for more information about purchasing this book.

Return to storefront