I took the 10" Astro Sky with the Zambuto to Mt Pinos last night. The seeing was good, but not perfect, rating of 8.0-8.5 on the Blue Sky Scale. 
This was not technically first light, but rather second light, but the first time at a dark sky site.
The scope was very impressive! The optics were excellent with text book star tests. Contrast, resolution and clarity were fantastic. I did not expect as good of performance out of a 10" scope on DSO. It was the best I have seen.
Mars did get pretty good at 1am and the details were quite good in moments of clarity, with it rivaling any other scope that I checked out. It even gave as nice a view at the 28" Kennedy scope. Not the same as it was not as bright, but the details were as good or better. It seemed to get more moments of clarity than the other scopes I looked through. I did not exceed 508x because of the seeing. It was just a little soft at 500x and was best at about 260-300x.
The scope handled very well, with good motion and did not vibrate. The DSC worked excellent, with a 7-10mm EP having the object close to the center of the FOV after locating with the Sky Commander.
I am happy with the scope and the performance is as good as I had hoped. Another fine Zambuto mirror.
Speaking of fine mirrors, I had the opportunity to view through Steve Kennedy's 28" F/3.66 Go-To Dob for about 45 minutes last night. The mirror was amazing! I would never have believed that a mirror that fast would be that clean and free of coma. Views were excellent a Binoviewer and EP and if the skies had been better, they would have been spectacular.
This was not technically first light, but rather second light, but the first time at a dark sky site.
The scope was very impressive! The optics were excellent with text book star tests. Contrast, resolution and clarity were fantastic. I did not expect as good of performance out of a 10" scope on DSO. It was the best I have seen.
Mars did get pretty good at 1am and the details were quite good in moments of clarity, with it rivaling any other scope that I checked out. It even gave as nice a view at the 28" Kennedy scope. Not the same as it was not as bright, but the details were as good or better. It seemed to get more moments of clarity than the other scopes I looked through. I did not exceed 508x because of the seeing. It was just a little soft at 500x and was best at about 260-300x.
The scope handled very well, with good motion and did not vibrate. The DSC worked excellent, with a 7-10mm EP having the object close to the center of the FOV after locating with the Sky Commander.
I am happy with the scope and the performance is as good as I had hoped. Another fine Zambuto mirror.
Speaking of fine mirrors, I had the opportunity to view through Steve Kennedy's 28" F/3.66 Go-To Dob for about 45 minutes last night. The mirror was amazing! I would never have believed that a mirror that fast would be that clean and free of coma. Views were excellent a Binoviewer and EP and if the skies had been better, they would have been spectacular.
[SIZE="Large"][/SIZE][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR] Floyd Blue
Amateur Imager
