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Main
Date: 06 Jun 2007 12:03:27
From:
Subject: Refractor Telescope problem
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Hello Group,
My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. Not
knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
the problem.
The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
Regards,
Shegs
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 11:51:22
From:
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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On 6 Jun, 20:03, shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Hello Group,
> My daughter has a TascoRefractortelescope that is not working. Not
> knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> the problem.
>
> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
Many thanks to all respondents. We shall work on your helpful
suggestions.
Regards,
Shegs
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 23:32:16
From: KLM
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> On 6 Jun, 20:03, shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> > Hello Group,
> > My daughter has a TascoRefractortelescope that is not working. Not
> > knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> > anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> > the problem.
> >
> > The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Shegs
>
> Many thanks to all respondents. We shall work on your helpful
> suggestions.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
There isnt much can go wrong with a refractor especially if it
already worked. Must be on the user end. Like shoes on
backwards? (smile)
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 23:33:32
From: Ben
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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On Jun 6, 7:38 pm, Some guy in Arizona <f7j9jwirjslje...@cox.net >
wrote:
> On Jun 6, 12:03 pm, shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
>
> > Hello Group,
> > My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. Not
> > knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> > anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> > the problem.
>
> > The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
<brevity snip >
If you are pointing the tube anywhere in the vicinity of a streetlight
the the reflection from the inside of the objective lens shroud can
cause the field to "grey out". I had this experience with a
neighbor's
refractor not long ago. We couldn't find the Moon! (It was perched
just a few degrees over a streetlight.)
Also you can point the tube very well in the dark at a bright star or
the moon. Just aim over the top of the tube and align the object,
then
get down on one knee and align down the side of the tube. It takes
a little practice but it works well on small scopes and large ones
alike.
Ben
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 17:38:28
From: Some guy in Arizona
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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On Jun 6, 12:03 pm, shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Hello Group,
> My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. Not
> knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> the problem.
>
> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
You've received some useful suggestions. Aligning the finder with
the main tube during the day, when it's fairly easy to see what each
is pointing at (select an object at least several hundred metres away)
and using your lowest power (longest focal length) eyepiece to find
objects at night are probably your best bet.
I'd also suggest that if your daughter (or you) are interested in
learning more, see if there's a local astronomy club and contact their
president or public information officer. They should be more than
happy to help you, and will likely offer the chance to view objects
through other telescopes. We were all beginners once -- some of us
remember what that was like.
-- Mike --
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 16:28:47
From:
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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Some of the Tasco scopes have a selectable eyepiece holder which could
be set between the different oculars thus the mirror is not engaged.
Also you should start with the lowest power eyepiece which is the
higher numbers, a 20mm is much lower than a 5mm which is a lot of
power. If there is a long piece called a barlow take it out and use
the low power eyepiece only.
OPTwebman
On Jun 6, 12:03 pm, shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Hello Group,
> My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. Not
> knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> the problem.
>
> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 14:43:01
From:
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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On Jun 6, 10:02 pm, Glenn Holliday <holli...@acm.org > wrote:
> shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> > My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. ...
>
> > The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>
> Many possible reasons. Here's a couple of starting things to look at,
> if they don't help perhaps we can work forward from there.
>
> Do you have a clear view through just the tube? On almost every
> model the diagonal detaches from the rear of the optical tube for
> storage. With nothing attached on the rear, and the cap off the front,
> do you see through it? Any obstructions?
>
> Does it look like the front lens is still square with the tube?
> Has it gotten banged into an angle?
>
> Does the diagonal still have its mirror? When you attach the
> diagonal to the rear of the tube, but have no eyepiece in the
> diagonal, can you look into the diagonal and see out the front
> of the optical tube, reflected in the diagonal's mirror?
>
> If you don't know what these pieces are or how they go together,
> look at the user's manual, or at one of the user's manuals for
> refractors that vendors like Orion make available online.
>
> --
> Glenn Holliday holli...@acm.org
Hello Glenn,
Thanks for the prompt reply. Helpful unlike the first respondent.
The answers to all of the questions is yes.
1. Through tube with nothing inserted is clear close up but blurry
distant land objects.
2. No obvious angle on front lens. No damage visible.
3. Diagonal but no eyepeice is similar result to point 1.
With the erecting lens the telescopes functions well as a terrestrial
telescope.
Each of the eyepeices would seem OK.
The model is a Tasco Luminova 40-060660. I wonder if it is simply a
difficulty in aligning the telescope to an object in the sky. My
daughter has seen objects previously. The model has a finderscope.
Maybe thats out of line.
Eye Piece: (1.25") H25mm (28x), H12.5mm (64x), SR4mm (200x)
Say she wants to locate the moon. How is it best to locate the moon
using the main tube.
Appreciate your help on this Glenn as does my daughter.
Regards,
Shegs
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 07:31:55
From: Joe S.
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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<shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk > wrote in message
news:1181166181.604688.91820@n15g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 6, 10:02 pm, Glenn Holliday <holli...@acm.org> wrote:
>> shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
>> > My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. ...
>>
>> > The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>>
>> Many possible reasons. Here's a couple of starting things to look at,
>> if they don't help perhaps we can work forward from there.
>>
>> Do you have a clear view through just the tube? On almost every
>> model the diagonal detaches from the rear of the optical tube for
>> storage. With nothing attached on the rear, and the cap off the front,
>> do you see through it? Any obstructions?
>>
>> Does it look like the front lens is still square with the tube?
>> Has it gotten banged into an angle?
>>
>> Does the diagonal still have its mirror? When you attach the
>> diagonal to the rear of the tube, but have no eyepiece in the
>> diagonal, can you look into the diagonal and see out the front
>> of the optical tube, reflected in the diagonal's mirror?
>>
>> If you don't know what these pieces are or how they go together,
>> look at the user's manual, or at one of the user's manuals for
>> refractors that vendors like Orion make available online.
>>
>> --
>> Glenn Holliday holli...@acm.org
>
> Hello Glenn,
>
> Thanks for the prompt reply. Helpful unlike the first respondent.
>
> The answers to all of the questions is yes.
>
> 1. Through tube with nothing inserted is clear close up but blurry
> distant land objects.
> 2. No obvious angle on front lens. No damage visible.
> 3. Diagonal but no eyepeice is similar result to point 1.
>
> With the erecting lens the telescopes functions well as a terrestrial
> telescope.
> Each of the eyepeices would seem OK.
>
> The model is a Tasco Luminova 40-060660. I wonder if it is simply a
> difficulty in aligning the telescope to an object in the sky. My
> daughter has seen objects previously. The model has a finderscope.
> Maybe thats out of line.
>
> Eye Piece: (1.25") H25mm (28x), H12.5mm (64x), SR4mm (200x)
>
> Say she wants to locate the moon. How is it best to locate the moon
> using the main tube.
>
> Appreciate your help on this Glenn as does my daughter.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
>
>
Among all the other suggestions -- it may be that the finder scope is not
aligned with the scope. To check this alignment:
-- Find a terrestrial object that is several miles away -- a TV and cell
phone tower makes a good target.
-- Center the object in the main scope -- if possible, center the main scope
on an identifiable point, e.g. the red light on the top of a TV transmitting
tower.
-- Now, look through the finder scope -- you should see the same view as you
do with the main scope although at much lower magnification. If, for
example, the main scope is centered on the red light at the top of the
tower, the same red light should be in the center of the finder.
-- If the views are not the same, fiddle with the adjustment screws on the
finder scope to align it with the main scope. As you are doing this, be
sure to check the view through the main scope because you likely will bump
it off-target. You'll find yourself going back and forth between finder
scope and main scope, keeping main scope on target, fiddling with the finder
adjustment screws, check view through finder, check view through main, etc.,
etc.
If the main scope and finder scope are aligned, I really don't know what
else to suggest.
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 00:15:43
From: John
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Hello Glenn,
>
> Thanks for the prompt reply. Helpful unlike the first respondent.
>
You people have no sense of humour.
John.
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 10:51:44
From: Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote in news:1181166181.604688.91820
@n15g2000prd.googlegroups.com:
> On Jun 6, 10:02 pm, Glenn Holliday <holli...@acm.org> wrote:
>> shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
>> > My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. ...
>>
>> > The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>>
>> Many possible reasons. Here's a couple of starting things to look at,
>> if they don't help perhaps we can work forward from there.
>>
>> Do you have a clear view through just the tube? On almost every
>> model the diagonal detaches from the rear of the optical tube for
>> storage. With nothing attached on the rear, and the cap off the front,
>> do you see through it? Any obstructions?
>>
>> Does it look like the front lens is still square with the tube?
>> Has it gotten banged into an angle?
>>
>> Does the diagonal still have its mirror? When you attach the
>> diagonal to the rear of the tube, but have no eyepiece in the
>> diagonal, can you look into the diagonal and see out the front
>> of the optical tube, reflected in the diagonal's mirror?
>>
>> If you don't know what these pieces are or how they go together,
>> look at the user's manual, or at one of the user's manuals for
>> refractors that vendors like Orion make available online.
>>
>> --
>> Glenn Holliday holli...@acm.org
>
> Hello Glenn,
>
> Thanks for the prompt reply. Helpful unlike the first respondent.
>
> The answers to all of the questions is yes.
>
> 1. Through tube with nothing inserted is clear close up but blurry
> distant land objects.
> 2. No obvious angle on front lens. No damage visible.
> 3. Diagonal but no eyepeice is similar result to point 1.
>
> With the erecting lens the telescopes functions well as a terrestrial
> telescope.
> Each of the eyepeices would seem OK.
>
> The model is a Tasco Luminova 40-060660. I wonder if it is simply a
> difficulty in aligning the telescope to an object in the sky. My
> daughter has seen objects previously. The model has a finderscope.
> Maybe thats out of line.
>
> Eye Piece: (1.25") H25mm (28x), H12.5mm (64x), SR4mm (200x)
>
> Say she wants to locate the moon. How is it best to locate the moon
> using the main tube.
>
> Appreciate your help on this Glenn as does my daughter.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
>
Should be fairly easy to just aim at the moon. In any case, try lining up
the finder with the scope during the day. Note that when the moon is near
full or a strong gibbous phase your eyes don't get anywhere near dark
adapted. This makes a big difference to what you can see through the scope
in terms of faint stars.
BTW - don't laugh about the lens cap suggestion, this has happenned for
real.
Klazmon.
>
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Date: 07 Jun 2007 12:57:15
From: Bill Owen
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
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Llanzlan Klazmon the 15th wrote:
> BTW - don't laugh about the lens cap suggestion, this has happenned for
> real.
Indeed it has. I once dragged the support astronomer back up to the
observatory because I wasn't getting any images on my CCD camera -- the
pictures looked otherwise normal, just no images. He walked into the
dome, looked up, came back into the control room, and asked me if I'd
remembered to take the cover off the telescope.
One definition of an expert is "someone who has already made all the
mistakes." Maybe that makes me an expert. :-)
-- Bill Owen
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 15:23:17
From: lal_truckee
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
|
shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> On Jun 6, 10:02 pm, Glenn Holliday <holli...@acm.org> wrote:
>> shegnan1...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
>>> My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. ...
>>> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>> Many possible reasons. Here's a couple of starting things to look at,
>> if they don't help perhaps we can work forward from there.
>>
>> Do you have a clear view through just the tube? On almost every
>> model the diagonal detaches from the rear of the optical tube for
>> storage. With nothing attached on the rear, and the cap off the front,
>> do you see through it? Any obstructions?
>>
>> Does it look like the front lens is still square with the tube?
>> Has it gotten banged into an angle?
>>
>> Does the diagonal still have its mirror? When you attach the
>> diagonal to the rear of the tube, but have no eyepiece in the
>> diagonal, can you look into the diagonal and see out the front
>> of the optical tube, reflected in the diagonal's mirror?
>>
>> If you don't know what these pieces are or how they go together,
>> look at the user's manual, or at one of the user's manuals for
>> refractors that vendors like Orion make available online.
>>
>> --
>> Glenn Holliday holli...@acm.org
>
> Hello Glenn,
>
> Thanks for the prompt reply. Helpful unlike the first respondent.
>
> The answers to all of the questions is yes.
>
> 1. Through tube with nothing inserted is clear close up but blurry
> distant land objects.
> 2. No obvious angle on front lens. No damage visible.
> 3. Diagonal but no eyepeice is similar result to point 1.
>
> With the erecting lens the telescopes functions well as a terrestrial
> telescope.
> Each of the eyepeices would seem OK.
>
> The model is a Tasco Luminova 40-060660. I wonder if it is simply a
> difficulty in aligning the telescope to an object in the sky. My
> daughter has seen objects previously. The model has a finderscope.
> Maybe thats out of line.
>
> Eye Piece: (1.25") H25mm (28x), H12.5mm (64x), SR4mm (200x)
>
> Say she wants to locate the moon. How is it best to locate the moon
> using the main tube.
>
> Appreciate your help on this Glenn as does my daughter.
Sounds like the telescope is fine, since you can view terrestrial
targets. Therefore the difficulty would appear to be acquiring
astronomical targets.
The finder has to be aligned to the tube in order to be of any help; if
it has been jarred out of alignment it won't find anything.
If you're using too high a magnification it is difficult to find targets
- start with the lowest magnification.
Even without a finder your should be able to acquire the moon with a low
magnification eyepiece by sighting along the tube (if the moon was up.)
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 21:02:36
From: Glenn Holliday
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
|
shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. ...
>
> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
Many possible reasons. Here's a couple of starting things to look at,
if they don't help perhaps we can work forward from there.
Do you have a clear view through just the tube? On almost every
model the diagonal detaches from the rear of the optical tube for
storage. With nothing attached on the rear, and the cap off the front,
do you see through it? Any obstructions?
Does it look like the front lens is still square with the tube?
Has it gotten banged into an angle?
Does the diagonal still have its mirror? When you attach the
diagonal to the rear of the tube, but have no eyepiece in the
diagonal, can you look into the diagonal and see out the front
of the optical tube, reflected in the diagonal's mirror?
If you don't know what these pieces are or how they go together,
look at the user's manual, or at one of the user's manuals for
refractors that vendors like Orion make available online.
--
Glenn Holliday holliday@acm.org
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Date: 06 Jun 2007 20:06:10
From: John
Subject: Re: Refractor Telescope problem
|
shegnan1959@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Hello Group,
> My daughter has a Tasco Refractor telescope that is not working. Not
> knowing anything about the subject I am not much help to her. Can
> anyone guide me in using a fault finding technique that may determine
> the problem.
>
> The telescope had been working but now just blackness.
>
> Regards,
> Shegs
>
Have you tried taking the lens cap off.
John.
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