Clusters and binaries...no galaxies!

[Unitron48]

This is a late report from the night of 21 Jun. Skies were forecast to be above average and I wanted to get my Brandon 94 out on the g-11 to check out some globulars and open clusters...with a few double stars thrown into the mix.

The Brandons were manufactured by Don Yeier of Vernonscope from 1987 to 1990 and used early Roland Christen triplet APO lenses as well as a number of parts interchangeable with the Unitron brand. These parts included the 3″ alt-azimuth and equatorial mounts, focuser, and the objective lens cell. I've found it to be a great performer! Eyepieces used for the evening: Brandon 48mm (13x); TV 22mm Panoptic (29x); TV 10mm Radian (64x), and TV 3.5mm Nagler Type 6 (183x).

I started the session checking out some of the brighter available doubles to include: Mizar/Alcor (Ursa Major), Agieba (Leo), Rasalgethi (Hercules) and Porrima (Virgo). Porrima was a press at 183x, but the separation was clearly discernable.

Other objects observed by constellation included:
Hercules - M13 and M92
Ophiuchus: M10, M12, M14, IC 4655, and NGC 6633
Scorpius: M4, M6, M7, and M80
Lyra: M57, STF 2470 and STF 2474

Another very nice evening at the eyepiece of a great vintage scope!

Dave

[helicon]

Great report Dave and I'll bet you had fun with the Brandon and its Christen triplet APO. Definitely a fine piece of glass and congratulations on a nice haul of doubles, clusters, and nebulae. Your interesting report certainly qualifies for the VROD of the day and I wish more folks had access to triplet APO's so they can enjoy the tack sharp images, lack of chromatic aberration, and flat dark fields. Count me in that group as I am looking for a 4" or so APO, at least it's on my wishlist, to provide a bit of an upgrade to my 6" achro and also be more portable.

https://theskysearchers.com/viewtopic.p ... 43#p206443

[davesellars]

Nice report and lovely refractor, Dave! I've not looked through a triplet yet but a great doublet is probably not far off...

[pakarinen]

We doan need no steenkin' galaxies. :wink: Nice session!

[Makuser]

Hi Dave. A very nice observing report with the vintage Vernonscope triplet APO refractor. And you grabbed a lot of nice Messier and other objects during your session. The closest I have come was owning a Dakin 2.4x Barlow by Vernonscope many years ago. Thanks for another great report with the historical background that you provided and congratulations on receiving the TSS VROD Award today.

[Bigzmey]

Beautiful scope, nice report and great session Dave! Congrats on the VROD!

[Unitron48]

Great report Dave and I'll bet you had fun with the Brandon and its Christen triplet APO. Definitely a fine piece of glass and congratulations on a nice haul of doubles, clusters, and nebulae. Your interesting report certainly qualifies for the VROD of the day and I wish more folks had access to triplet APO's so they can enjoy the tack sharp images, lack of chromatic aberration, and flat dark fields. Count me in that group as I am looking for a 4" or so APO, at least it's on my wishlist, to provide a bit of an upgrade to my 6" achro and also be more portable.

https://theskysearchers.com/viewtopic.p ... 43#p206443

Thanks, Michael! The views from this baby are amazing!

Dave

[Unitron48]

Nice report and lovely refractor, Dave! I've not looked through a triplet yet but a great doublet is probably not far off...

Thanks! It's a great scope...and very portable! Some nice doublet's out there that come close...my SVX127D for example.

Dave

[Unitron48]

Hi Dave. A very nice observing report with the vintage Vernonscope triplet APO refractor. And you grabbed a lot of nice Messier and other objects during your session. The closest I have come was owning a Dakin 2.4x Barlow by Vernonscope many years ago. Thanks for another great report with the historical background that you provided and congratulations on receiving the TSS VROD Award today.

Thanks, Marshall. It was a relaxing evening with a scope I don't get out often enough. But when I do I remember why I acquired it!!

Dave

[Unitron48]

Beautiful scope, nice report and great session Dave! Congrats on the VROD!

Thanks, Andrey. It's definitely not a "galaxy killer" though!!

Dave

[Bigzmey]

Beautiful scope, nice report and great session Dave! Congrats on the VROD!

Thanks, Andrey. It's definitely not a "galaxy killer" though!!

Dave

Take it to a dark location and you will be surprised. Refractors with good optics can go amazingly deep for their size.

[kt4hx]

Excellent report Dave and congrats on the VROD (well deserved). Some excellent glass you have there, and I am cure it was great fun!

Who needs stinking galaxies anyway?! Me of course, but hey that's another story for another time!

[John Baars]

Very nice report, great versatile refractor.
Congratulations on the VROD!