SATURday, Feburary 20, 2010
Celestron SP-C8
Originally, I entered detailed information about my telescope directly in the
blog. But I was unsatisfied with this, on many levels.
The telescope information was "falling" into history or archives
of the blog even though I was actively using, and changing, the equipment. This
also meant one had to rummage and dig so to simply find the information. As well,
my initial entries showed the current state of the 'scope, as opposed to how it
was historically received. The blog is revised to reflect how the telescope was
at the time.
This telescope was built by Celestron between 1980 and 1983. In 1980, they were still making the orange tubes; in '83, they introduced the black OTA, the StarBright coatings, 8x50 finder scope, fork mount, etc. Serial numbering is a little bit unclear but the prevailing theory is that until the mid-80s, the first two digits indicated build date. Mine are 82.
What follows is a detailed record of the telescope for easy access. It shows
the 'scope in its current configuration.
type: catadioptric (compound) /
Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT)
make: Celestron
model: SP-C8
obtained: December 1990 from Efston Science
technical info:
- focal length: 2000mm
- aperture: 8"
- focal ratio: f/10
- minimum / maximum magnification: 29x / 400x
sighting scope (included):
- optical
- Celestron
- 6x30, 7° field
- integrated reticle (cross-hair)
viewing equipment:
- visual back
- Celestron 1¼" (original, included)
- Williams Optics (purchased Jan 08)
- 90° diagonal mirror
- Celestron 1¼" star (original, included)
- Williams Optics 2" dielectric (purchased Jan 08)
- 1¼" eyepiece adapter for WO 2" mirror
- eyepieces
- Celestron Plössl 26mm, 1¼" (included)
- baader planetarium Hyperion-Aspherical 36mm 72° 2" eyepiece with
removable rubber eye cup, removable 2" barrel, 1¼" shaft adapter,
3 end caps, pouch case (purchased Feb 08)
- Celestron Ultima 2x Barlow doubler
mount type:
- Celestron Super Polaris (SP) mount
- German Equatorial Mount (GEM) design
- made by Vixen
- motor drive-ready (not included)
mount accessories:
- two counterweights and long shaft (included)
- integrated setting circles and Vernier scales
- polar axis scope with integrated reticle (included)
- reticle illuminated with detachable AA-battery penlight (included)
- bubble level (included)
- receptacle for compass (not included)
- small magnetic compass for tripod receptacle (purchased Aug 06)
- Vixen MT-1 motor mounted on R.A. axis (purchased Apr 07)
- clutch for MT-1 motor (purchased APR 07)
- SD-1 controller (purchased Jul 07)
tripod: wood with triangle table
dew-fighting equipment:
- dew "reducing" tube, plastic (purchased on or before Aug 97), fits
on OTA around objective
other accessories:
- user guide book (included)
- triangular accessories box (included)
- "PS" t-ring and Meade t-adapter for Pentax screw-mount SLR camera
body (purchased circa Aug 91)
- Meade polar alignment wheel (purchased)
- "lens" cap for corrector (included)
- trunk for protecting and transporting the OTA (included)
photo gallery
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Missing pointer plate.
The declination axis pointer or Vernier scale had come unglued and fell off
sometime in 2006.
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From another angle.
Can't use the setting circles without it.
I made a Vernier scale.
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Missing polar scale.
I never noticed before but my 'scope mount was always missing this plate. I
made a replacement.
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John's SP mount.
He sent this photo of the end of the mount so I could better see the polar
axis graduation scales and orientations.
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My 'scope and binos at Awenda.
Binos clamped on to massive Manfrotto tripod and C8 with dew cap and polar
axis reticle and flashlight. You can just make out the triangular tray and box.
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Full setup, summer '06.
Photo by Diane at Mosport shows 'scope, dew cap, compass, heaters, battery
pack, solar viewer, charts, etc.
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Setup, summer '08.
Photo by Eric shows 'scope and mount in garage at Laurie & Stuart's cottage.
First shot with (pale green) RA motor, 2" mirror, and 2" eyepiece installed.
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Setup for star party, fall '09.
Under the David Dunlap Observatory main dome. Waiting for darkness (and mozzies).
Borrowing power from the front lawn peer. Camera tripod in foreground. Small carpet
underneath aids in recovery when I drop small items, like screws, batteries, fuses,
wing nuts. Nearly-complete setup: adjustable height chair in background, dew shield, heaters, astronomy box α, comfy chair, etc.
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Full setup for star party, fall '09.
Finally made it to Mew Lake for some camping with friends and some dark skies.
Saturday night, I brought everything down: carpet, booster battery power tank,
dew shield, heaters, portable picnic table, blinky red LEDs, warm clothes, glow-in-the-dark stars,
Red Bull.
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links
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