A Dry Run...5 inch Unitron

[Unitron48]

I had the 5 inch Unitron (1960's vintage) out last evening on the Losmandy G-11 with added pier extension. I plan to get it out to my dark(er) sky site early October to check out Mars. I was using several modern eyepieces (TV 22mm Panoptic, TV 10mm Radian, and TV 6mm Ethos) as well as a couple oldies (Unitron 60mm and Brandon 48mm). Sky conditions were below average for the most part with a few improved moments.

I checked out Jupiter and Saturn before they went behind my house, and Mars later in the evening before sky conditions really deteriorated. Highest magnification used on the planets was 200x with the 10mm Radian. Views of Jupiter and Saturn were very sharp with surface features clearly visible; not so with Mars which was still in the weeds when I had an opportunity to observe. I really miss not having a modern focuser with the capability to "fine tune"!

I also checked out some doubles in Cygnus with hopes of stressing the scope, but the seeing wasn't cooperating. I did observe Albireo (beautiful colors/color contrast), 61 Cygni, STF 2762(3.4 arcsec), 49 Cygni (2.7 arcsec), STF 2624 (1.9 arcsec), and the closest, Mu Cygni (1.5 arcsec). The closer doubles were split at 200x, although I used the 6mm Ethos (333x) on the less than 2.0 arcsec targets. I also checked out Iota Cas, my favorite triple, but its significance was buried in the weeds.

Dave

[Shabadoo]

Thank you for the fine report.

[Lady Fraktor]

A very nice session with a beautiful instrument Dave.
Good luck with the future planetary observations as well

[Unitron48]

Thank you for the fine report.

Thanks, Jeff! Only wish the sky conditions had been better...but these days you take what you can get!

Dave

[John Baars]

Very nice observations with a rare 60 year old instrument.
Glad to hear it hasn't lost its capacities of delivering razor-sharp images. (To be honest I never doubted it:-)) I can underline the smoothness of a Unitron focusser, experienced it myself. Almost proverbial.
Pity sky conditions were below average and pity Mars was in the weeds. Last week there were no dust storms on Mars!
Happy to see that the 5 inch is still used every now and then and not given its final rest as a museum-piece.
More of this please! Thanks!

[Unitron48]

A very nice session with a beautiful instrument Dave.
Good luck with the future planetary observations as well

Thanks, Gab! Love spending time behind the eyepiece of the older scopes.

Dave

[Unitron48]

Very nice observations with a rare 60 year old instrument.
Glad to hear it hasn't lost its capacities of delivering razor-sharp images. (To be honest I never doubted it:-)) I can underline the smoothness of a Unitron focusser, experienced it myself. Almost proverbial.
Pity sky conditions were below average and pity Mars was in the weeds. Last week there were no dust storms on Mars!
Happy to see that the 5 inch is still used every now and then and not given its final rest as a museum-piece.
More of this please! Thanks!

Thanks, John! Looking forward to getting it away from city lights and into some really great night sky. I've used it regularly if not frequently in my backyard, but never spent a night where it can "stretch it legs".

Dave

[terrynak]

Wonderful session with the classic 5" Dave, despite the sky conditions.

Haven't observed in over a month, but got some great views of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars with the 6" F/8 Newt using 200x before I took a break. The best views of the planets I ever had with any of my scopes in fact, since this is the "biggest" scope I have ever used. Should be getting back into observing soon, especially with Mars so bright.

[Unitron48]

Thanks, Terry! I tend to get the shakes if I have to go a month without eyepiece time! I'll take advantage of most sky conditions. Fortunately for me, while it's not the best observing, setup in my backyard is very quick and easy.

Dave

[Makuser]

Hi Dave. Thanks for the excellent report with this great 5" vintage instrument. I always enjoy your trails of these wonderful instruments. A superb report Dave, keep up the great work, and hope to see you here in Florida soon.

[Unitron48]

Hi Dave. Thanks for the excellent report with this great 5" vintage instrument. I always enjoy your trails of these wonderful instruments. A superb report Dave, keep up the great work, and hope to see you here in Florida soon.

Thanks, Marshall! We may be travelling your way in late October.

Dave

[Kanadalainen]

My goodness. This is so cool Dave, thanks for sharing.
Ian

[Unitron48]

My goodness. This is so cool Dave, thanks for sharing.
Ian

Thanks, Ian! Looking forward to getting it out away from all the neighborhood lights!

Dave

[Peter802]

Dave.
Thank you for sharing your session with us.
A fine looking scope.

[Unitron48]

Thanks, Peter! It's always exciting to spend some time behind the eyepiece of a large long focal length (f/16) refractor!

Dave

[Lady Fraktor]

It's always exciting to spend some time behind the eyepiece of a large long focal length (f/16) refractor!

I always find it amazing that when I take the 105mm f/15 to the village green, by the time I finish setting up there is a group waiting to view.
They always attract people

[Unitron48]

I always find it amazing that when I take the 105mm f/15 to the village green, by the time I finish setting up there is a group waiting to view.
They always attract people

I know what you mean. This is my 4 inch Unitron in front of the light polluted county library!

Dave

[Unitron48]

I had the 5 inch Unitron out again last night at Morning Calm Observatory, my favorite dark sky site. To avoid having to transport too much, I mounted the G-11 on a HD Meade tripod! Worked great!

We used the scope and a Meade 12 inch SCT to observe the planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Mars and Uranus. Were able to check out the start of the Ganymede transit. After Mars had cleared the muck, after 11 pm, we were able to clearly see the smallish polar cap and several of the planum. One of the best views I've had of Mars!!

We have a Mars observing session scheduled for Tuesday, 6 Oct. Looking forward to even better views.

Dave

[Lady Fraktor]

Great that you could get some good viewing Dave, nothing like a big refractor pointing towards the skies