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Post by francescot on Oct 16, 2014 3:21:00 GMT -5
Hi all! My name Is Francesco , I live In Italy, In a medieval village called Monfestino: a beautiful location 900 meters above sea level , outstanding seeing, we are going to build an observatory dedicated to long focus refractors: a huge 5" f30 is already on the field :-) Such a location Is a paradise for planetary observation, the seeing permits to push the refracors at their limits: this is the purpose of such a dedicated observatory. The observatory will be located in the neighbourhood of a medieval castle static.panoramio.com/photos/large/780250.jpgI have an ISTAR 220 -3300 CeF Achro on order from Ales and Mike at ISTAR: The classic big f 15 refractor will be the protagonist for private and public observations of the solar sistem: Ales and Mike are unique persons to deal with, they have been very kind and patient , I asked a special correction for the big refractor , 1/6 PV for sucha big aperture,and a matched chromacor will be used. I think that ISTAR Is going to be the leader as regards to very goog quality achromatic refractors, this Is what I call "achromatic revolution" :-))))) long focus refractors are simply the best In splitting doubles and hi-res observations of the Solar sistem, period. I will post a thread very soon, can't wait to see the 9" at the observatory, stay in touch, a big white tube with a lot of brass will be very soon point to the sky ;-)) regards Francesco
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Post by francescot on Oct 16, 2014 4:35:50 GMT -5
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Post by astromanuk on Oct 16, 2014 4:46:13 GMT -5
Fransescot, welcome! What a stunning location you have. You made a very important observation about matching instruments to location. Your new Istar will deserve to be used in an historic location with exceptional seeing. I can go many weeks without a night of seeing that allows me to tease out the fine detail that my telescopes are able to show.
Looking forward to seeing pictures as your project progresses. Please also post one of your huge f/30 achromat.
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Post by francescot on Oct 16, 2014 9:58:00 GMT -5
Dear Astromanuk Thank you very much for your kind words :-)))
Yes! , Matching instruments and location Is a very important issue for me and observing at the refractor in such a unique place doubles the pleasure ;-))) the observation becomes an incredible experience . the silence of the Woods, the beautiful glimpse within of chestnut trees and wine vines, nestling between the mountains ,no light pollution or ground noises..
the refractor will have a lot of brass parts and counterweights ,I want to honour the tradition of classic long focus refractors: In particular the 9" f 15 from ISTAR Is a dream come true : in nights of poor seeing we will stop down the aperture to 180 mm, making It actually an f 19 instruments ;-))) and we all know what does it mean . Even at full aperture it is just under the limit imposed by the seeing, that is generally in the 20-25 cm range
a big refractor at f 15 Is a multi-purpose instrument: at fully aperture It is a deep-sky objects killer, stopped down it becomes a planet killer , I will build diaphragms of 180 ,160 and 140, so we will have 4 refractors : 9" f 15, 180 f 19 , 160 f 21 140 f 24 :-))))))
the aperture of 9" was unimaginable just 3 or 4 years ago... so, thanks Ales and Mike;-)))))
Pictures will follow very soon
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Post by Mike on Oct 16, 2014 10:24:31 GMT -5
I'm sure I speak for Ales when I say we're thrilled to be a part of this project. I would like to see more of the location and the existing refractor. It's a pleasure being involved Francesco We look forward to seeing the progress of the new 220. Mike
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Post by francescot on Oct 16, 2014 12:06:24 GMT -5
the pleasure is all mine dear Mike , you guys at Istar are very kind and very professional ,and If we can see into 22 , 25 cm *refractors* .... not mirrors:-) we owe It to you : )
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Post by boomboom on Oct 16, 2014 16:20:31 GMT -5
Hi Francesco, To echo astromanuk's words....wow what a location. A 9" f15 even better and I agree Istar is an amazing company. Really like the idea of stopping down a 9" to other sizes....and I thought my 6" f12 was big enough! What is the mount you will be putting this scope on? Custom made in the old style I hope Can't wait to see the build in progress....I hope you will post lot's of photo's. Matt
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Post by francescot on Oct 17, 2014 12:28:12 GMT -5
Dear Matt,
Thank you very much Yes a 9 " refractor Is a multi- purpose instrument because you actually have a 180 and a 160 there ;-);-) and the focal lenght of 3300 Is a gift from Gods :-D
I love to respect the long focus refractor classic tradition... so long white tube and brass;-)
I will post very soon pics of the 5" f30 built In that classical way ;-);
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Post by Viktor Z. on Oct 17, 2014 22:42:03 GMT -5
Francesco:
Your home is a very beautiful place, and it is wonderful that you have tthe opportunity for your dream come true building your large long focal length refractor! Yes, we are lucky that such large objecttive lens are available today for us and can enjoy unobstructes views in such lens diameters that was unimaginable a few years ago! I have the 228 mm f7.7 IStar refractor and I am very happy with it. I chose shorter focal length because I need to move the telescope for observations. But you have a beautiful permanent site , And I totally agree with you that you choose very long focal length for your observatory. I wish you a lot of happy hours of telescope building and many more enjoyment immersing into the beauty of our Universe when you use your big 9" refractor. Viktor Zsohar
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Post by francescot on Oct 18, 2014 11:30:54 GMT -5
Dear Viktor
thank you very much for your kind words . I noticed your beautiful 9" On Istar website some days ago: congratulations for the very good job ! I am pretty sure that It's a very good scope and not only a good looking one ;-) , I had the opportunity to use an ISTAR 8" f9 purchased some weeks ago by an italian gentlmen friend of mine: *that* was the night..I was shocked, the details on the Moon was incredible, razor sharp and.. a lot of detail !! yes, *that* Is the crucial issue : I was touched by the amount of detail that such a big aperture was capable to provide, that's the reason why I took my final decision about the long ISTAR 9" : It's even bigger and has got a focal lenght of 3300.. I used for years beautiful 5" and 6" like many of us : a perfect star test and superb figure, state of the art of workmanship.. a lot of brands, somebody from Germany and Japan has this reputation. we all now.. but wait a minute .. we are talking about 127 or 150mm.. that night I was observing with 203 mm, that means.. 76 mm more ! a LOT of light and a LOT more informations: of course a 8" f9 can't have the contrast of a 5" f 30 ,but the additional inches give more resolution ! That's what a dear friend of mine calls " apples and oranges ":-) For many years the classic test was : a Very good 5" or 6" refractor Vs a good 10" reflector.. now we can make the same test about the aperture.. but between two refractors !! I think that that's great.
See you very soon for the pics of the 5" f 30 from D&G
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Post by francescot on Jan 13, 2015 4:22:45 GMT -5
Hi guys.. the BIG dream Is finished and ready to ship :-))))) Guys at ISTAR are simply great, great communication and helpfulness ,their approach Is very serious and professional , they will ship the big lens perfectly within the time limit Mike told me three months ago, i am very happy so far.
see you very soon with pictures of the beautiful old stile OTA :-)))))
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Post by jimcurry on Jan 16, 2015 7:07:07 GMT -5
Francesco:
Spectacular area you live in. I do want to return to Italy and travel the countryside. I can't wait to see all these scope pictures you tease us with and your future observatory.
Jim
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Post by francescot on Jan 19, 2015 4:31:59 GMT -5
Dear Jim, thank you very much ! Pictures will follow very soon, I am working right now on the mount : a GIANT equatorial from the 60ies, about 250 kg, a piece of art and a gift from a great Italian gentlman astronomer of the past, Domenico Gellera, very famous double star observer.
A LOT of iron and brass here ;-))))) let's honor the tradition...
I'll keep In touch with you guys as quickly as possible :-)
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Post by boomboom on Jan 19, 2015 19:09:21 GMT -5
Cast Iron, Brass and a classic white long FL refractor....love it!
This is going to be good.
Matt
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Post by francescot on Jul 4, 2015 10:04:50 GMT -5
ook guys.. here we are ...... Please be patient The refractor is ready to go :-))I will post a new tread about the observatory within the deadline of agust 1 , It was an hard work.
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