TV85

TeleVue 85mm f/7 APO Refractor Telescope		TeleVue 76mm f/6.3 APO Refractor Telescope
The "Grab & Go" & RFT		The "Solar Scope"
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TV85 mounted on Bogen Geared head		TV85 mounted on Bogen Geared head
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		The 85mm was acquired almost impulsively in August of 2001 from a vendor at the Oregon Star Party (OSP). This was part of an ongoing attempt to acquire a suitable Traveler. I had decided to discontinue the insulting attempts to acquire an Astro-Physics Traveler. An earlier scope acquired was a Brandon 94mm. It was a great Telescope, but required disassembly of the dew cap and focuser to fit in a suitable sized 1520 Pelican case. Further, it was 4 pounds heavier than the 85mm. The plan was to leave the 94mm disassembled in it's 1520 case as an "eclipse imaging scope" and use the 85mm as a "grab & go/traveler". While it fit it's own 1520 case, it was a tight and not practical. What is so significant about the 1520 case? It is the maximum size many foreign airlines will accept as carry on. So now the 85mm is falling short of being a traveler unless I can trust the soft case it came in. Shortly after the 85mm purchase, a TeleVue rep attending the September 2001 Mt. Bachelor Star Party, announced the 76mm. It would be the same dimensions as the Pronto 70mm, meaning that it would fit in a 1450 case, which can be slid under the airline seat. I ordered one immediately and I believe I received number 32 of the production run. What saved the 85mm was 3 products. The new Pelican 1510 case designed as a carry on case, the advancement of the digital camera and the Coronado H-Alpha filters. The 76mm was fitted with a Coronado and it became the newly designated Solar Telescope replacing the 94mm for that role. The 94mm and 85mm competed for the "grab & go" role, but the lighter 85mm won out because once fitted with a Bogan "quick connect" adapter, the 76mm and 85mm became interchangeable on different mounts. The 85mm is light enough to fit on a Teagul mount.
TV85 mounted on Takahshi Teagul Mount. Note the "White Light" Solar Filter & Webcam.
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The TV85 is compact next to a Vixen 102, but...
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...the TV85 is large next to a TV76
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The 85 performs beautifully on Planets. Saturn is beautiful at 170x, and quite good at 240x. A 40mm Pentax Eyepiece provides a 4.7 degree field of view at 15x. The Veil Nebula is easily taken in and seen using a UHC or OIII filter. The 85mm often accompanies the 24 inch to act as a "Rich Field Telescope" (RFT) companion or as a "stand alone Finder". It has Traveled by air in it's Pelican 1510 case. It is also used with a webcam to project the Moon, Planets or Sun on to a computer screen for public viewing. Finally, it is the designated "White Solar Filter Telescope." It's 2 inch focuser permits it to use the same eyepieces used in the 24 inch. The 85's role frees up the 76mm as the "permanent" Solar scope permitting me to leave the Coronado attached to the 76mm at all times. A great convenience. Though the APO design is overkill for the "mono" Solar observing, it is still there if it is needed. It too is a great Planetary Telescope and RFT. With the 40mm eyepiece, it gives a field of view of 5.8 degrees at 12x. This Telescope was at it's best for the Venus Transit of 2004. It was a great compact traveler and imaging scope. Further the APO design was available in case we observed at night. We did not on this trip. Both Telescopes can be placed side by side on the Losmandy G8 mount for simultaneous Solar viewing with an H-Alpha and White filters. Both Telescopes were fitted with motorized focusers to prevent jiggling from being touched. This is particularly useful when images are projected onto computer screens using a webcam. These Telescopes are well suited for their roles. It is not likely that either will be considered for sale anytime soon.
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Images on this Website

using the TV85mm		using the TV76mm

Mercury Transit, November 8th, 2006		Solar Prominence, Mt Bachelor Star Party, July 8th, 2005
		Venus Transit, Greece, June 8th, 2004
		Solar activity, October 26th, 2003
		Come Ikeya-Zhang, April 20th, 2002