Edmund Scientific was the company that really fueled my interest in amateur astronomy.  From their telescopes and accessories to their many beginners books.  My first telescope was an Edmund 4.25-inch f/10 reflector, with an equatorial mount.  Not my first choice, but the best my budget would allow at that time.  Prior to this, I used my older brother’s 60 mm f/15 EQ refractor.  (Photo at the bottom, in an old rented house on a textile mill village, with a street light in the backyard!)   However, life would begin to improve.   

I was just getting started in my working career or first real job, and most all of my money was required for the essentials of life, with little left over for a telescope and astronomy equipment. 

The small Edmund 4.25-inch Newtonian allowed me to see many of the Messier objects to a level I’d never seen before.  And at that time, I was living in a highly light polluted area, so the setting circles were like magic. Star-hoping to locate faint deep-sky objects is “almost impossible” with severe light pollution. 

I later purchased a larger set of setting circles, also from Edmund, which greatly improved my direct-indexing accuracy and ability to locate fainter deep-sky objects.

I also replaced the “blunted nails” by Edmund, used as index pointers for the setting-circles with machined brass welding rods, with needle-like points for greater accuracy. 

Since that early time, I’ve had or owned about twelve other telescopes.  Most serious and long-term amateurs will agree; the first telescope of the amateur is only the beginning, with many more telescopes to follow.  

I learned quite a bit by reading the many books by Edmund Scientific, and taking my telescope out into my back yard, night after night. 

During those early years, it was my desire or goal to see the entire Messier Catalog, which I have completed many times since, but would eventually see over 2,000 more deep-sky objects, complete with notes and pencil sketches.  

I’m glad I didn’t quit during those early years, despite all of my obstacles, and regardless of the amount of light pollution, there are always deep-sky objects that can be observed.  So, don’t give up!   

This entry was posted on February 21, 2018 at 1:11 am and is filed under Roger's Articles. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.