Meade 647 flip-mirror system:

https://www.optcorp.com/pdf/meadepdf...orCatPages.pdf

This is a huge game changer for me. I've been trying to get my hands on this for a long while. It's discontinued and no one is selling them any more. It's the only flip-mirror system that accommodates 2" eyepieces, instead of just 1 1/4" eyepieces. I can shoot the 8/21 total solar eclipse from Salem, OR through my big 8" Meade Schmidt Cassegrain telescope instead of through a telephoto lens mounted on a separate tripod. We've seen and shot total and annular solar eclipses from Roundup, Montana, Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Aruba, Munich, Puerto Vallarta, and St. George, UT. I've never been able to shoot through my big scope until now! St. George in 5/12 was the first time we saw an eclipse through the big scope, but I shot through a telephoto lens:







Now I can shoot through the big scope. Christmas came two days early!!! This is what we'll see and shoot in August:

 

Wow GREAT shots.

 

Just curious…Is there a reason for your choice of Salem, OR for the viewing 8/21 total eclipse? Particularly since areas, such as Grand Tetons National Park near Jackson Hole, WY, would offer a better chance of a clear sky.

Gary

 

No, actually, Salem has better weather in August. We are going to be with a group of hardcore astronomers/eclipse chasers led by Dr. Jay Pasachoff, who has led many solar eclipse groups around the world. His people picked the viewing site. This is our group:

http://aclassictour.com/travel-compa...pse-tour-2017/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Pasachoff

http://aclassictour.com/travel-compa...total-eclipse/

 

Thanks! Yeah…your choice of locations is obviously very good. It’s a particularly good choice considering the high level of astronomical companions you can rub shoulders with.

Gary

 

I'm glad you don't take this stuff too serious.

 

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the company on this trip.

 

and whip out that big ten inch,
reflector of solar eclipse.....

i tried but it's just not working.

 

I'm not a follower of this hobby. I asked Google why people travel the world to take photos of the eclipse and I came to this site. Pretty cool:

Praesepe, Mercury, Moon, Comet, CME and Corona up to 20 solar radii

 

Good find, Bill. I could share some of the wonderful eclipse moments we've been fortunate enough to experience over the years. I think I will over the next few days. I told Anne Marie yesterday that, much as I rattle on about USC football games in the Coliseum and pregame tailgating and 42 years of the Long Beach GP, the most treasured days in my life have been Christmas day (which is my birthday) opening presents and my three most treasured moments have been totality -- Montana, Cabo San Lucas, and Aruba. We got clouded out at totality in Munich and the others were annular. I'll explain later. And people travel the world not just to take photos of total solar eclipses; they do so to see and experience the event, at least I do. Merry Christmas, Bill, my friend.