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Post by philbarker on Jan 23, 2014 13:16:39 GMT -5
finally got some reasonable conditions and have been able to test the 6 inch f-12.
Jupiter is low here in New Zealand but at 200 x with a binoviewer I found I could see some real detail in the bands. seeing 5-6/10
then got up this morning and was able to push the big achro to 300 on Saturn and mars. seeing 7.5/10 not quite rock solid but some glimpses of what this scope is capable of.
I used a baader fringe killer which really tidied up the image at 300 x Saturn is very high here and it was superb. to get 300 x I was using 18mm volcano ortho and a 3 x ed barlow.
Some bright patches clearly visible in the rings c ring very easy cassini division also very clearly defined.
Mars still small but some surface detail polar cap very clear. I didn't bother with the moon as daylight was encroaching.
Very happy with performance clearly able to push this scope. I suspect seeing will get better and Saturn will get even higher and closer should be stunning. I tried 430 but this was too much for the conditions.
The diagonal I sued with 1 eyepiece is a dielectric gso 1.25 inch. The binoviewer an unbranded model I believe is gso which seems to be very sharp with nice coatings etc. didn't use fringe killer on Jupiter initially but again it tidied up the image somewhat even at 200 x.
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rgm
Full Member
Posts: 65
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Post by rgm on Jan 24, 2014 15:29:35 GMT -5
It is nice to hear that you are geting out to view. I live in Canada and we are having the coldest winter in 20 years. This past week have seen night time temps between -35 and -40 Celsius. Day time in the mid -20s. The only astronomy I am doing is through the internet. Looking forward to March!!
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Post by philbarker on Jan 24, 2014 23:38:32 GMT -5
that's very cold I used to live in Christchurch and they have a lot of frosts but never gets below -10.
Hang in there its been unsettled here too the west coast of the south island gets 3 metres approx. of rain a year and that's on the coast.
I often find winter especially in the early hours has the best seeing.
hope to have another go tonight. Mars and Saturn are well placed before dawn here at the moment.
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Post by boomboom on Jan 25, 2014 5:32:45 GMT -5
Hi Phil, Good to hear about the views in your f12….great bits of glass I agree. I'll have to try my FK as there is the smallest bit of CA on the edge of Jupiter but it really compares to the whitish disk I see in my 4" ED f9 refractor. Bino's and the f12 are out of this world too. Matt
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Post by philbarker on Jan 26, 2014 17:09:48 GMT -5
Re the chromatic aberration its less than the 5 inch f-9.5 scope I have and the fringe killer cleans up the higher magnification image.
I have now collimated the lens with an agena astro refractor collimator and expect an improvement as it was out a bit. I could detect the barest trace of astigmatism at high power and I suspect this will be gone now the lens is lined up.
Binoviewers are good but take a bit of mucking around to get right. My eyes have different focus points but when I get it sorted there is no question I can see fine detail easier on Jupiter.
Not changing eyepieces all the time to me is a bonus. Its a pity there is no 15-5mm zoom bet that would be nice.
I foolishly sold my last zoom which looked similar to the celestron unit and was 24-8mm 60-40 degree field. It was great with my c11 in good seeing.
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Post by bn1777 on Feb 22, 2014 2:07:52 GMT -5
Phil , thanks for the short review , I can only imagine what Jupiter at 300x looks like thru your 6 inch f12 . I lived in Christchurch a few years ago as well ( lovely city ) and yes the early morning winter views are very good down there . Brian.
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Post by boomboom on Feb 25, 2014 17:07:46 GMT -5
Had my f12 out a few times lately. Mars for me has always been a red blob in the past with an old Synta 150 f8 or 8" f5 Skywatcher Newt. Glad to say that has all changed! Mars for the first time early morning at 360x with a Pentax XW 5mm is beautiful, polar cap and a couple of darker spots seen. I'll have to look up what the darker areas are. This scope continues to amaze me Matt
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Post by kevinbarker on Feb 26, 2014 2:08:40 GMT -5
Hi Matt I also enjoyed a pretty good view of Mars a week or so back in my 180. I even tried a red baader filter which darkened the features quite a bit and seemed to make the North Pole earier to see. I must haul out my set of Zeiss filters which fit over the 0.96" eyepieces. I even have a turret as well!! Seeing has pretty good here of late although it is also clouding over a fair bit. Like tonight!! Phil also reports impressive views of mars in his 150 f-12. Kevin Had my f12 out a few times lately. Mars for me has always been a red blob in the past with an old Synta 150 f8 or 8" f5 Skywatcher Newt. Glad to say that has all changed! Mars for the first time early morning at 360x with a Pentax XW 5mm is beautiful, polar cap and a couple of darker spots seen. I'll have to look up what the darker areas are. This scope continues to amaze me Matt
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Post by jimcurry on Feb 26, 2014 7:06:49 GMT -5
The Istar 6" is a fantastic lens set. I posted about looking at the moon up to 360x. Jupiter comes alive over 200x. I would so love to have the chance to view Jove with my scope over 200x for an extended period. Jim
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Post by boomboom on Feb 28, 2014 0:11:50 GMT -5
Last night I had my 10" Orion Optics UK Newt out. I recently bought an ES coma corrector for it. Not quite refractor views but not far from it either….still I'll take a refractor more often than not. Seeing was good, transparency leaning into the rubbish end….in short, the usual conditions here most clear nights. Oh how the 10" did disappoint. With all that extra light gathering power over the 6" it left me wondering why I have it. I keep it for country/camping trips in reality the 6" f12 is a big scope. Mars was a washed out ball of red/orange, might have been Mars last night perhaps? Jupiter is a bit too low on the northern horizon to really bother with this year.
It made me love my f12 all the more. It is my first choice in scope….only got two anyway! Matt
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