Expert: Paul Wagner - 8/9/2008

Question
Just puchased the above scope: Jason Explorer 400, Model 307 for $15. It needs a Finder scope BRACKET(broke apart). Can I buy the part anywhere? If not is it viable to use without the Finder scope? Thanks.

Answer
Hi John

I don't know where you can buy the fittings for those scopes anymore--I think Meade and Celestron eventually bought most of them out--but here's the deal: For $15 you got a good buy.  You don't need a finder scope with that one--but you do need to upgrade it in lots of ways.  How many ways?  There is a complete website on how to take one of those scopes and turn it into a pretty good little instrument.  You are not alone!

Here's the link:

http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/index.php?page=fixing-the-department-store-...


Paul Wagner