Moon - first light new scope

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hi all

I just received my new Tak MT-160 6" newtonian from Lars today. It's been outside cooling down a little, so I thought I'd take a quick shot or two while it chilled.

First impression is that this scope is going to be a beauty. Both with and without the f/4.8 FR it's crisp edge to edge both though an 11mm TV plossl and 25mm S4000.

The focuser will need to be stripped and re-packed because it has a little slop in it - but it's a couple of decades old, so one would more than expect it. It's not too bad - but will be better. The built-in camera angle adjuster is going to ne brilliant - no focus shift that I can detect while turning it.

This is a shot of todays big neighbourly blob in the sky. I think that the highlights were kept well in check in this shot.

Moon through Tak MT-160, @ f/4.8 (FR) and Nikon D40. Stacked 10 images in Photoshop CS3 - ISO200 1/250th sec.

Here for a slightly higher resolution version: http://www.omaroo.com/gallery2/main....geViewsIndex=3

[Dennis]

Wow - yes, that is sharp, super sharp! Excellent photo and processing!

Cheers

Dennis

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Dennis

I think it'll do better through the night as the air's pretty wobbly right now. I'll wait a few hours and grab it at zenith. This shot could be sharper if I didn't stack it - and used a single frame instead. Noise was very low anyway...

[Matty P (Matt)]

That is a sweet shot Chris! Very sharp and crisp. As expected from a Tak.

Seems like a great scope. Looking forward to more.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Matty Much obliged

[Octane (Humayun)]

Chris,

Wow, that is fantastic. It fair leaped out of the screen at me.

You lucky so-and-so!

Regards,
Humayun

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Humayun! Hope it didn't damage anything!

[multiweb (Marc)]

That's georgeous mate! MAS image of the month I'd say. At least

[DavidU (Dave)]

That is crisp chris ! Excellent. I really like the colours & tones

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Marc Thanks David

[Doomsayer]

Nice to see the MT160 go to a good home. Amazingly good optics. The MT130 Lars sold me a while back is a stunner.

cheers
guy

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by Doomsayer

Nice to see the MT160 go to a good home. Amazingly good optics. The MT130 Lars sold me a while back is a stunner.

cheers
guy

G'Day Guy

Looks like Lars is all MT'd out...but I think that he has a few nice toys to keep him busy.

Yep - I've been looking around with a cool mirror now - and I reckon that this thing is fantastic. I couldn't get the subtlety of the ejecta rays controlled so well even using the fluorite. This is going to be a good machine I think. Are you going to either BSG or IISAC coming up Guy? We'll have an MT gathering.

[f.robert (Robert)]

Very very nice we want more:p

[iceman (Mike)]

Stunning image, Chris.

What's the FL of the scope?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Robert & Mike

The specs:

MT-160
Effective aperture 160mm
Focal length (prime focus) 1000mm
Focal ratio (prime focus) 6.1
Focal length (with corrector) 1330mm
Focal ratio (with corrector) 8.3
Focal length (with reducer) 776mm
Focal ratio (with reducer) 4.8
Resolving power 0.7"
Light gathering power 522
Limiting magnitude 12.8
Image circle (with corrector) ø36mm
Photographic field (with corrector) 1.5°
Image circle (with reducer) ø36mm
Photographic field (with reducer) 2.7°
Finder scope 7 x 50 6.3°
Total length of main tube 895mm
Diameter of main tube 204mm
Gross wt. of main tube assembly 8.3kg

The little "Green Machine":

[sheeny (Al)]

Congrats on the new scope, Chris.

As for the photo I can only second the praise made so far.

Al.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thank you Al - cheers!

[h0ughy (David)]

great image Chris, sharpness and colours are very pleasing

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks David

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

what an image mate!!

i see what you mean about the superior optics, it looks almost like you could reach out and touch it.

Certainly one of the best lunar shors, i have ever seen