Well this is what I call a planet telescope. It’s a Takahashi Mewlon タカハシ born and raised in Japan and made to the most critical tolerances. It rests upon a motorized Vixen GPD equatorial mount driven by servo motors running on 12V DC and guided by a Vixen Sky Sensor 2000 astronomy computer. Optics include a TeleVue Powermate made in the USA, a William Optics 99.5% reflective dielectric diagonal and the signature optic, a 10mm TMB Supermonocentric eyepiece made in Germany forcing the Mewlon to operate at 432x power, an extremely demanding optical condition usable only under the most stable skies, perhaps twice a year.
The subject of interest in this configuration has been Jupiter because of its relatively close opposition the past two years. If you look closely on this screen of the Sky Sensor, you can see data about Jupiter while it holds the telescope position and instructs the equatorial mount to compensate for the Earth’s rotation in real time. The most interesting feature of this set-up to astronomers is that I am able to do it from my north-facing balcony.
A select group of English Conversation students at the Smith’s School of English in Kotoen スミス英会話 甲東園 are interested in natural science. Physics and astronomy in particular are in vogue. Check out the 天文 Astronomoy and Natural Science Course! We spend a lot of time talking about science and the recent post dated Feb 1st discussing Sun Spot cycles of our very own Sun is evidence of that.
Martin Werner Zander
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Smith’s School of English in Kotoen 月謝制 Monthly Tuition Conversation School
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