[TomB (Tom)]

For sale or trade, a 5 element 4.5" RFT refractor OTA created from a NASA photo lens. The objective is 6" in the first 3 elements, coupled with 2 elements which act as a corrective Barlow. The result is a 30" refractor. It is not a true 6" as there is vignetting resulting in an effective 4.5" aperture. Although it has good colour correction, I hesitate to call it apochromatic as it pre-dated the era of triple-element APOs. It really is best at rich field and is not intended for high power. I imported it from USA and paid US$200 for the OTA (excl shipping). It weighs a hefty 16 lb of glass plus tube and 2"+ Jaegers focusser, but easily sits on any 6"-capable mounting.

My reason for sale is storage and that I now have a glut of RFT refractors so something has to go. So I'd be happy to discuss trade or sale. One thing I could use is an 8in SCT or a 6in Mak to use on my urban Chatswood balcony, if anyone happened to want to part with such & take this as part trade-in. I have two 10 inch Newts, several 3in refractors, and a C-5 so don't need anything in those categories. Open to other suggestions.