*********The package is SOLD pending transfer of monies*************
Due to various reasons, I have come to the painful decision to leave the hobby of Astronomy for a while. This decision does not come easily, so please bear with me. I will upload photographs as soon as possible.
Prices are
FIRM. I won't bargain on any of the prices as I believe them to be more than reasonable and fair as is. Trades of any nature will
NOT be considered, AT ALL. POSTAGE ADDITIONAL ON ALL ITEMS!
1. Takahashi FSQ-106N f/5 astrograph refractor. The most legendary and one of the highest regarded Takahashi's of all, used by MANY pro-imagers throughout the world. These are the fluorite versions, NOT the more recent ED glass ones, and show a better image in not only my, but many others opinion, than the ED's.
Condition is immaculate with maybe 2 MINUSCULE marks on the tube - I mean VERY VERY small. The optics are superb in every way.
It has the dual speed MEF focuser addition which I have tuned to be very very smooth - no grittiness whatsoever. It will also include a MYRIAD of Takahashi adapters - some custom made M92 image train tubes - as well as a 6 x 30 Tak finder. Also includes the Tak-Lumicon special 2" diagonal. Fitted with superb quality rings (not sure WHO made them, but better than Parallax, so probably Socal, though don't have some SoCal features). THERE IS NO CLAMSHELL
Price for the Tak FSQ-106N is $3700 FIRM.
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2. Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 mount WITH Berlebach Planet tripod. The SW AZ-EQ6 is in fine condition, with me having replaced AL the M3 screws recently. Paint is around 98% easily, with most of the scuffs on the dovetail head pucks as expected. This mount is both equatorial AND Alt-Az, and works perfectly in both modes. The hand controller software is the most recent. Includes the specific power cord of course (screw on, so you can't easily unplug yourself).
I sold the original stainless steel tripod that comes with these recently and have replaced it with a legendary Berlebach Planet wood tripod. These are used by thousands of imagers and visual observers alike, as the wood will dampen vibration within under 1/2 a second! (FAR superior to stainless steel). The Berlebach is considered THE best available, superior to the Baader, and sells for $787 Australian NEW alone (Note - I got this from Teleskop-Express in Germany). The tripod is HEAVY, but suprises with how portable it is despite this weight.
Price for the AZ-EQ6 coupled with the Berlebach Planet is $2200 - that's an absolute STEAL!
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3. FLI Microline ML8300 OSC CCD. Considered THE BEST KAF8300 chipped camera available. Build quality is impressive, specs even more so. The camera will reach -42°C in winter, yet I used to run it at -30°C all year round (I tested it and it will go as low as -52°C given the correct conditions!). -30° in summer was easy, and it reached that quickly. Download times are RAPID full frame - I recall around 3 seconds maximum. These have an iris shutter, so you can do darks easily (and you can set an exposure delay so the iris pattern is NOT recorded in the image)
Includes power supply, USB cable, 2" nosepiece, 2" H-a filter (screw onto the nosepiece), 2" UV/IR filter and Hutech IDAS LP filter. Will be sent in a Pelican style case. Software/drivers are NOT included, but these are directly downloadable from FLI free.
I previously listed this at $2000 WITHOUT filters, but will now list it WITH filters at an increased price.
Price is $2500
If bought together with the Takahashi FSQ-106N, I will include specific Tak-FLI custom made adapters. Will ONLY work with Takahashi M92 and M72 threads, so don't bother if you have another brand of system.
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4. Lodestar autoguider camera. With original blue case and cables. Perfect condition.
Price is $400
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5. Lightbox for flats. Made by peter EXFSO here. Made for the Takahashi FSQ-106N but will fit any similar dewshield diameter. Variable brightness. Cables. $100
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6. Bahtinov masks: custom made of hard acrylic for the FSQ-106 and the FSQ-85. FAR superior to the flexible plastic ones Farpoint sells.
$35 each, or $50 for both. If you take both, I will include a generic Farpoint one free.
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7. Mini-guidescope, converted from a Vixen 7x50 finder. Longer focal length than the Orion mini-guiders, and is fitted with a custom made non-rotating helical focuser. Also has Borg rings (with custom made aluminium inserts), which totally eliminate ANY guidescope flexure found with the usual guidescope ring system.
Price is $200
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8. Orion mini-finder-guider. Standard type with the palin 1.25 tube back so you slide your guider nosepiece in and out to acheive focus. Crude, but effective. Repainted in Takahashi white.
$80
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9. Orion RACI illuminated finder. I dabbled with this one - I repainted it to look like a mini-Tak - the diagonal is green and black
Price is $40
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10. Lucky dip: will include vixen dovetails, clamps, side by side bars, rings, cables, sundry adapters, an old Toya guidescope, a rattle can and pot of Tak green paint, atlases, books, magazines and so on. Don't fret, you'll get your money's worth!
Price is $500
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11. Masuyama 7.5 EP. Legendary - and worthy of the accolades! MINT condition, with caps and original box
Price is $250
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12. Takahashi LE24 EP. Just superb. Really. Original box as well.
Price is $150
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13. Vixen 7.5 orthoscopic EP. EXCELLENT
Price is $40
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14. Tak 1.25" prism diagonal. Under test, was found to be just about the best 1.25" diagonal available.
Price is $100
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15. Tak clamshell foot extension/offset.
Price is $50
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16. William Optics LONG wide plate Vixen dovetail
Price is $45
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17. Farpoint universal METRIC Losmandy plate
Price is $35
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All I can think of for now.
I prefer to sell it as ONE LOT, so the price for the ENTIRE menagerie will be
FIRM $10,000, INCLUDING POSTAGE. Postage will be Via PACK N SEND (no other courier considered unless you send one to collect on your bill)
If bought individually, AS ALREADY STATED, postage is ADDITIONAL to the prices shown, and will be via either Australia Post or Pack N Send - I will NOT send e-Go or other courier - it is P&S or Australia Post ONLY - NO EXCEPTIONS unless YOU send a courier here to collect it on your bill.
I will NOT accept private messages on this sale, so correspondence is by EMAIL ONLY. The email link is in my name drop down menu.
I also ask that there are NO posts made here at all so as to avoid any conflict of time stamps.
First come first served. All sales will be time checked against each other.
I will be asking the forum moderators to instantly delete ANY and ALL forum discussion of this event, both supportive and snide as has recently happened. Why is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, so this is not a topic open for discussion by people with nothing better to do.
I worked hard to assemble this lot, buying and trading over the years. It's what I always wanted, but now circumstances and a change in direction dictate that there are need far greater. This decision was not taken light-heartedly, so if I appear grumpy and gruff, then I apologise.
I will endeavour to upload pictures when I can, but please don't expect a picture of the Lucky Dip stuff!!!
