Archive for April 2025

A 6-Inch f/6 Newtonian Just Might Be The Perfect Telescope For Visual Observing With 2x The Light Gathering Power Of A 4-Inch Refractor But Still Very Portable

April 26, 2025

Yes, the 6-inch f/6 Newtonian in my opinion, just might be the perfect telescope for the dedicated visual observer. It’s both compact and lightweight, and even with an equatorial mount is easily manageable, and has twice the light gathering power of a 4-inch refractor.

I had a 6-inch Criterion RV-6 almost 50 years ago, but life got busy and sold it. However, I have always regretted selling that telescope. So, in 2018, I bought another 6-inch, but this time with an f/6 focal ratio. The Criterion RV-6 was an f/8. I like the f/6 much better as the optical tube is not as long, and the shorter focal length allows for lower magnifications and wider fields of view.

I also have a 4.5-inch f/8 Newtonian that was given to me last year (March 2025) by a friend. I like this telescope as when using, reminds me of my 4.25-inch f/10 EQ Edmund reflector. This was my first “very own” telescope, which opened the world of (serious) amateur astronomy to me in the spring of 1977.

After being a serious “visual” observer for at least 40 years and having had more than 12 telescopes, I’ve come to the conclusion:  A 6-inch f/6 Newtonian just might just be the perfect amateur telescope by offering enough aperture to see thousands of deep-sky objects and with reasonable portability.

The Train of Life By James S. Tippett (1885-1958)

April 20, 2025

Recently, we had a good friend to lose their father. I wanted to say something meaningful and not just “I’m very sorry” and nothing more. So, quite a few years ago, I had read a poem by James S. Tippett, and thought it would be very good to share with anyone who had just lost a loved one. This poem also has great meaning for all of us…to think about and contemplate from time to time. Roger Ivester

The train photo from Public Domain: Strasburg Railroad of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And “The Train of Life” by James S. Tippett.

At birth, we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down.

So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

This poem was written “again” by James S. Tippett, but you might find a similar poem with variations via online. Roger Ivester

April (2025) photo