Hi Guys,
Just wrapping up loose ends.
I ended up getting a Celestron 150mm (6 inch) Achromat F8 refractor and an EQ6 Mount. I also got a Baader Semi-Apo filter to help with some of the Achromat nasties.
I went down this path for the following reason:
- This was the biggest size Achromat Refractor I could get for a very good price.
- I was after crisp high contrast visual images and this is the best I can get for reasonable dollars.
- At this stage ED and Triplet scopes are far too expensive with much smaller apertures. Great for astrophotography...not so much for visual.
- EQ6 speaks for itself….future proofing.
I am new to astronomy but will try my best to now give some feedback from my viewing sessions:
- My refractor is very good at looking at stars. They are very sharp and I get very little false colour normally associated with Achromats due to the higher focal length and my Baader filter. By my estimate I can easily see stars of magnitude 6.5 (through 10mm Plossle) from my metro location in Brisbane.
- I have had the pleasure of viewing numerous open star clusters and they are indeed beautifully clear in my scope.
- I have also resolved a double stars and that was a lot of fun.
As for DSO Objects:
- I was able to find Andromeda but it was a hazy disc. But I was over the moon regardless.
- I had the pleasure of viewing Orion Nebula and that was spectacular…..absolutely spectacular.
I know that both of these guys are pretty bright anyway, but since I don't yet have a nebula filter nor have I taken the scope to a dark site. I am pretty stoked.
Anyway things are looking great and I am definitely on the way.
Thanks to everyone who helped my in my quest (especially David and Alfi).
Dewang