Hey gals and pals,
Presently I own a lovely AP130 f/6, perhaps 2 years old. This is my primary viewing instrument for all uses. I also have an 11 inch Starmaster for use on deep space objects, which I intend to replace in the next year with another Starmaster of larger diameter mirror.
My present travel scope is a TV85, which I am very fond of; also it has the advantage for travel of being expendable, for if damaged, it can be replaced, hopefully with insurance money, out of dealer stock. It seems a little small for anything but travel, however; and I wish it were even bigger for travel; while in the south recently, viewing objects such as Omega Centauri which I had never before seen, I yearned for another half inch of aperture.
Anyway, the AP130 is certainly not a scope to carry on vacation, nor to set up for a quick peek at the moon before dinner, so I have sought an AP refractor in the 100 mm range. Through friends I have access to purchase any of these three instruments: a Stowaway f/7, a recent Traveler, or an early 1990s AP 102mm, f/8. All are in fine optical condition. Each is within my budget, but *all* are not.
Given my needs, which one of these instruments would you buy, and why? Do I have anything to gain by getting any of them? The 102 is clearly not a travel instrument, but the FL being longer than the 130, might it be a better 'scope for routine use, esp. on planets? The aperture question would mitigate in favor of the Traveler, but the Traveler being FL600 or so makes it no better than the TV85 for quick peeks at Jupiter.
All opinions will be gratefully received.
Robert Howe
Presently I own a lovely AP130 f/6, perhaps 2 years old. This is my primary viewing instrument for all uses. I also have an 11 inch Starmaster for use on deep space objects, which I intend to replace in the next year with another Starmaster of larger diameter mirror.
My present travel scope is a TV85, which I am very fond of; also it has the advantage for travel of being expendable, for if damaged, it can be replaced, hopefully with insurance money, out of dealer stock. It seems a little small for anything but travel, however; and I wish it were even bigger for travel; while in the south recently, viewing objects such as Omega Centauri which I had never before seen, I yearned for another half inch of aperture.
Anyway, the AP130 is certainly not a scope to carry on vacation, nor to set up for a quick peek at the moon before dinner, so I have sought an AP refractor in the 100 mm range. Through friends I have access to purchase any of these three instruments: a Stowaway f/7, a recent Traveler, or an early 1990s AP 102mm, f/8. All are in fine optical condition. Each is within my budget, but *all* are not.
Given my needs, which one of these instruments would you buy, and why? Do I have anything to gain by getting any of them? The 102 is clearly not a travel instrument, but the FL being longer than the 130, might it be a better 'scope for routine use, esp. on planets? The aperture question would mitigate in favor of the Traveler, but the Traveler being FL600 or so makes it no better than the TV85 for quick peeks at Jupiter.
All opinions will be gratefully received.
Robert Howe
Robert Howe
Wilbraham MA
TeleVue 85 f/7 // Astro-Physics Traveler 105 f/6 // Astro-Physics 130 f/8.35
Coronado 60 DS
"Scopes, Brains and Wisdom--but no Beauty"
