lumpy darkness

Observation notes (with equipment details), photos, sketches, reviews, software tips, random thoughts, by an amateur astronomer.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Edmund Scientific 6" reflector

Friend of my sister's and brother-in-law's, Al, gave us this Newtonian telescope with equatorial mount. Apparently, it was collecting dust at his place. We will surely put it to good use. Initially kept at Mom's.

The photo below is from the web; it is not of Al's 'scope. We don't have the straps or finder scope. We do have a clock drive. Shower cap added later!

 

Edmund Scientific Co. Super Space Conquerer 6" reflector (Newtonian)

 

type: reflector / Newtonian
make: Edmund Scientific Co.
model: Super Space Conqueror 6" Reflector
obtained: December 2003 from Al

technical info:

  • focal length: 1210mm
  • aperture: 6"
  • focal ratio: f/8
  • minimum / maximum magnification: 22x / 300x

sighting scope: none included (later added a Telrad)

viewing equipment:

  • 1¼" shaft
  • rack & pinion focuser
  • 1 Kellner eyepiece (included)
  • 2 additional eyepieces (supplied as 'scope was gifted)

mount type:

  • made by Edmund Scientific
  • equatorial design
  • models B-2088 and B-2089

mount accessories:

  • Conrac single-axis synchronous, "clock drive" motor, A/C-powered, 96 tooth ring gear, single helical worm gear, quick clutch with lock, manual slow-motion, lever-operated control, accurate to less than 4 minutes/day, upgraded leather washers, it works!
    • CRAMER DIVISION, Old Saybrook, Conn.
    • Type 117, P27MABA3, 18A1XA08A-L, date 6 72, RPM 1/15 V115, CY60 W2.7
    • CONRAC CORP
  • two counterweights on 1" shaft
  • integrated 3" setting circles

tripod: iron (heavy!), 3" pillar, base cap code C2058

accessories:

  • Telrad from Kendrick (purchased in 2004)
  • custom-built non-invasive Telrad heater, made with two 2-watt 220-ohm resistors in parallel, functions with Kendrick controller
  • extension tube (plumbing bit) for high power eyepieces

notes:

  • main tube is aluminium, 47-3/4" long, baked with white enamel, interior is painted flat black, pre-drilled to take a camera holder
  • should go down to 13th magnitude stars
  • will split double stars separated by less than 1 arcsecond
  • the mirror is parabolic, made with PYREX by Corning, aluminised, hand-finished, and rated to better than ¼ wave
  • 6" mirror cleaned (Dec 2008)
  • centre of the 6" mirror marked with white self-adhesive reinforcement ring (DEC 2008)
  • mount has Teflon bearings
  • Edmund catalogue number 85086
  • shipping weight is 68 lbs
  • listed at $249.50 in the '74 catalogue, an addendum advised that the price was adjusted to $259.50, and the price rose to $285 in the '75 catalogue
  • the 'scope shipped with an achromatic finder scope with crosshairs
  • the 'scope shipped with 3 standard eyepieces
    • wide-field achromatic 48x Kellner
    • 1/2" 96x
    • 1/4" 192x Ramsden
  • the 'scope shipped with an achromatic Barlow that will "double and triple" magnifications (not provided to Mom)

 

 

photo gallery

 

Mom's eyepieces.

Provided by Al.

The top two are Meade Orthoscopic multicoated units, a useful 18mm, and a useless 4mm.

The bottom eyepiece is the original one supplied with the Edmund scope. It is a non-coated Kellner which yields 48x power in the reflector.

   
inner side of Edmund lens  

Edmund eyepiece.

Here's a shot of the inside of the mystery eyepiece. The inner lens is concave.

   
an Edmund eyepiece  

Edmund eyepiece.

Photo found on web. The "Edmund" eyepiece at the bottom appears to match Mom's.

   
 

Edmund mount.

Photo found on the AstroMart Classifieds site.

This is exactly Mom's equatorial mount included the two weights and clock drive.

   
mount without drive  

Mount without drive.

Another photo I found on the net showing the Edscorp. mount. This is what it looks like without the clock drive. Base unit for tripod; not pedestal.

   
pedestal mount without drive  

Mount without drive.

And another photo of the mount without drive but with the pedestal. Fresh coat of paint, nice!

   
mount with drive but no base  

Mount with drive.

Here's another shot I found on the web. Mount like Mom's including clock drive.

   
 

Clock drive.

Another photo found on AstroMart site.

This is like Mom's Conrac clock drive.

   
clock drive no ground wire  

Clock drive.

Like Mom's, without a ground wire.

     
 

Funny. First photos I ever shot of our gear.

Mom's OTA, mount, and heavy metal tripod.

     
 

The new home for Mom's telescope. The new pier is embedded in concrete below the deck then emerges through a hole.

I bolted the original mount atop the steel pier post.

All vibration from the deck is eliminated!

 

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

my blog posts

For quick reference, here is an index to the blog posts related to the Edmund Scientific telescope and mount. There are some additional links here, not strictly on Edmund, but about Mom's observatory. Reverse chronological order.

  • already found a design! for converting to a Dob, 22 Jan '16
  • minor tracking issue while viewing planets and doubles, 31 Mar '14
  • tried for Virgo galaxies, 27 Apr '13
  • viewed some doubles, first in Eridanus, 23 Dec '12
  • worked on cover, ready for skin, 30 Dec '09
  • starting measuring the 'scope for the cover build, 13 Dec '09
  • set up the red LED lighting, enough light, 14 Dec '09
  • first light on new pier, 14 Nov '09
  • quickly built a workspace, 14 Nov '09
  • tried new pier, new home, 14 Nov '09
  • inspected loft and deck, 14 Nov '09
  • first session from Mom's observatory, 13 Jun '09
  • moved into observatory, while the cat's away, 13 Jun '09
  • cleaned the mirror, twice, 27 Dec '08
  • observed with Mom, 9 Jun '07
  • replaced bent clutch bolts, 23 Dec '06
  • learned eyepiece was a Kellner, 22 Nov '06
  • clock drive works, 26 Dec '05
  • found an old book, All About Telescopes, 2 Dec '05
  • researched telescope in a time warp, 22 Nov '05
  • tried 'scope unsuccessfully, varied session, 19 Nov '05
  • received more eyepieces, 4 Sep '05
  • received 'scope, mount, with motor, tripod, 26 Dec '03

 

 

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