new scope!

[Kal]

I'm a happy little camper, my new scope arrived today! 8 years of waiting has finally ended and I am now the proud new owner of an Astro-Physics Starfire 130EDF Gran Turismo (what a mouthful!)

I'm extremely lucky to have paid this scope in full very close to when the AU/US exchange rate was at it's peak (half @95c, the rest @92c). Lady Luck was on my side with that!

A couple of quick pics:

[Phil]

Wow looks very nice. Great to see some photo with it.
Phil

[mick pinner]

very nice Andrew

[wavelandscott]

Congratulations on the scope and the timing of exchange rates!

I hope that your scope performs with the near mythic legendary perfection that AP scopes are said to contain.

[Kal]

New scope and a clear night, it doesn't feel right! :lol:

[AlexN]

NNNN IIIII CCCC EEEE!!!

Whats that funny looking thing hanging off the focuser?? sure is a weird looking camera :D :P

[dugnsuz]

Very nice Andrew...

current status: jealous!!

Have fun
Doug

[netwolf]

Congrats Andrew, I almost took a u-turn on my way home and headed your way tonight but alas. Enjoy the new scope it looks fantastic.

[Kal]

You should have come over Fahim, it was a nice warm clear evening for a couple of hours under the stars :D

[RB]

Excellent !

Congrats Andrew, what a wonderful scope and well done on the xchange rate. :thumbsup:

[fwhong]

Wow.. That's a Beautiful scope to say the least.

=)

[Rigel003]

Beautiful looking scope, and very compact. 8 years isn't as long a wait as some have for AP scopes. I took delivery of an AP 900 mount a few months ago. Cost a fortune to ship but it was a big consolation that the exchange rate was around 97c when I made the final payment.

[netwolf]

I am kicking myself for not being there. I picked up my WO 80 Meg II Triplet today, so I hope i can get more clear nights.
It will take me at least 5-10 years to upgrade my Losmandy club membership to the AP club. That is if i ever get called up for the AP 140 and can afford it.

[g__day]

Very, very good looking set-up!

[spearo]

very nice
you'll love this set up no doubt
frank

[Lester]

Good on ya for getting such a good exchange rate. You must be one patient chap and now rewarded.

What is its F ratio?

[matt]

Woohoo!!! Congrats, Kal.

Does this mean the C11 will soon be up for sale?:whistle::lol:

[Kal]

F6.3, a fraction slower than the F6 model it replaces



Theres still alot of love for my my C11! :D As a planetary imaging scope I really can't go past it!

[KenGee]

8 years man I don't know what I'm doing next week!!

Great scope, I had a deal fall through on a 160, 2nd hand from the US. Ended up getting the new RC from Deepsky. I paid the first install when the dollar was still going up and paid the second on it's way down. Both in the 90 cent area. I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a new mount. It's going to be a long time before the dollar is 98 cents again.

Question what are the the things on the left hand side?

[Satchmo]

You waited 8 years for delivery of a 5" telescope ? Thats what I call dedication to small aperture telescopes :)

[Kal]

They are end caps for when the scope breaks down into 3 seperate components for airline travel.



I've had other small scopes in the last 8 years, starting off with my trusty meade ETX90 a decade ago!

[anj026]

Congratulations Andrew

I know what it is like to wait for your dreams to be realized. Your patience is to be commended.

Clear and steady skies!