AP 130 Starfire EDFGT

[snaggs]

It arrived today, the DM-6 is aethetically a perfect match. The AP 130 is so small. It feels like half the size of the FS-128 and only marginally larger than the Sky 90!

Better still, after a week of rain the sky's have cleared! Hopefully they hold and I can report back tonight on first light..

Daniel.

[anj026]

I wish you all the best for first light Daniel. The new scope looks fantastic!

[AlexN]

Did you get that brand new or second had? I've just jumped on the waiting list for an AP130 Starfire EDFGT, however I don't know what the wait is like at the moment...

I eagerly await a first light report! I hope its everything you'd dreamed it would be!

[snaggs]

After a sunny clear sky afternooon.. the clouds are in.... and its blowing a gale.. However, its still outside waiting for the clouds to part ;)

I got it brand new from a flipper. Never been out of the box, but my name hasn't yet come up.

Daniel.

[dpastern]

Congrats.

As an aside, what turntable is it that my eyes spot?

Dave

[snaggs]

Verdier La Platine.

Daniel.

[netwolf]

Daniel congrats on a great scope , i have seen through my friends one and its awesome, what was more awesome was it was side by side with my other friends AP 130 EDF from the 90's and both were magnificient to look through.
The only one thing i would say is give up the Skycommander DSC and put in replace it with an ArgoNavis. Mine is now in a perm observatory (perm loan ;)at my friends house on his GM-200 and its awesome. One point star alignment and it put everthing in the FOV of a C11 (mostly in the centre).

They Skycommander is good but the AN is better.

[DavidU]

9 years !

[Kal]

Congratulations Daniel! Hope you get some clear nights soon!

[gregbradley]

Congrats Daniel and enjoy your fine telescope knowing its the best in the business.

Greg.

[dpastern]

Yummy. Curious as to what cartridge you're using?

Dave

[snaggs]

Ortofon Rohmann, its a well rounded cartridge.

[snaggs]

Here is the real first light report.. (forgot to post it here) still a bit cloudy, but there were long enough breaks to take in Jupiter.

Quickly grabbing the scope and plonking it outside, I wait 15 minutes before having a look. The tube has cooled completely.. until I've had this scope, I have not realised the extent of tube currents. Now I know what they look like since I don't see them anymore! I always thought that was the seeing...

Back to Jupiter, this is my first look.. zoooom.. a satelite or shooting star spins across the planet through the eyepiece. Well this is fun start!

Now whats that I see.. a black dot right in the middle of Jupiter? is this grit.. hmm.. cant be, its moving with the planet.. surely I'm not doing a Wesley.. then I remember hearing about shadow transits..

A quick post on IceinSpace.com.au and a fellow aussie confirms that its IO!! Back outside, hmm, still can't see it, then the haze clears and bit more and.. wohhoo...

There it is, clear as day, a golf ball floating across the surface of Jupiter.

The best view was with the Zeiss 4mm w/Zeiss barlow. The view is crisp, and I can see graduation on one edge of IO, it kind of looks like one of those balls rendered on the Amiga.

The Takahashi 2.8 is sharp as well, but the Zeiss Abbes just have a touch more contrast that you notice in the bands which just keeps you bringing them back.

I tried the Tak 2.8 with the barlow, but there is too much haze/cloud. I think this will be doable under clearer skies.

I kept watching until it "left the planet". My first shadow transit, and the first time i've seen a 3d rendition of IO.

Moving onto the moon quickly before the clouds come back in, this looks clearer than a photograph. Now over to Omega Centauri, and it resolves completely to individual stars. I can't wait to get out to a dark sky sight to tackle it again.

Time to pack up, and I realise in my hurry I'd forgotten to extend the dew shield

impressed.

Daniel.

[Peter Ward]

They are rare birds indeed. Welcome to the AP fraternity :)

[dpastern]

That's a nice cartridge. Very nice. One day I'll bother getting a Michell or 2nd hand Pink Triangle Anniversary...one day...

Dave