STOLEN: A StarMaster 30" telescope w/ an Argo Navis DSC

email | Brock B. Parker

[webber]

STOLEN: A StarMaster 30" telescope w/ an Argo Navis DSC

Someone in Albuquerque has stolen a huge 30" telescope in a trailer and the owner thinks the robbers will try to sell it. So if you here of a telescope up for sale, here are the details.

---

A StarMaster 30" telescope w/ an Argo Navis DSC and a White 17* Haulmark "V" nose, tandem wheel trailer which has a ramp rear door and a 36" side door on the right.

Items were taken from my residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early morning on Thursday, 13 November, 2003. Also included in the trailer was a Craftsman brand tool cabinet that contained hand tools of approximately $1500 value, and two 10 ft Tripod ladders (Louisville red fiberglass and Tallman aluminum).

Any information on the whereabouts of these items would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Albuquerque Police Department. In addition, the owner, Brock Parker can be reached at:
(505) 298-2792
Additional Contact:
Sammy Lockwood
(505) 275-0258

Brock B. Parker

---

Brock has registered his loss with Starmaster, Argo Navis, and several other astronomically related sites. Our theory is that crack- heads or similar low-life*s stole the trailer without knowing it*s contents, and will likely either trash it*s unusual contents, or hopefully, try to sell it.

Apparently, his insurance will not cover this loss.

Obviously, the only hope to reclaim this scope is to get the word out as far and wide as possible. There are only 6 scopes like this in existence, so maybe we*ll get lucky. I would ask that you forward this note to any/all astronomical listservs and bbs*s. Ff possible, link to your post to www.taas.org/stolen_starmaster/, where a picture and info are available. (That picture is shown below)

If there is any good news here, it*s that his 18" dob, and his eyepiece case was not in the trailer.

---

---

[ClintonBeGone]

How much is something like that worth?

[philetus]

Can you shoot people out of that thing?

[cavtrooper21]

Can you mount that on a varmit rifle???

[BradyLS]

I think the Chinese stole it so they could get a discount Hubble in orbit for propaganda purposes.

[GeronL]

wow. There are a finite number of places for selling that thing, I hope the guy is watching for listings on ebay and other sites, even yahoo. As well as all the local Pawn Shops.

That baby is hard to miss.

cav- I would recon someone could spot a sqirrel on the moon with that thing!

[LibWhacker]

Current Pricing

Mirror Diameter and Optician		Focal Ratio	If you ordered a scope today, it would be delivered in about....	Price*
	14.5" Zambuto Hybrid Design	f/4.3	30 to 90 Days	$4,895*
	18" Zambuto	f/4.3	30 to 90 Days	$6,395*
	20" Zambuto	f/4.3	30 to 90 Days	$7,595*
	22" Zambuto	f/4.1	Only two available -- 5 to 7 months	$9,995
	24" Zambuto	f/4.3	6 to 8 Months	$11,995
	30" "Brand X"	f/4.3	6 to 8 Months	$13,995
* 3% Discount for cash sales on orders placed after 9/1/03.

[Nick Danger]

So those telescope enlargement patches really work, huh? I keep getting these emails about how I can see farther than ever before, but I've been ignoring them. It's true, I go to star parties with my Celestron C-8 and I feel inadequate next to these guys who have 30" equipment. I wonder though, looking at that picture, whether the guy still has a decent equatorial mount. Do the patches work on the mount as well, or just the tube?

[cavtrooper21]

I do hope it finds its way home, and in one piece...
I can only imagine the sick feeling that the owner must have had when he found that his trailer, 'scope and tools were missing.
I hope the mutts that took it get caught and every thing turns out for the best.

[Mike Darancette]

So those telescope enlargement patches really work, huh?

Size really matters then?

[petuniasevan]

Hopefully the 'scope will be found in good condition - and the perps in bad condition.

By the way, I linked both this post and Brock's page on my APOD post.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1022173/posts?page=1

[firewalk]

bttt

[Tijeras_Slim]

Will keep you informed if anything appears in the local news. Will pass on the info to some folks I know that work at the Starfire Optical Range and the Magdelena Ridge Observatory.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

What a bummer! Are you watching Ebay? I'd definitely do that if I were you. I'll watch the papers here in Vegas.