Hello Friend,

     Many an amateur astronomer started out years ago with a Tasco telescope.

Tasco is generally a brand name maligned by amateur astronomers, and sometimes people do make fun of them
and I myself had a 60mm Tasco Model 9-t as my second telescope.

(The first telescope I had  was so bad, that it doesn't count, and I don't think it even had a brand name).

However,  when I first started in the telescope business, I met a fellow from Hamilton, Ontario, by the name
of Bert Rhebergen.

Bert is one of those quite, unassuming fellows.  He knows a lot, but does not say a lot.

Unless you get him talking that is. Talking about astronomy.

And Bert also happened to own a 4.5 inch Tasco reflector on an equatorial mount.

You know, the kind that has mount, that wiggles with the slightest wind,
and has  pretty useless 5 x 24mm finderscope?

One night, out in Hamilton, I was doing some observing with Bert, and he had his trusty Tasco telescope
along.

He offered me a view of Saturn through it, so I took a look.

And frankly I was delighted at the view!

Bert when onto explain that he done all kinds of "upgrades" to solidify the mount, replaced the finderscope
and the eyepieces, and collimated the scope correctly and so on.

Not only that, but Bert could point that telescope anywhere in the sky, like nobodies business. 

Bert really knew his sky.  He used a set of sky charts, to locate objects, the old school way.

Heck, he was like a human computer.

He pointed out a Comet to me in the sky that night as well. It was tricky to find, but he was
persistent, and using the maps, and a bit of plotting, he found it.

For years afterwards, I always said to Bert when I saw him: "So Bert, when are you going to get a bigger telescope?"

His response: "When I have fully exhausted my capability with this one".

Well, eventually Bert did get a different telescope. 

But not for the reasons you might think.

His car was rear ended, and his trusty Tasco telescope in the trunk, got damaged as a result.

I've not seen Bert lately, but I'm pretty sure, he's still out there looking up, and enjoying and appreciating the night sky.

Clear Skies,

Ray "Tasco-ed" Khan

PS We are fortunate that over the past 3 decades, amateur telescopes have improved dramatically,  and prices are
      quite reasonable, considering the overall features of instruments today.   If it's time for you to trade up, or trade down,
     then do come see us.  We've got a huge inventory of telescopes in stock, and some terrific deals right now.