Club Telescopes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership Services: Loan of Telescopes

Swindon Stargazers have acquired some telescopes for exclusive use by members, these may be loaned for a short fixed period of time and is subject to the signing of a loan agreement, more details below in Terms and Conditions.

In most cases, loan of telescopes include all equipment necessary to use the telescope such as mount and eyepiece(s), what is available with each telescope is given in more detail below
.

Celestron 127mm (5") f10 Schmidt Cassegrain

Celestron CG-4 Omni German EQ Mount
One 25mm 1.25" eyepiece, Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl 9.7mm and a Meade Super Plossl 6.4 mm, both 1.25"

1.25" star diagonal
View finder scope and mount 6 x 30

Optical tube length: 11 in (279.4 mm)
Optical tube weight: 6.5 lb (2.95 kg)
EQ Mount weight: 21 lb (9.53 kg)
Tripod weight: 12.5 lb (5.67 kg)
Total weight: 40 lb (18.14 kg)
In three protective boxes

One Omni XLT Series Telescope Instruction Manual.

This telescope was kindly donated by FIRST LIGHT OPTICS

Phenix Optics Co 125mm (5") Achromatic Refractor

 

Optical design: Achromatic refractor

Aperture: 125mm (5")

Focal Length: 1000mm

F Ratio: f/8

Mount: EQ5 Equatorial with dual axis motor
s equivalent

This is a GOTO refractor of generous aperture and comes with a selection of equipment including:

iOptron GOTONOVA hand controller
240v to 12v power adapter (Hitachi model AEC1210D)
10 x 50 finder scope

Metal / Plastic case containing the following:

2-1.25" 90 degree star diagonal

4 Plossl eyepieces, 4mm, 6.5mm, 10mm, 25mm
BC&F HFO 2x Barlow
Set of 3 filters in plastic case – KM 500 Skylight 1A; KM 500 ND2X; Orion No21 Orange

5 filters each in separate plastic box:
Orion No 82A Blue; Orion No 11 Yellow-Green; Orion No 47 Violet; Meade series 4000 ND96(0.9); Fringe Killer#2458370
Car 12v cigarette lighter adapter power cord

This telescope (privately owned) is available for loan to club members. Contact: Paul Newton-Smith

This telescope was kindly donated by RAY EVANS

Celestron Firstscope 70 EQ

The a Celestron Firstscope 70 EQ is a basic beginners telescope.

This is of a mixed aluminium & plastic manufacture and is a little difficlut to assemble for a beginner, it presents a clean and clear field of view and comes with the following:

900mm F/L @ F13
Equatorial mount & tripod
20mm Eyepiece
10mm Eyepiece
Diagonal
Red Dot Finder

Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Astronomy Binoculars

The club also owns a good pair of astonomical binoculars, mounted on a camera tripod, and are used mainly for outreach events only.

Optical Design: Porro prism
Dimensions: 270mm x 220mm x 85mm Max.
Objective Lens Diameter: 70mm
Magnification: 15x
Weight: 1361g

 

Celestron Nexstar 80 GT

A Celestron Nexstar 80 GT. This Alt/Az goto mount device is a lightweight grab-and-go device that is easy to assemble and with bright and clear optics. It comes with:

400mm F/l @ F5
25mm Eyepiece
10mm Eyepiece
Diagonal
NexStar Hand Controller
Red Dot Finder
Moon Glow Filter
Mains Power Supply

Sky Watcher Explorer 200P
Optical design: Reflector
Aperture: 200mm (8")
Focal Length: 1000mm (f/5)
Parabolic Primary Mirror
Built-in Polar Alignment Scope
Mount: Currently on a SkyTee II AZ mount, however, an EQ5 Equatorial mount is also available
1.25" & 2" adaptors
RACI (Right Angle Correct Image) finder
4 eyepieces
Cheshire collimating eyepiece
Weight: approx 45 kg


This telescope (privately owned) is available for loan to club members. Contact
: Robin Wilkey
Astrophotography Equipment Package

The Horsehead Nebula (IC434) and Flame Nebula
(NGC 2024) in Orion taken with the above equipment

The package contains:

Camera: Canon 600D DSLR c/w 2 batteries & Charger
Lenses: Samyang 16mm F2, Olympus 80-205 Zoom F4.5 (with Canon adapter)
Tripod: Skywatcher 2" Steel with Adapter
Mount: Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro
Heating: Dew Strap with Lithium Battery Pack
Control: Digital Intervalometer for longer exposures

Plus Carry Case for Tripod and Backpack for the other equipment

The provider will help the loanee with first time setup and talk through how to use the equipment.

This equipment (privately owned) is available for loan to club members. Contact: Damian Ohara

Cheshire Collimating Eyepiece

The club also owns a Cheshie Collimating eyepiece as follows:



This item was kindly donated by RAY EVANS

General Terms and Conditions

Ø Telescopes may only be loaned to fully paid-up members of the club.
Ø A Loan Agreement must be signed by the member, a copy of which is available below.

Ø All reasonable care should be taken of the telescope and its fittings and shall be used in accordance with any operating instructions provided, where available.
Ø Astronomical telescopes are intended for planetary and stellar observations and should not at anytime be used to point at the Sun.
Ø Glass surfaces including corrector plates (for SCT's and MCT's - the large shiny objective glass at front of scope) and mirrors (in Newtonians) should not be touched under any circumstances.
Ø The user should not loan the telescope or any of its fittings to anyone else.
Ø It should be kept in a safe secure place such as a locked home or garage free from damp or risk of damage.
Ø Proof of address (such as a utility bill) will be required before the loan.
Ø When travelling it should be kept in the locked boot of a car and hidden from view (if estate car or 4-wheel drive).
Ø Loan of the telescope is renewable monthly between club meetings; extensions on the initial agreement should be sought before the next club meeting by email or by telephone.
Ø If stolen either by burglary or car theft the matter should be reported to the Police and a crime-reference passed to the club secretary.
Ø Swindon Stargazers reserves the right to seek compensation for the telescope or the mount where negligence or mis-use of the telescope or mount has been established.
Ø The user will be expected to replace or compensate for any minor part of the telescope that is lost, damaged or not returned up to a maximum value of £50. 'Minor part' refers to items such as eyepieces, finderscope, star diagonals etc.
Ø After use the telescope must be returned to the original pick-up point.

Loan of a telescope can be arranged through Robin Wilkey.

Email: Damian Ohara

A copy of the Informal Loan Agreement is HERE