Well it has been awhile since I have gotten outside and looked around. Since my last post I have found an old Tasco 60/700 scope with 12.5 ep and a lost diagonal. I built an extension tube out of pvc pice just to see if it really would focus before I did anything else. Well the extension works and I went out both Friday and Saturday nights to look around. My goal on Friday was to find Saturn and see the rings. Well I put my finderscope on Saturn is the 5x that comes standard and proceeding to look through the scope all I could see was a blurry spot. I started to slowly extend the focuser, in the back of my mind all the time thinking it would never work and I would be disappointed. Well the spot kept getting smaller and smaller and the all of a sudden, gasp, there it was. Saturn a yellowish brown dot and a distinctive ring wrapping around it. I was so excited and hollered at my daughter to come see it and bumped the scope well I couldn't find it again because the altitude positioner was broke.

The next day I went out and found a 8" eye bolt and a used a wing nut and a pen cap to create a way to stabilize the alitude while viewing and adjust it smoothly. Went out Saturday night ready to see that wonderful view again, and I did two nights in a row the little Tasco performed for me. It is so wonderful... I sure was expecting too much and got a lot more than I thought.

Today I'm out looking for a .965 to 1.25 diagonal and a 25mm eyepiece to use later this week. So for all the rest of you who have been blind-sided with a Tasco, just don't expect too much and you may just be amazed.

Clear Viewing until next time....

Thom