So I'm new here, and I'm excited to show off a new scope that arrived a few weeks ago. It's a CFF250RC (10" f/8). Here it is mounted on my Mach1GTO along with an SV80ST.
As you can see I'm primarily an imager and have two cameras for a dual scope/imaging rig that I am testing out: Moravian G3-16200M and QHY163M.
With thanks to Simon , I now have the perfect scope for my public outreach efforts at Mount Stromlo..... (I really never felt comfortable having people climb a ladder to my big scope's eyepiece)
For the princely sum of $250, I bought Simon's 10" GSO Dobsonian which had been unused for quite some time. The scope came with a perfect laser collimator, 8x50 RACI finder and Telrad finder as well as an extension tube.
Though dry stored, the mirror had a seriously thick layer of dust that had accumulated during storage. I got the scope home and dismantled it completely into its components, then washed both mirrors, the primary was left to soak for a few minutes before a soap and water wash revealed a decent mirror that had been hidden by the dust.
I then dismantled the focuser, cleaned it and replaced one screw and refitted it. Then I noted that the secondary was too far down the tube to line up with the focuser axis, so after a minor modification to the mounting, I had the optics aligned as they should be. A quick collimation with the laser showed all was lining up well but the collimation screws were a nuisance so out they came to be replaced with M4 x 30mm stainless cap screws.
Hoping for a "First Light" tonight
Pics: GSO 10", Clean Mirror, Collimation screws, Clean focuser and Finder
Is this the contingency scope in case of BTSA issues?
Good to know that Mach1 can simultaneously carry a 10" RC and a small refractor.
It can, and my initial tests with guiding are favorable. The total weight on top of the mount is around 55lbs (25kg). Now that Astro-Physics has "upped" the capacity weight, I'm still under the 65lb rating
Family portait time!
WO FLT 110 (Gold Member) top, WO 66 Petzval (Mini Me) with guidescope to left and ASI1600 with EFW and OAG (Red Baron) to right.
Big Bertha needed a separate photo.
Bo
Yes Richard, it was "Guinevere", alas no longer mine. Joe (OzEclipse) now takes care of her while I am planning the construction of "Sir Lancelot" , a planetary observation focused successor (f6 or longer) to be built during winter of 2018.
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, I now have the perfect scope for my public outreach efforts at Mount Stromlo..... (I really never felt comfortable having people climb a ladder to my big scope's eyepiece)
(yet)
