Posts Made By: Ron Bee

Hello there Terry,

Well, think of the entire optical train. You've got one of the best doublet APO; so perhaps a 2" TV Everbrite or 2" AP Maxbrite maybe in order! For it matters if the locomotive is shiningly powerful, but you've got a train wrecked while
turning those dim photonic curve ;-). I've never regret
going to the wallet busting TV Everbrite!

Ron B[ee]

Hello there Thomas,

Well, perhaps we can have pushed you over the edge ;-).
Indeed, the TV-85 can show you the moon and the planets
quite well. For an idea of what an 85mm can do on the
moon, please read this.
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Observations/TV-102_TW-85_moon.htm
Though I'm no fan of AZ mount ;-), the TV-85 seems pretty
solid to me on the Panaromic Mount (at a Tele Vue Day I
saw as I was looking at the solar flares through the
Solarmax).
http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/regular/products/tele-vue-optics/pg24.htm

Stu over in the Televue eGroup at ..
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeleVue/
..has been doing remarkable photography with his digital
camera and his TV-85!

As for astrophotography, you'll find some of the finest
photos taken through the TV-85 here...
http://www.abmedia.com/astro/ (the Witch Head - my favorite)
http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/regular/products/tele-vue-optics/sean.walker.html
http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/regular/products/tele-vue-optics/tv85.photos.html
http://c-woodruf.tripod.com/unguided_sbig_st5_tv85.html
http://c-woodruf.tripod.com/unguided_sbig_st7_tv85.html

Best wishes,
Ron the 4-inch Tall Evangelist B[ee]

I really believe a 4" APO will complement your 10" very nicely, Vladimir, if you have the budget. The 4" APO cools
down very quickly and is still portable enough to move around easily. A Vixen GP mount would be more than adequate for the TV-102. What magnification you can use on the TV-102 depends on seeing condition. For me during Mars last apparition, I was able to often use 176x and frequently 220x on Mars. A couple of excellent nights allowed me to use 293x to a great satisfaction, revealing the tiny Syrtis Minor! (Of course these are all TV Radian
eyepieces ;-). On those good nights (after it's determined by the 4" APO scout), you can haul out the well collimated, well cooled down 10" for the best bang! For a very excellent Mars' guide, please read this and feast your eyes on this...
http://www.arksky.org/mars2003.htm
http://panther-observatory.com/gallery/planets/doc/MarsCollage2001.htm
.. but the 4" can't even come close to this
http://www.ghg.net/egrafton/

As indiferent as I am to my TV-102, please note that the Takahashi FS102 is still on sale for a highway robbery price of $1895! Either the Tak FS102 or the TV-102 would not disappoint.

Last but not least, I leave you this one food for thought. We sojourn on this planet but only once (unless you believe in reincarnation ;-). So while working hard like dogs :-(, don't we all at the very least deserve one of the finest thing in life?

Best wishes on your quest.
Ron the 4-inch Tall Evangelist B[ee]

Hello there Paul,

If you had bought an AstroPhysics APO, you might have been
able to sell it and recoup all of your $$$$ or even make a profit. Most other APO refractors don't depreciate very much.

Ron B[ee]

Indeed, Steve, no picture of the Double Cluster can come close to the view trhough our TV-102 ;-). Another one is the ET Cluster and more.

However, no TV-102 can come close the photo of the Flame Nebula (and of course the Horsey) :-(.
http://www.abmedia.com/astro/dsc2/horsehead-102.html
And if I maybe so bold to assert, no amateur scope on earth can come close to the colorful view of this photo ;-)?

Ron B[ee]

Boy, Michael, that Scope of Death is sure a death smooch to my Light Cup :-(.

Ron B[ee]

Oh no, aperture loses :-(. I need an 8" to combat the light pollution when observing in the city (while everyone else heads out to the mountain/desert ;-).

Ron B[ee]

Hello there Anthony,

I'd say you've got a refractive itch to scratch your 8" SCT back ;-).

If you haven't seen a 5"/6" achromat in person, I'd recommend you do so; they're not small scopes. I'd say think about why you've got the itch (prognosis says something missing under the 8" miniscus which is causing a dermatitis ;-). Think about what you wanna use this 2nd scope for? Quick look? Wide view? On a moment's notice?

Everyone needs a least two scopes: one large and one small.

Ron B[ee]

Hello there Jerry,

Is the 2" to 1-1/4" a Tele Vue adapter?

You may wish to join us at the Tele Vue eGroup.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeleVue/

There are quite a few owners of the Genesis who might be
able to help you. Also, Tele Vue is only a phone call
away.

Ron B[ee]

Wow, C9.25 on CG5! I thought the C9.25 OTA is something
like 24lbs, is it?

Thanks,
Ron B[ee]