I will probably be putting my Meade 5"/127mm up for sale later this month. Ann, since you already have a useable mount, it may be a good bet for you. Let me know if you're interested. Kim _____ From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of sfisher01@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 9:26 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Opinions on Astro-Tech Refractor Ann: Good morning. Craigs mount is a Celestron ASGT series mount. It is a modification of the CG5. I have seen it at the solar parties. It is a very nice mount for a "smallish" refractor. It's only short fall is that it really works better with an extension in the pier rather than raising the legs to a height that is good for a refractor. It is my opinion that the mount will handle the weight and length of a nice 5" refractor for visual use. I know that you guys are not into imaging at least at this time. Lowell Lyon made a similar change several years ago although not for the same reasons. He sold his Meade LX200 12" and bought a Celestron OTA on a CGE mount like mine. I think the OTA was a 14" but wouldn't guarantee it. He found that although it was much heavier in total it was also much easier to handle because it was in bite size pieces. I went essentially from a 12" SCT to a 5" William Optical Refractror and I will tell you that it takes some adjustment in your observing preferences. Those faint fuzzies will be smaller and dimmer but you will open up a whole new world if you have a mind to. The double cluster won't hardly fit in the field of view in my 6" but the image of Plato the first day after first quarter moon is just hard to describe. There are a number of 4" and 5" refractors around SLAS and here in the valley, I have no doubt that if you can get the mount setup we could find a nice OTA to try on it for you one clear night. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ann Blanchard" <a.blanchard@ugs.utah.edu> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 8:45:04 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Opinions on Astro-Tech Refractor Thanks we do also have an computerized equatorial mount that Celestron sold as some kind of deal for $700 with a 5 or 6" or??" scope (sorry, I can't remember) and the mount is, I believe, a CG5 and while it is nice and heavy, Craig and I can each take an end and carry it. The 11" CPC only has a handle on one side for some perverse reason and it weighs about 65 pounds, so I can't really help with it. He hasn't done imaging, it doesn't work with the 11" and I think he would just like to try some moon shots and stick with admiring the gems the other folks in the club spend such time and care creating. We do love the images in the 11 inch, but if it comes down to going out or not, I guess compromise is the answer. So, if he is not doing imaging, do you think the CG5 could support the 130? Thanks for your advice, if it comes from another Craig, it's got to be good! -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Craig Smith Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 10:07 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Opinions on Astro-Tech Refractor Excuse my ignorance, but does he do imaging, and has he used equatorial mounts? I hurt my back a while ago lifting my SCT as well. I've tried a number of things, including smaller SCTs, EQ-mounted SCTs, and refractors. I love refractors, but do miss the resolution of larger scopes. And larger refractors such as the 130 will still require a substantial mount, perhaps more so than an 8" SCT. For the most part there isn't anything really good that's really light, but they all distribute the weight differently. Some day I hope to try a dob .... Another Craig -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Ann Blanchard Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 8:31 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Opinions on Astro-Tech Refractor Craig has hurt his back lifting our 11" Celestron CPC and is looking at two Astro-Tech refractors as alternative possibilities for a while (looking at prices, he still believes in Santa too). Anyway, have any of you owned, used one of these or do you know of a web site that might trusted that reviews them? They are the AT106 106m f/6.5 or the AT130 10mm F/6 . He found them on page 65 of the Sky and Telescope. I really appreciate any advice on them you can give, thanks! _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _____ No virus found in this message. 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