First light for the restored 12.5" Collett Dob.

Well, I got the secondary in from Antares Optical, another great secondary too. I only went with a 1/16 wave for this scope. I figured that this would be fine for it.
So today I got it installed and aligned the optical train and collimated with offset. Found that the scope was actually an f/5 and not a f/5.2 as was claimed. No big deal there, just good to know what it really is now.
Then I decided to take it out back just to give it a first light and see how it came out.
Jupiter was about all that was worth looking at before the Moon rose. So I went to Jupiter and placed the Pentax XL 10.5mm in the focuser. At first the images were not sharp but after a few minutes the atmosphere calmed down or at least gave me a steady hole and the images came through crisp and clean. The GRS and bands were very nice with good color and detail showing across the whole face. Not perfect, but it showed the optics were performing well.
I found a part of the sky where it was most steady and did some star testing. To my amazement and surprise, the star test was excellent! The rings looked very much like those of the Zambuto. 8O This was the best star test image of a Discovery mirror that I have personally seen.
Now for a better night with some real dark skies. 8)

I'm sure we all read your updates with great anticipation and perhaps a little envy. You always seem to have something new to report on, and this is no exception. No doubt they are banging on you door in hopes of being the first to say "I'll take the scope as soon as you are done playing with it"! And of course like a big brother your response will be "Not yet, there are still a few things I have to do"! And when the time comes to box it up and sent it to its new owner there will be a tear in your eye. Or better yet it will be impossible to part with.