This will make a great grab and go setup and can be packed up in a briefcase!
Moon with Tasco 999VR at 300mm
Added: There seems to be two more variants of this scope, there's
also the 9vr and a 99vr. The 9vr/99vr was supposed to be the best
of the bunch with better glass and a effective 60mm objective. The
999vr still has a 60mm lens but is stop down midway making it
effectively a 40-45mm scope.
In fact daytimes views are sharper in the 999vr with a more pleasing
image, but it is comparatively dimmer during astro use due to the
stop down baffle midway in the tube. It is not advisable to remove
the baffle to counter the stop down problem as it will greatly degrade
the image as reported by Jae from cloudynights forum.
Jae has also mentioned a Meade Cometseeker Model 227(?) which
may be better than the Tascos.
I believe the Meade comet finder was made by Hino Metal Specialties, which for a while in the 80s was Meade's OEM for its "Professional" refractors. I've never seen the Comet Finder sold as a Mizar.
ReplyDeleteThey also imported scopes by Towa, after all Meade founder John Diebel had married into the Towa family. Hino was a suppier to Towa and prehaps they felt the higher quality construction of the Hino Mizar line would differentiate Meade from its competitors also selling the Towa product. I don't believe that Hino produced the optics for its Mizar line, but as suppier to Ashai and Nikon, as well as Towa, it knew people in the optics business.
Celestron also sold this Vixen model (99VR) as a Cometron. The Cometron was fitted with the 1.25" visual back.
George
I just bought the Tasco 999VR and yes it is stopped down. This will reduce CA (Chromatic Aberations.....Rainbow colors.) etc. being a 'slower' refractor.. at full aperture of 60/300. it is f/5, Looks like 40mm Aperture to 45mm (maybe..) so that is f/7 to f/6.7. I will use this only on the Moon and planets since my skies are only Mag.3 at best. and a narrow view of the sky through our beautiful Oak trees.
ReplyDeletePete Hallock
Orcutt, California