Posts Made By: Keith Lawson

Try Orion. This is the pre-cut case foam used in telescope cases.
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=cases_and_covers/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=05979

Hi Steve,

I sure like mine (thanks Floyd). Its high resolution performance is off the scale. This is, without a doubt, one of the best lenses I have ever looked through in 30+ years of observing. The only other refractor I can remember with this high of an overall correction was a D&G F/15 made for NASA that I once owned.

IMO, the residual color error is very minimal and is excellent for visual use. I have owned a couple of standard F/9 achromats and the 127ED is a big leap in color correction by comparison. You can keep all those "color free" high priced "astro camera refractors". As a purely visual observer I don't need "maximal" color crossings to be happy with my visual experience. The moon, Jupiter and Saturn have no color even at high magnifications. The low power star fields are breathtaking with pinpoint stars across the entire field of view. The view of the double cluster (Perseus) in a dark sky will bring a tear to your eye. Just flat stunning! The E&F stars in the trapezium are easy when the seeing settles down. I could go on but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Enjoy your "new-to-you" toy!

Keith

Hi All,

This is not my scope but I do admire the design and may copy it someday. Hope this helps.

Keith

Minimum focus.

Maximum focus.

Under 3000.00? General purpose? I agree with Uncle Rod. I had this choice a few months back and went with a Celestron CPC 1100. SCT's are about as "general purpose" as it gets. Large aperture, excellent portability, ease of setup, ease of use, GOTO, tracking, etc.. If you get one with really good optics (all the CPC 1100's I have looked though have them) you will have a ball. IMO, no TEC 6 or FS 102 would beat one no matter what your target. "Optically good" aperture rules. That is my experience after 30+ years of telescope making/use.


Keith

Nicholas,

I have been down the "cooling" road quite a few times. Some solutions worked and some did not. I found active cooling to work the best. Re-circulating is the best of all. With re-circulating you do not introduce any outside air (no dust and increased temperature exchange) into the tube. I will post some of my projects and answer any questions you have concerning them.

Here is my first re-circulating system. A C-9. There is one fan in the "nacelles" on each side. The other posts have the fans in the nacelles also. One in each nacelle. Not a easy solution but worked quite well.

Keith

Here is a C-8 with a re-circulating system.

Here is a re-circulating cooled C-11.

Here is a passive cooled C-11 w/removable panels. Panels are removed in this shot.