Mrs Rider and I contracted 12 inch aperture fever a while back and now we have some other equipment that just doesn’t get used. So unfortunately, welcome to Rider’s big optical sale.
The mount :
Skywatcher HEQ5pro SOLD, (hope you enjoy it Andrew) withGPS module, and a300mm counterweight bar extension,
Plus polar-scope and
the two standard counterweights.
Scope option 1
10 inch Skywatcher 254x1200 Black-Diamond Reflector OTASOLD, (Thanks Troy. - don't forget its name is Argyle)
-Rings, dovetail,
-Red Dot finder,
-SW manual and original Packaging.
8 inch Skywatcher 200x1000 Newtonian Reflector OTA Blue f5 weight=9kg
It’s yer standard blue 8 incher. You know what it looks like, It’s an easily collimated reliable 8 inches of aperture in good condition. New at Andrews they are $399.00 + freight, without a finder.
It includes:
-2 plossl’s
-Rings, dovetail and
-an 8X50 finder or a red dot finder. EDITED PRICE -$260.00 + freight
($285.00 and I will pay the freight to any major centre in the eastern states of Australia)
Scope option 3- SOLD, "The Master" has a new home.
8 inch Saxon 203x2500 Maksutov-Cassegrain. OTA white f12.5 weight=13.6kg
About 4 years old. Good condition. I hate to let this go, but I’ve only used it twice this year.
It includes
-Diagonal (2”and a 1.25” adaptor),
-Rings, dovetail and
-10X50 finder.
-It comes in a padded travel box.
This scope is the most solidly built Maksutov I’ve seen, (check the above weight before thinking about mounting it on anything less than an EQ5.)
Great optics. This is an excellent Planetary and Deep Sky Object scope.
The best new price I can find is $1650.00, This one is $750.00 + freight
Optional Extras for the Saxon.- - SOLD,
-Orion dew shield$38.00
-A backplate skylight filter which has a recut thread to provide a Saxon to Celestron/Meade thread adapter. $50.00 (this allows standard STC thread aftermarket equipment to be added.)
-A Williams Optic STC diagonal - the flash dielectric one (pre carbon-sides model) $200.00 (for a Saxon, you will need the above skylight filter adapter as well)
If you want to work out the freight on any of these items, try E-Go, they are easily the cheapest and they have a quote section on their website. I have used them before for Astro equipment.
I've been PM-ed 3 times with the same question. so here is the answer for everybody.
"Where did I get the Saxon Thread to STC Thread converter?"
The answer is, I didn't, I made it by re-cutting the standard STC thread of a Celestron skylight filter to the lightly larger Saxon thread. This is a one off - not available in the shops.
Second scope. And it'd sit there unused for a while whilst I got a new mount for it. Somehow don't think it'd site nicely on the Alt-Az mount that my current 70mm refractor is on!
At the risk of hijacking this thread, I'll reply to that..
I completely suck with construction. I can do indifference curve analysis on the back of a napkin, do basic electronics practically blindfolded and repair my own car.
But ask me to build anything from scratch and I have neither the tools nor the ability. Although - when my mate Lew gets back from Perth (bloody Ulysses bikers are all heading over there for some big do), I'll hit him up about helping me. Pretty sure he could build a space shuttle if given the opportunity.
Hope you enjoy the scope Tony.
(I think I have now created the right conditions for a packing-material-production-company led recovery to the Global Economic Crisis.)
