#2361  
Old 28-03-2020, 09:46 AM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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Thanks Darren i am not an imager so now it will be used purely for visual, Had first light through it last night and lived up to its reputation......
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  #2362  
Old 02-04-2020, 11:32 AM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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FSQ106ED Objective cleaned

Had the objective cleaned professionally because I just didn’t want to take the risk but very happy with how it came up
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  #2363  
Old 02-04-2020, 12:21 PM
UniPol
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Spending more time at home at the moment so decided to bling up some of my Taks. I have added a tube balance weight (650g) which came off one of my 1960's Unitron refractor as the FOA-60Q is rather back heavy. Here are a few pics of my FOA-60Q which I have had out the past few mornings to view the planets. For a 60mm scope it is ultra sharp and the views are almost 3D.
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  #2364  
Old 02-04-2020, 12:56 PM
UniPol
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Takahashi FSQ-85EDP

Finally got around to fitting my Pegasus motorized focuser to the FSQ-85EDP. It was quite simple to fit and was made even easier as the 11" ADM dovetail plate had a couple of counterbored holes which suited the Pegasus slotted mounting bracket. The double tube rings are made by Moonlite specifically for the FSQ-85. The set up shown weighs in at just under 6kg.
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Last edited by UniPol; 06-04-2020 at 09:28 AM.
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  #2365  
Old 02-04-2020, 01:09 PM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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Both scopes impressive Steve. Coatings on the FOA are extraordinary
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  #2366  
Old 02-04-2020, 01:19 PM
UniPol
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Thanks Andrew, I meant to comment on your FSQ-106, very glad that you are happy with the cleaning of the objective, they're a great scope, cheers.
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  #2367  
Old 02-04-2020, 01:35 PM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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Cheers Steve i can't get over the coatings on the FOA there's some Japanese magic going on there i have to have a look through one now, Another iis member i know just bought one and when the virus thing is over we're going to have a look from my house i will have to ask him to bring it...
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  #2368  
Old 04-04-2020, 11:11 AM
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Andy01 (Andy)
My God it's full of stars

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So anyway - I bought a Tak!

Seems that I've joined the Tak owners fraternity - with this mint condition TOA 130 riding on my previously pimped NJP.

Back story: I won a QSI competition, the prize was this fab new QSI 6162 camera. However, it being almost a full frame sensor (APS-H) my Newt would have needed major upgrades to accomodate it (new focuser, big Paracoor etc) and I had to buy a full set of 2" filters for the camera.

So after much thought I figured, might as well sell my faithful QSI 683 & the Newt to fund a nice big Tak & a decent set of filters. No point putting el-cheapo filters behind Rolls Royce quality- Tak glass!

Fortunately a fellow IIS'er was trading up and offered me this beautiful 2nd hand Tak. It was formerly housed in observatories by both the original and 2nd owners and it came with a big Feather touch focuser, motor controller, flattener & reducer too!

Just needed someone to manufacturer adapters to marry it to the big QSI 6162. Fortunately the original owner came to rescue, and with QSI's newly commissioned factory drawings he manufactured a fine set of variable spaced adapters, thanks Jim!

I sourced the Chroma filters from TolgaAstro in the states. Chroma made Astrodon filters until 2011 and now sell LRGB & tight (3 & 5nm) NB filters under their own label. They're still not cheap but given the exchange rate, they represent far better value/price than the Don's, and Tolga personally guaranteed I'll be very happy with the Chromas.

Naturally, as soon as everything was assembled the clouds rolled in over Victoria (sorry about that folks!) so hoping for first light soon!

Big shoutout & thanks to James P, Jim F, Lewis M, Peter W, Marc A, Mike S, Diego C, Paul M & everyone else I pestered for advice, much appreciated!

A co-incidental side note: When I went to my first ever ASV star party eight years ago, I was lucky enough to view M42 through a nice big Tak. I even saw some colour and was hooked! Promised myself then 7 there that one day, I'd own one. Well I've come full circle as I bought this scope off the owners of that same lovely Tak all those years ago! Small world huh?
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Last edited by Andy01; 04-04-2020 at 02:29 PM.
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  #2369  
Old 04-04-2020, 12:11 PM
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The_bluester (Paul)
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I don't think I have put my setup in here before, certainly not my current one.

Having dabbled in AP for about a year and making the mistake of borrowing Andy's lovely Stellarvue SV70T, I ended up buying a brand new SVX80T-3SV, pictured here with my old (Year old!) Skywatcher Evostar 72mm on top as a guide scope. I am just waiting for a new OAG to arrive to add another brand to the franken-setup as the OAG that appeared to have the best chance of no flex that would work in my kit is the QHY OAG-M which I can put together either all with bolted flat parts or screwed together adapters (Add Blue Fireball to the franken mix along with a TS optics rotator)

I tested this with my wifes full frame DSLR last week and even with a 2" filter about 50mm from the sensor there was only the tiniest bit of vignetting in the corners and a sniff along one side, probably from the mirror box, and while 8um pixels are pretty forgiving, crisp stars to the corners. I am dead keen to arrive at a full frame camera for this in a while but the current situation in the world means I plan to just make the best of it for now. Once I get the new OAG set up I will probably sell the ED72 and reducer, a good little starter package but I have outgrown it.
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  #2370  
Old 04-04-2020, 02:43 PM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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Nice scope Andy have looked through one at Orion with a LVW22 at a fellow iis members house and it was bery impressive, Have you done any visual through it
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  #2371  
Old 15-04-2020, 02:41 PM
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FlashDrive (Poppy)
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I have a ' soft ' spot for early WO Scopes.

Thank You to the Member who allowed me to purchase.

Col...
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  #2372  
Old 15-04-2020, 03:34 PM
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MortonH
Deprived of starlight

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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlashDrive View Post
I have a ' soft ' spot for early WO Scopes.

Thank You to the Member who allowed me to purchase.

Col...
For a moment I thought it was one of the even earlier 80mm scopes but the 90mm is nice
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  #2373  
Old 15-04-2020, 05:09 PM
ab1963 (Andrew)
Refractors-That’s It

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Nice Col, Good to see you have renewed your interest into Refractors..



Quote:
Originally Posted by FlashDrive View Post
I have a ' soft ' spot for early WO Scopes.

Thank You to the Member who allowed me to purchase.

Col...
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  #2374  
Old 15-04-2020, 06:00 PM
Wilso
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Oh nice ! Andy
My dream scope. Makes your Tak NJP look kinda small
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  #2375  
Old 18-04-2020, 10:43 AM
Rainmaker (Matt)
Strictly Visual......

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Sol worshipping in the front yard, Skylight AR101F15 + Baader Cool Ceramic Herschel Wedge + TV N26T5 on TV Gibraltar V
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  #2376  
Old 18-04-2020, 12:14 PM
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FlashDrive (Poppy)
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Sol worshipping in the front yard, Skylight AR101F15 + Baader Cool Ceramic Herschel Wedge + TV N26T5 on TV Gibraltar V
Very Nice Matt .... !!
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  #2377  
Old 18-04-2020, 01:18 PM
TrevorW
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Latest Acquistion

After a bit of a hiatus from imaging I've opted for a new scope. family room balancing act, however still waiting on clear night for first light
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  #2378  
Old 19-04-2020, 02:30 PM
Rainmaker (Matt)
Strictly Visual......

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TMB-LZOS 152/1200 Apochromatic refractor
Baader Cool Ceramic 2" Herschel Wedge
SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6GT,
Astro Device Nexus DSC
Takahashi TMT70300 Tripod
Televue N26T5
Baader SkySurferV RDF

with HSK/DSS46 "Apollo" antenna in the background at CDSCC today
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  #2379  
Old 19-04-2020, 03:37 PM
croweater (Richard)
Don't Panic!

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G,day Matt. I don't think a refractor setup could be any better. Looks fantastic.
Cheers, Richard
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  #2380  
Old 19-04-2020, 04:50 PM
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Outcast (Carlton)
Always gonna be a NOOB...

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Intes Micro 715D & Meade S5000 80mm side by side on the AZ-EQ6 setup for the Virtual Star Party on Monday night when our skies were clear...

Wonderful viewing of Eta Carina, Globular clusters & other fine wonders of the night sky... it was an interesting exercise to contrast the widefield views of the 80mm with the 'up close & personal' of the Intes...
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