Short Session with "Robin Egg Blue"!

[Unitron48]

I took my Vernonscope Brandon 94, 94mm, f/7 refractor, to NEAF this year and it reminded me I needed to get it out under the night skies. It had been awhile. For those unfamiliar with this scope it is a 1980's vintage scope made in limited numbers (about 500 total) by Vernonscope. It consists of some Nihon Seiko (aka: Unitron) components and an early Roland Christen APO lens, A complete test report at: https://avt-astro.com/reviews/telescope ... -7-review/.

As per my habit, I set the scope up on the G-11 late afternoon to check out solar activity and catch Venus and Mercury as they set in the Southwest. Solar activity was moderate with six sunspot groups, one consisting of 15 sunspots. Venus was itself a beautiful crescent. The CSC called for haze and clouds rolling in before 2200 hrs, so I planned for a short session.

Objects for the evening included Jupiter with its four Galilean moons arranged two on each side. Surface features popped at 64x using a 10 mm Radian. I checked out just a couple doubles: Tagmine in Cancer; Algieba in Leo, and Cor Caroli in Canes Venatici. I took a quick look at M44 in Cancer as well before the clouds starting rolling in and the seeing deteriorated.

As I said, a really short session, but good to dust off the Brandon. It reminded me I need to get it out more often.

Dave

[Jeff.Stevens]

This is a fabulous setup. Love the colour of your ‘scope too.

Jeff.

[Bigzmey]

Nice session Dave! Glad you got some time under the stars.

[StarHugger]

Really nice scope and session Dave, those 94's are popular these days at f5 for traveling...

Cool you got to play a bit.

[Unitron48]

Thanks, Jeff, Andrey, StarHugger...

Dave

[messier 111]

Dave, you need to go out more often, there it is.
Nice setup this Brandon 94 .

[helicon]

Really nice scope Dave. I enjoyed the review you linked to as well. Probably is somewhat of a collectors' item given the modest production run, but quite an interesting piece of gear and the optics are quite good I'm sure as you demonstrated during your session.

[Thefatkitty]

Wow Dave, nice classic scope! I'll bet the views are excellent too. Nice name for it as well, it certainly is Robin egg blue in colour!

Nice session there and good for you on getting that in. As @messier 111 Jean-Yves said, you need to go out more often, there it is.

Clear skies!

[RitcheyPark]

That is a really cool telescope Dave.
I remember their ads from many years ago.
Almost bought one.
Such a pretty color.
Didn't realize the Brandon 94 had an Astro-
Physics objective and some Unitron parts.
Makes it even cooler.

[Unitron48]

That is a really cool telescope Dave.
I remember their ads from many years ago.
Almost bought one.
Such a pretty color.
Didn't realize the Brandon 94 had an Astro-
Physics objective and some Unitron parts.
Makes it even cooler.

Thanks, Steve! Here is some additional info and pics of the scope: https://www.unitronhistory.com/models/others/brandon-2/
Note they also made a Brandon 130!

Dave

[Unitron48]

Wow Dave, nice classic scope! I'll bet the views are excellent too. Nice name for it as well, it certainly is Robin egg blue in colour!

Thanks, Mark! I'm told there is a spray paint named "Robin Egg Blue" that matches the OTA color. I haven't checked on it but do have some scratches that need touched up.

Dave

[helicon]

Wow Dave, nice classic scope! I'll bet the views are excellent too. Nice name for it as well, it certainly is Robin egg blue in colour!

Thanks, Mark! I'm told there is a spray paint named "Robin Egg Blue" that matches the OTA color. I haven't checked on it but do have some scratches that need touched up.

Dave

I hope you will get the paint! I wonder what brand?