There is no 2.5 model. It's a 3.5 because the front of it is 3.5" across. So the model got called a 3.5. They also made a 7" model but it's something like $14,000 and there aren't many of them I believe.
Whats the serial number on the bottom say? It'll tell you the year it was made and possibly so.ething about the coatings.
If the handwritten notes are any indication then it has Pyrex mirrors with broad band coatings which cannot be repaired should they fail one day. They are superior for viewing though.
It also indicates that these are regular fluorite coatings, not broad band. It would end in BB if it was. That's good. Fluorite coatings can be redone.
Wow. Pretty awesome though how will the library use it? Any use case I can come up with seems like it would end up in damage unless it's just kept as a perk for knowledgeable employees.
I just want to point out that a patron donated a very valuable telescope to the library because they wanted to support their local library, not their local library knowledgeable employees. Whatever it's purpose eventually becomes, it should be to support the intent of the donation.
This DEFINITELY won't circulate to library patrons. We contacted a local amateur astronomer who will check out the telescope and give us some ideas on how to use it. We are likely putting this into our Local History collection. I am going to learn how to use it, too.
Sounds good, something like this would be perfect for public outreach nights. A really cool scope that would be a shame to keep it stored on display without actively using it.
Edit: not sure why the downvotes, telescopes are meant to be used
And the local astronomy club likely does outreach as well, so I bet they would love to lend a hand. Club members would likely volunteer to bring their own scopes to share the views with the public and maybe one of them could give a small presentation on what is currently in the night sky. At least that is how my club handles this type of outreach event.
Magnificent instruments, I have one and it was a dream scope for many years. My dad used to lust after them back in the '70s! As someone else pointed out, it's a 3.5, not 2.5, but everyone who knows Questars knew what you meant.
Enjoy the experience! They're not common at all, and they are a wonder to behold.
The objective (the part that faces the sky) is 3.5" in diameter, hence a Q3.5. The Questar 7" is commonly called the Q7. So far as I'm aware all (or at least the vast majority) of Questar scopes are Q3.5s and Q7s with the Q3.5s being the more common of the two because they were more attainable.
My take is that you should see if you sell this to raise funds for the library. This isn't the type of scope you want to lend to patrons via library of things, et al. It's a very collectible and has significant value to amateur astronomers so it would bring in quite a bit.
While it's possible to use it for outreach, it would be like using a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport to show people what driving is like. A much more affordable telescope (i.e. ETX-90) will induce less anxiety and the views will be much the same, especially if the operator of the telescope is relatively new to astronomy.
Also, It's a manual telescope, so unless the operator is familiar with star hopping, you'll just be looking a the moon and the brighter planets for the most part.
Thanks for the input. Definitely wouldn't circulate this to patrons. That would be terrifying. We have smaller, beginner telescopes (Gsyker Travel Scope and Celestron Travel Scope) that we loan to patrons.
I've seen these sell for $3-$5k+. While I admire the idea of using it for outreach, it's not really an "outreach" type scope. It's manual, so you'll have to keep adjusting the scope to keep it on target. Also, it's really valuable and small/lightweight and can grow legs if someone's not paying attention constantly. I've done some outreach for my local Astronomy Club and will typically have a fully automated system that gotos and tracks targets and is a little cumbersome to walk away with. I will also use more affordable eyepieces for these events because my favorite eyepieces are small and valuable.
Congrats. I'll never understand why people spend the enormous amounts of the money on these telescopes. Sure, they have excellent optics and look nice, but several thousand for a glorified paperweight? No thanks.
LoL!!! I mean, if you wanted a small telescope that can double as a quirky conversation piece (that also has pretty good optics) you can get an Edmund Scientific Astroscan for about $120 USD!! Just so long as people don't think it's a chimenea and try to burn something in it!!
Obviously not, but its a fact that these are insanely overpriced. Its the same thing with the Astro-Physics refractors and their decades long wait list really.
There is nothing to understand besides the collectors item status.
They are well made and of good quality. They are worth considerably more than an instrument of average build, you cannot deny that.
I believe you that they should cost less but people suggesting they are paperweight of equal to an Astroscan are just as wrong in the opposite direction.
It's a beautiful telescope. Came with the remote, too. It doesn't seem too difficult to figure out. It's a nice antique addition to our local history collection, I guess.
Fun fact: Clairmont-Nichols, the optical shop whose business card is stapled to an inside page of the owner's manual (Photo#3), is still in business in New York — a full 140 years since opening its doors!
They should absolutely sell this scope for the proceeds and buy a few scopes that they might loan out. Ed Ting is very involved with library loner scopes and he would have excellent advice both for selling this scope as well as what scope the library should buy. I’d guess they could get 6-8 loner scopes for this without trying to
Nice. It's a 3.5 BTW. I just got one as well.
Questar still exists, just not really online and not for long unfortunately. If you need parts you can call them and they'll sell you the parts.
Thanks for the info! I had no idea. What makes it a 3.5 instead of 2.5?
Edit: Just noticed the brochure says 3.5, not 2.5. Whoops.
There is no 2.5 model. It's a 3.5 because the front of it is 3.5" across. So the model got called a 3.5. They also made a 7" model but it's something like $14,000 and there aren't many of them I believe.
Whats the serial number on the bottom say? It'll tell you the year it was made and possibly so.ething about the coatings.
If the handwritten notes are any indication then it has Pyrex mirrors with broad band coatings which cannot be repaired should they fail one day. They are superior for viewing though.
The serial number is 4-10478
October 4, 1978?
https://www.cloudynights.com/forums/topic/568428-what-year-was-my-questar-made-serial-number-code/
2004 I think
It also indicates that these are regular fluorite coatings, not broad band. It would end in BB if it was. That's good. Fluorite coatings can be redone.
Wow. Pretty awesome though how will the library use it? Any use case I can come up with seems like it would end up in damage unless it's just kept as a perk for knowledgeable employees.
"...a perk for knowledgeable employees."
I just want to point out that a patron donated a very valuable telescope to the library because they wanted to support their local library, not their local library knowledgeable employees. Whatever it's purpose eventually becomes, it should be to support the intent of the donation.
Agreed.
This DEFINITELY won't circulate to library patrons. We contacted a local amateur astronomer who will check out the telescope and give us some ideas on how to use it. We are likely putting this into our Local History collection. I am going to learn how to use it, too.
Sounds good, something like this would be perfect for public outreach nights. A really cool scope that would be a shame to keep it stored on display without actively using it.
Edit: not sure why the downvotes, telescopes are meant to be used
That's a great idea to have it for public outreach nights! I didn't even think of that. We do lots of outreach. It would be a huge hit.
And the local astronomy club likely does outreach as well, so I bet they would love to lend a hand. Club members would likely volunteer to bring their own scopes to share the views with the public and maybe one of them could give a small presentation on what is currently in the night sky. At least that is how my club handles this type of outreach event.
Magnificent instruments, I have one and it was a dream scope for many years. My dad used to lust after them back in the '70s! As someone else pointed out, it's a 3.5, not 2.5, but everyone who knows Questars knew what you meant.
Enjoy the experience! They're not common at all, and they are a wonder to behold.
Awesome! Thanks for commenting. What makes it a 3.5 instead of 2.5? I am not familiar with telescopes at all!
The objective (the part that faces the sky) is 3.5" in diameter, hence a Q3.5. The Questar 7" is commonly called the Q7. So far as I'm aware all (or at least the vast majority) of Questar scopes are Q3.5s and Q7s with the Q3.5s being the more common of the two because they were more attainable.
Thanks for the details. Really appreciate it.
My take is that you should see if you sell this to raise funds for the library. This isn't the type of scope you want to lend to patrons via library of things, et al. It's a very collectible and has significant value to amateur astronomers so it would bring in quite a bit.
While it's possible to use it for outreach, it would be like using a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport to show people what driving is like. A much more affordable telescope (i.e. ETX-90) will induce less anxiety and the views will be much the same, especially if the operator of the telescope is relatively new to astronomy.
Also, It's a manual telescope, so unless the operator is familiar with star hopping, you'll just be looking a the moon and the brighter planets for the most part.
Thanks for the input. Definitely wouldn't circulate this to patrons. That would be terrifying. We have smaller, beginner telescopes (Gsyker Travel Scope and Celestron Travel Scope) that we loan to patrons.
I've seen these sell for $3-$5k+. While I admire the idea of using it for outreach, it's not really an "outreach" type scope. It's manual, so you'll have to keep adjusting the scope to keep it on target. Also, it's really valuable and small/lightweight and can grow legs if someone's not paying attention constantly. I've done some outreach for my local Astronomy Club and will typically have a fully automated system that gotos and tracks targets and is a little cumbersome to walk away with. I will also use more affordable eyepieces for these events because my favorite eyepieces are small and valuable.
Amazing to see it in that condition. Looks amazing
Congrats. I'll never understand why people spend the enormous amounts of the money on these telescopes. Sure, they have excellent optics and look nice, but several thousand for a glorified paperweight? No thanks.
LoL!!! I mean, if you wanted a small telescope that can double as a quirky conversation piece (that also has pretty good optics) you can get an Edmund Scientific Astroscan for about $120 USD!! Just so long as people don't think it's a chimenea and try to burn something in it!!
I don't think the questar optics are comparable to the Astroscan
Obviously not, but its a fact that these are insanely overpriced. Its the same thing with the Astro-Physics refractors and their decades long wait list really.
There is nothing to understand besides the collectors item status.
They are well made and of good quality. They are worth considerably more than an instrument of average build, you cannot deny that.
I believe you that they should cost less but people suggesting they are paperweight of equal to an Astroscan are just as wrong in the opposite direction.
If you think it's remotely reasonable to call it a paperweight then you never will understand it.
Perhaps not :)
It's a beautiful telescope. Came with the remote, too. It doesn't seem too difficult to figure out. It's a nice antique addition to our local history collection, I guess.
Yes, they are beautiful and they are also very user friendly. But the price...
I know...
Sorry about the post title. I thought I pasted it in full.
Fun fact: Clairmont-Nichols, the optical shop whose business card is stapled to an inside page of the owner's manual (Photo#3), is still in business in New York — a full 140 years since opening its doors!
https://www.clairmontnichols.com
That's amazing!
They should absolutely sell this scope for the proceeds and buy a few scopes that they might loan out. Ed Ting is very involved with library loner scopes and he would have excellent advice both for selling this scope as well as what scope the library should buy. I’d guess they could get 6-8 loner scopes for this without trying to