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Posts Made By: Robert Howe

September 23, 2006 03:00 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Older AP 6" F8 triplet

Posted By Robert Howe
I have owned four 6 inch AP refractors, a Starfire f/7, two Starfire f/9s, and my current pre-starfire f/12 triplet. I also had a 102mm f/8 triplet (see photo). All are absolutely wonderful scopes. Of the six inchers, I have enjoyed my current f/12 the most, perhaps because I use it primarily for moon and planets. I don't see any optical advantage (to the naked eye!) of the newer telescopes, and their greater weight makes them harder for me to handle. I think that older AP scopes are a tremendous bargain--my 102 f/8 is now my brother in law's, and he is of similar opinion.

February 10, 2007 03:39 PM Forum: Refractors

Guidelines for A comparison

Posted By Robert Howe
I did a nice comparison between the TeleVue 85 and AP Stowaway f/7 refractors, it is posted in the reviews as "battle of the giants" or some such thing. I set up, in advance, a list of targets. We deliberately set up a list of diverse oobjects so as to best understand the scopes' capabilities: Luna, Jupiter, doubles, globulars, planetaries. We used identical EPs, one for each scope, so as not to have to fiddle with focus. Mike and I looked at each target, compared the views between the scopes and took notes. We talked not at all at first, by common consent, but after a while could not help but comment on things. We reviewed our findings afterwards and had a nice discussion over coffee & Kahlua.

The results of this exercise were very valuable to me and helped me decide which telescope to keep. The exercise was a lot of fun and it really was not time taken from viewing. Set it up right and you will find that it teaches you a lot about your telescope.

I also did this with two AP 130 mm refractors, an f/6 and an f/8; I kept the f/8. Have fun

Robert Howe

November 4, 2007 06:22 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Focal ratio

Posted By Robert Howe
Jackie, if you mainly care to do planets then the focal length is everything; get the longest telescope that you can. At your given apertures you will need a scope with an f/ratio of 8 or more. This claim is true even at the upper ends of telescope making. Over several months last year I compared Astro-Physics 6 inch f/9 and f/12 telescopes on Jupiter, the Moon and Saturn, and the older f/12 was superior each time.

Mak-Cass, Mak-Newts and apochromatic (or at least achromatic) refractors are the cat's pajamas here. I don't recommend Dobs for this application, for while theoretically they are good for planets, they are hard to collimate to get images of the same resolution as are given by these other telescope types.

For less than $3k you can get yourself (used) a Questar 3.5, a TeleVue 102, a D&G 5 inch f/12 or an Astro-Physics Star 12 (see photo). You'll never fail on planetary observing with any of these.

Myself, I prefer the AP 6 inch f/12 for planets, but when it is too much trouble to get that puppy out, I am very happy with a 5 inch f/8.

December 19, 2007 04:06 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Re: It's in transit!!!

Posted By Robert Howe
Here's the new AP 140 f/7.5, Serial 14075-51--I presume that 50 others shipped before mine. The photo shows all three of my big purchases for 2007--a Toyota Camry, a Televue Ethos and an AP refractor. The AP is gorgeous, of course, and less bulky to move than I had expected. I was able to handle it alone without difficulty. The rather broad dew shield is a work of art, being very solid and smooth, I appreciate that it does not need to be reversed. Views of Mars, Moon, M42, M45 last night were outstanding, showing pinpoint stars with extreme contrast. It was too cold to spend more time than that, sadly.

On M42 there was a real difference as compared to the 130 f/8.3, 10 mm of Roland's aperture are 10 meaningful mm.

Tonight we will do Mars again.

This telescope's arrival makes a 5 year waiting list seem worth it!

Robert

January 5, 2008 06:48 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Barlowing an Ethos?

Posted By Robert Howe
I met the Ethos at NEAF, was impressed, and purchased my Ethos as soon as they were available. I use the Ethos as one of four EPs on an Ap 140 f/7.5 (also a memento of NEAF; previously I used a 130 f/8.35). These are a Panoptic 35, Nagler 22, Ethos, Ethos on 2x Powermate. The Ethos takes beautifully to the powermate. High power views are clear, wide and very high contrast. It is a superior view, despite all the glass, to using a 6-3 mm Nagler zoom: clearer and wider. And I never need to fiddle, in the cold and dark, with a 1.25 inch EP or a reducer. What's not to love?

On a 16 inch Zambuto reflector, this does not work so well, the lateral stars get fuzzy without the Paracorr.

Ciao

Robert

March 19, 2008 06:13 PM Forum: Ask rating questions here

What SHOULD I have Done?

Posted By Robert Howe
Don't sweat it! Your seller undoubtably has other transactions.

Robert

April 6, 2008 07:42 PM Forum: Meade

"Duel-fork" mount

Posted By Robert Howe
Working with an 8 foot observatory I find space very restricted for the telescopes that I have. Thus I am giving serious consideration to picking up a 10 or 12 inch LX90-ACF, thereby simplifying my life and saving a few kilodollars. Has anyone experience with these puppies? How will the visual images compare to those of a fine refractor (5 inch f/8, six inch f/12) or Mak Newt (8 inch f/6)? Would a 12 inch LX90-ACF give me sufficient light grasp to sell my 16 inch Zambuto Newt reflector? Sometimes I think how easy observing would be if I had only a couple of telescopes; then I use what I have, and can't bear to part with even one of them...

Ciao

Robert Howe

March 15, 2009 03:24 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

Stick-On Letters

Posted By Robert Howe
My 140 has stick on letters, and one of them was wrongly chosen (see photo). I get a little chuckle out of this. This shows that the letters must not be on a pre-made sheet. Perhaps my gnome needs stronger bifocals.

Robert

July 6, 2009 03:44 PM Forum: Astro-Physics

Unusually Deep Solar Minimum (aka A Tale of Two Su

Posted By Robert Howe
Hi Anthony

Actually, I saw two tiny groups of sunspots yesterday while practicing eclipse photography, I may have an image of them. These were the first I have seen in over a year.

Cheers

Robert

July 27, 2009 10:22 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Solar eclipse pic 7/22/09

Posted By Robert Howe
Just back from the eclipse, which I saw on a boat at point of maximum duration--we actually gained 3 seconds by running in the direction of the moon's shadow. Three photos to show. The best of the bunch is this one that my daughter Sarah took with a digital point and shoot. I love how it sums up the eclipse: the ring of sun, the daytime image of Mercury, the radar assembly of the boat, the enthralled lad (my son Jon, enjoying his third eclipse as much as he did his first).

More to come.

Cheers

Robert Howe

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