This is pretty much the final post on the build of my iStar 127mm R30 F12 open tube scope.
Even though the full moon was pretty much flooding out the sky, I had it out on the NEQ6 mount tonight for the Saturn Occulation and to test the Sky Safari Pro wifi guiding of the mount (using the Nexus-S attached to the SynScan controller).
Photo is attached.
I let the scope cool in the shed for a couple of hours, fitted the Kendricks Dew Shield, and got it balanced on the mount. It tracked Saturn well and there was no strange mount behaviour, nor weight issues. The scope with 2" diagonal, EP, and 8x50 finder had an all up weight of 9.4kg. OTA alone is 8.4kg, compared to the iStar Asteria 127mm R30 f12 tube based scope at 12.7kg for the OTA.
After watching the Saturn event, I used the opportunty to test my new Televue 5mm Nagler in the scope on Mars and found the detail impressive for the conditions. I finsihed up with a few star tests at various altitudes and they were absolutely concentric with no evidence of collimation shifts due to scope flex.
If there is one thing that I need to address it is to move the dovetail rail forward on the mount board slightly to improve balance point range.
So that's it, thanks for following the build. Now to get it out to a dark site at the next new moon.
Well Done Glen !
An amazing journey.
Looking forward to seeing it in use at our Dark Site, shortly.
Have you considered the best way to transport it safely over those rough roads?
Regards
Al
Thanks for the kind comments. Would I build an 8" - I might but I think I will wait awhile, as I have a lot to learn about refractors on equatorial mounts and I want to get the Canon DSLR going on the back of the iStar.
