Posts Made By: Jim Wayda

I have recently acquired a new-in-box never seen first light AP Stowaway F7 as part of a large equipment trade. It is still in the original box and wrappings from AP and is from the last production run. Since this is a rare find, how much is this worth? I am more into larger Dobs and solar observation now-a-days and may be interested in selling for top dollar to finance some other equipment.

I have a Teleport 10 inch scope that I have been unsuccessfully trying to sell for the past week. It is currently featured on Astromart. The scope weighs less than 35 pounds, sets up and breaks down in 5 minutes and can be carried with one hand. It features a Zambuto Mirror with outstanding optics. It is an ideal planetary visual scope that can also provide great deep sky views. I am interested in selling the scope in Southern California because I don't have the original packaging and it would be very difficult to ship. This means that the buyer would need to pick up the scope in Southern California. The ad has had over 1000 hits but I have not received any offers. I am selling the scope for $3800 or best offer. Does anyone know of any other means of selling this telescope in Southern California? I really appreciate any ideas and inputs as to how I can sell this scope.

Thanks,

-jim

There was a company called "Infinity Telescopes" that manufactured airline portable Netwonian Telescopes. The package was an 8 inch newt with mount that could travel in an airline overhead compartment. The telescopes was called the "UTI-8" and the company stopped production in 2007. Why? Were there problems with this telescope? It seems to me that a good 8 inch telescope that is airline portable should be very desirable and should sell faster than they can be produced. Does anyone have any information or know of any other large aperture telescopes that can travel in an airline overhead?

I have been using Dobsonian-type scopes for the last 10 or so years and all of them have been a closed-tube design. Many times I use these scopes in areas where there are high-levels of stray light such as neighbor's indoor lights from open windows. This stray light is not a problem with closed-tube dobs. Will this type of stray light be a problem with open-tube truss design DOBs? In other words, how well will an open-tube truss-design DOB function in areas where moderate to high levels of stray light exist such as observing planets in your backyard with stray light present from the neighbor's window?

Thanks,

-jim

Has anyone air-traveled with a small refractor like a TV85 or an Astro-Physics Traveler, or a scope of like size that is transported as "carry-on" baggage? If so, what did you experience from the TSA? Did they scrutinize and paw the scope? Did they deny the scope as a carry-on? I need to know what to expect before I travel.

Thanks,

-jim

There is an AP160 forsale in the refractor section for $16,000. It seems that a mount is not included for this price. It appears that it's just the scope for $16,000. What is the original price of the AP160? I have checked the AP website and cannot find this information.

Recently I have been using my AP Traveler for solar observing (May 20 Annular Solar Eclipse) and will be using it on June 5 for the Venus Transit. The solar filter that I am using was purchased about 7 years ago from Astro-Physics and is a Kendrick aluminized Mylar design. Since the Traveler is an oil-spaced design, will it have any problem with the heat especially if I continue solar observing on a more frequent basis?

Thanks,

-jim

It was on the auction->refractor page for several days and then it was just gone. I don't believe that AP will allow you to sell your place in line on the notification list. I wonder if that is why the ad disappeared.

The people that posted the ads for the Travelers have their head far from the clouds and in a very dark site. :-)

I got on the list for the 130 in May of 1998. I took delivery of the scope on August 30th, 2001. Therefore, the wait was three years and three months.

-jim