Throughout the years I have acquired a number of telescopes in an effort to see what I thought I should be able to see in a telescope. Didn't take very long to discover major differences in each design. Most were small and cheap, not very functional, but I was fascinated
with anything and everything I was able to see. As the years piled on me I dreamed of  not just a GOTO telescope but computer controlled data bases, planner, satellite tracking and logs.

As the years piled on me I dreamed of not just a GOTO telescope but computer controlled data bases, planner, satellite tracking and logs.

Sears Roebuck Co. refractor I received for Christmas in 1963.
Recovered from grandparents storage  30 years later. Tripod and eyepieces missing, but now on display in observatory.

First scope 1963

Tasco  Model 8V 5" Reflector. Christmas gift from my wife (Wendy) in 1984. Very good scope and mount. Does not have a drive but still being used today as my portable scope.  Still works and looks good as the day I got it.  After becoming a part if the observatory  Wendy has christened it " GEMINI ".

" GEMINI "     1984

On June 3, 2000 my dream began to come true. Wendy helped me to purchase  the Meade LX200 10" GOTO scope.  (Wendy is cool!!). The LX200 is the main instrument and is used for visual as well as astrophotography. Wendy has christened it  "  LEO ".

  "  LEO "    2000

A FinePix S602 digital camera is  used for afocal and piggyback photography.  For planetary and deep sky photo's  a  SAC 7B peltier cooled ccd camera is used.  There are two computers, one contains control programs for SAC 7B and Starry Night Pro5 for observatory  management. Observations and photo logs on other.

SAC 7B ccd camera mounted at prime focus (now if the clouds would leave)