I picked up a couple of cheap scopes in charity shops. They had .965 eyepieces, but in one of them, the focus tube could fit a 1.25" eyepiece, so I just unscrewed the plastic end of the focuser, and sanded it out to fit the 1.25" eyepieces. I can now just add in a diagonal from my good scopes, and use better eyepieces. Don't get me wrong, the optics in the cheap scopes are still bad, but this little mod, definitely made looking through them better.
That's a great tip. In the rare cases that I find myself using a 0.965" telescope, I use an adapter that I 3D printed (you can find the file for free on Thingiverse). Have fun!
I had the same lightweight budget refractor that was fuzzy. A teardown revealed throttling of the view by the focuser and light being bounced around the OTA. I replaced the lens with a 50mm binocular end and flocked the tube. I'll post some pics on X (formerly Twitter - keep up!). Anyway, out of the box they are proper hobby killers. That CO-62 was a find for sure.
Wow! Was the original lens damaged in any way? Mine had pretty sharp images (of the Moon at least). Please post your Twitter... I mean X, link here. Thanks!
@@AstronomyGarage original lens was not as sharp as the bino lens. If this isn't much good then I'll be using them to make an eyepiece instead. Minimal landfill if possible.
I have two refractors smaller than that.A 25mm Pocket Borg refractor which is a proper astronomical telescope but my 5x10 Zeiss Mini Quick monocular beats the 25mm hands down!It is amazing what you can see in the 25mm but the 10mm is rather limited although I have see the moons of Jupiter in it and Uranus.
The CO 62 would make a good grab and go scope. Perfect for open clusters and sweeping the Milky Way in a dark sky. Just need a taller tripod. I think the Tasco 9VR is the same optic tube.
i like how the feet go inside very neat. I agree that $4 wasnt good, could even be plastic lens instead glass maybe but i guess your you got a $10 bujet that might get you into the hobby later
I guarantee the $4 scope is all plastic. The tube is just white PVC plumbers tube that was painted on the outside. I painted the inside flat black, so I probably increased the value from $4 to $6, lol.
Very true! I may have to get out the 40mm. That's the biggest I have in 1.25". I'd have to get an adapter to go to my biggest, which is a Red's Double Plossl (built by Steve Case) at a whopping 52mm focal length.
Haha, I did make a slight improvement to the $4 scope. The tube was just white PVC on the inside. I painted it flat black to reduce internal reflections. I probably turned it into a $6 telescope. Clear skies and cooler temperatures.
Haha, thanks. I hope it didn't go too far - I want the videos to be fun, educational and entertaining. I was on a roll recording this one. Clear skies!
Too small and way to hot. Im really surprised how clean the image is for such a small refractor. I wouldnt mind getting one of those 4.5 Starblast table tops to lug around in the back seat of my truck. Fun video John . Got to cool off for me before i can do any Star hopping. Clear skys.😊
You are correct. I still get confused about whether to call it Twitter or X. I've also started an Instagram page (fortunately, that name hasn't changed).
You are correct. I still get confused about whether to call it Twitter or X. I've also started an Instagram page (fortunately, that name hasn't changed).
Reflactor Guy, your sense of humor is off the chart...
Haha, hopefully not too over the top. :)
Cute telescope and entertaining presentation.
Thanks! This telescope was fun to use. Clear skies!
I picked up a couple of cheap scopes in charity shops. They had .965 eyepieces, but in one of them, the focus tube could fit a 1.25" eyepiece, so I just unscrewed the plastic end of the focuser, and sanded it out to fit the 1.25" eyepieces. I can now just add in a diagonal from my good scopes, and use better eyepieces. Don't get me wrong, the optics in the cheap scopes are still bad, but this little mod, definitely made looking through them better.
That's a great tip. In the rare cases that I find myself using a 0.965" telescope, I use an adapter that I 3D printed (you can find the file for free on Thingiverse). Have fun!
I had the same lightweight budget refractor that was fuzzy. A teardown revealed throttling of the view by the focuser and light being bounced around the OTA. I replaced the lens with a 50mm binocular end and flocked the tube. I'll post some pics on X (formerly Twitter - keep up!). Anyway, out of the box they are proper hobby killers. That CO-62 was a find for sure.
Wow! Was the original lens damaged in any way? Mine had pretty sharp images (of the Moon at least). Please post your Twitter... I mean X, link here. Thanks!
@@AstronomyGarage original lens was not as sharp as the bino lens. If this isn't much good then I'll be using them to make an eyepiece instead. Minimal landfill if possible.
Interesting. I just bought my first pair of binoculars, a 20x50.
Good choice. At 20x, those binoculars will be a lot of fun to use.
I have two refractors smaller than that.A 25mm Pocket Borg refractor which is a proper astronomical telescope but my 5x10 Zeiss Mini Quick monocular beats the 25mm hands down!It is amazing what you can see in the 25mm but the 10mm is rather limited although I have see the moons of Jupiter in it and Uranus.
Those sound pretty darn cool!
The CO 62 would make a good grab and go scope. Perfect for open clusters and sweeping the Milky Way in a dark sky. Just need a taller tripod. I think the Tasco 9VR is the same optic tube.
i like how the feet go inside very neat. I agree that $4 wasnt good, could even be plastic lens instead glass maybe but i guess your you got a $10 bujet that might get you into the hobby later
I guarantee the $4 scope is all plastic. The tube is just white PVC plumbers tube that was painted on the outside. I painted the inside flat black, so I probably increased the value from $4 to $6, lol.
@@AstronomyGarage ya sure perform even better
He really put the banana in the thumbnail for small 🤣
Hahaha, banana not included.
I’d love to look through the Cometron. Paired with a 30 mm 50° eyepiece, it would make a nice rich-field telescope of 10x with a 5° field of view.
Very true! I may have to get out the 40mm. That's the biggest I have in 1.25". I'd have to get an adapter to go to my biggest, which is a Red's Double Plossl (built by Steve Case) at a whopping 52mm focal length.
I'm not worthy I'm not worthy. South of sa,tx 90+ @10 11p.m. maybe all the 4$ scope needs is an tele Vue? Haha. You rock.
Haha, I did make a slight improvement to the $4 scope. The tube was just white PVC on the inside. I painted it flat black to reduce internal reflections. I probably turned it into a $6 telescope. Clear skies and cooler temperatures.
debilitating knee injuries :) had me cracking up
Haha, my shop is very cluttered. I -might- have added some sound effects to amplify the effect.
Interesting video
Thanks!
Love the smarmy comments John, funny stuff. Vixen optics from Japan, hmmmm Interesting
Haha, thanks. I hope it didn't go too far - I want the videos to be fun, educational and entertaining. I was on a roll recording this one. Clear skies!
@@AstronomyGarage don't worry you didn't go too far I thought it was a hoot
'telescope' , he said. That's a spottingscope, Mate 😂 But thanks for showing nonetheless, now I want a spottingscope.
Haha, I think you're right. Thank you for watching!
MI5 Q has increased the kit for 00 operatives I see!❤
I can see this telescope being stored in the back of Bonds' Aston Martin!
Too small and way to hot. Im really surprised how clean the image is for such a small refractor. I wouldnt mind getting one of those 4.5 Starblast table tops to lug around in the back seat of my truck. Fun video John . Got to cool off for me before i can do any Star hopping. Clear skys.😊
It's been pretty miserable. At one point I had start putting my camera in the refrigerator to cool down! No joke.
I love my 4.5” Dobsonian Starblast. Highly recommended for a small, portable telescope.
Halley is said to be much better in 2061 than in 1986
That is great news. I hope I can stick around that long!
I’ll be 54 at the time of its visit but will turn 55 later that year
have you seen any other bright naked eye comets besides Halley?
If I live long enough, I can say I saw it twice!
You are behind the times: Twitter's now called X 🙃😉
Don't worry, I'm ever further behind them, than you. I don't do social media 😁
You are correct. I still get confused about whether to call it Twitter or X. I've also started an Instagram page (fortunately, that name hasn't changed).
Its actually pronounced Halley's comet as in Valley's, not Hailey's as in "Bill Haley and the Comets". Its a nice scope though.
You are 100% right. I inadvertently fall back into the trap of saying it wrong all the time.
You've actually started an "X" page...
You are correct. I still get confused about whether to call it Twitter or X. I've also started an Instagram page (fortunately, that name hasn't changed).
I prefer the term fun size, but the wife may disagree...
LOL
Banana really. Do we gotta do this
It's for scale only. It's a common meme joke in my line of work.