21" Sharpton SCT

I just received my 21" Sharpton SCT earlier this week and finally had a
chance to try it out last night. The ultra light weight of this scope at 43
pounds for the ota makes set up easy. A new kind of mirror is used that
equalibriates to the environment very quickly, within 45 minutes, and the
thickness is greatly reduced over conventional mirrors. The mount I'm using
is a standard Losmandy G-11.

My first target was Saturn. Although normal seeing was poor, the "seeing
compensation" switch was activated on the mirror control module. Without
activation, the Cassini wasn't even visible. Once switched on, ALL of
Saturn's ring divisions suddenly became crystal clear and I could even see
the infamous Encke division- plainly! "Wow!" I said to myself.

My next target was Jupiter. It was still fairly low, being only 25 degrees
high, but the seeing compensation manual says that planets will appear as if
seeing is "9/10 or better" with actual seeing of "2/10". I focused as best
as I could and Jupiter was doing its usual poor seeing dance and waving in
and out of focus like crazy. I could just make out the two bands, but not
much else. I first adjusted the "atmospheric dispersion coeficient" setting
on the seeing compensation control module. Almost immediately there was an
improvement in sharpness. Then, time to activate the "seeing compensation"
switch. I was immediately blown away by the numerous bands that suddenly
appeared. I increased magnification and and details on the moons became
prominently visible. I've NEVER seen Jupiter like this!

Well, now it was time to try to pick out a DSO. M42 was the best placed, so
I turned toward that. I was impressed by the greenish glow I was seeing,
with two separations plainly visible. Time to activate the "photographic
film compensator". I first adjusted the "time" control for the equivalent
of 60 minutes exposure. I flipped the switch and almost fainted!
Immediatly, Orion's M42 took on an appearance just like in the photographs!
All colors were visible and the nebula was bright! I don't know how they
did it, but no noise was introduced- it was just like looking at a
photograph. And no delay time! WOW!

Clouds were rolling in quickly, so my last target would be the horsehead.
Barely anything was visible initially until I activated the "photographic
film compensator". Unbelieveable! I couldn't believe I was actually
looking through a telescope! All colors were present and the horsehead was
unmistakable. SPEECHLESS!

Bottom line, I'll never buy another telescope or use any other optical
instrument ever again! There's simply no need, this one does it all!

Richard Walls


Note: The aforementioned is for entertainment purposes only and is not to be
taken as fact.

Yes, but when I checked, they are all backordered until 4/1.

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Robert Walls" wrote in message
nk.net...
I just received my 21" Sharpton SCT earlier this week and finally had a
chance to try it out last night. The ultra light weight of this scope at
43
pounds for the ota makes set up easy. A new kind of mirror is used that
equalibriates to the environment very quickly, within 45 minutes, and the
thickness is greatly reduced over conventional mirrors. The mount I'm
using
is a standard Losmandy G-11.

My first target was Saturn. Although normal seeing was poor, the "seeing
compensation" switch was activated on the mirror control module. Without
activation, the Cassini wasn't even visible. Once switched on, ALL of
Saturn's ring divisions suddenly became crystal clear and I could even see
the infamous Encke division- plainly! "Wow!" I said to myself.

My next target was Jupiter. It was still fairly low, being only 25
degrees
high, but the seeing compensation manual says that planets will appear as
if
seeing is "9/10 or better" with actual seeing of "2/10". I focused as
best
as I could and Jupiter was doing its usual poor seeing dance and waving in
and out of focus like crazy. I could just make out the two bands, but not
much else. I first adjusted the "atmospheric dispersion coeficient"
setting
on the seeing compensation control module. Almost immediately there was
an
improvement in sharpness. Then, time to activate the "seeing
compensation"
switch. I was immediately blown away by the numerous bands that suddenly
appeared. I increased magnification and and details on the moons became
prominently visible. I've NEVER seen Jupiter like this!

Well, now it was time to try to pick out a DSO. M42 was the best placed,
so
I turned toward that. I was impressed by the greenish glow I was seeing,
with two separations plainly visible. Time to activate the "photographic
film compensator". I first adjusted the "time" control for the equivalent
of 60 minutes exposure. I flipped the switch and almost fainted!
Immediatly, Orion's M42 took on an appearance just like in the
photographs!
All colors were visible and the nebula was bright! I don't know how they
did it, but no noise was introduced- it was just like looking at a
photograph. And no delay time! WOW!

Clouds were rolling in quickly, so my last target would be the horsehead.
Barely anything was visible initially until I activated the "photographic
film compensator". Unbelieveable! I couldn't believe I was actually
looking through a telescope! All colors were present and the horsehead
was
unmistakable. SPEECHLESS!

Bottom line, I'll never buy another telescope or use any other optical
instrument ever again! There's simply no need, this one does it all!

Richard Walls


Note: The aforementioned is for entertainment purposes only and is not to
be
taken as fact.

"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message
...
Yes, but when I checked, they are all backordered until 4/1.

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Robert Walls" wrote in message
nk.net...
I just received my 21" Sharpton SCT earlier this week and finally had a
chance to try it out last night. The ultra light weight of this scope
at
43
pounds for the ota makes set up easy. A new kind of mirror is used that
equalibriates to the environment very quickly, within 45 minutes, and
the
thickness is greatly reduced over conventional mirrors. The mount I'm
using
is a standard Losmandy G-11.

My first target was Saturn. Although normal seeing was poor, the
"seeing
compensation" switch was activated on the mirror control module.
Without
activation, the Cassini wasn't even visible. Once switched on, ALL of
Saturn's ring divisions suddenly became crystal clear and I could even
see
the infamous Encke division- plainly! "Wow!" I said to myself.

My next target was Jupiter. It was still fairly low, being only 25
degrees
high, but the seeing compensation manual says that planets will appear
as
if
seeing is "9/10 or better" with actual seeing of "2/10". I focused as
best
as I could and Jupiter was doing its usual poor seeing dance and waving
in
and out of focus like crazy. I could just make out the two bands, but
not
much else. I first adjusted the "atmospheric dispersion coeficient"
setting
on the seeing compensation control module. Almost immediately there was
an
improvement in sharpness. Then, time to activate the "seeing
compensation"
switch. I was immediately blown away by the numerous bands that
suddenly
appeared. I increased magnification and and details on the moons became
prominently visible. I've NEVER seen Jupiter like this!

Well, now it was time to try to pick out a DSO. M42 was the best
placed,
so
I turned toward that. I was impressed by the greenish glow I was
seeing,
with two separations plainly visible. Time to activate the
"photographic
film compensator". I first adjusted the "time" control for the
equivalent
of 60 minutes exposure. I flipped the switch and almost fainted!
Immediatly, Orion's M42 took on an appearance just like in the
photographs!
All colors were visible and the nebula was bright! I don't know how
they
did it, but no noise was introduced- it was just like looking at a
photograph. And no delay time! WOW!

Clouds were rolling in quickly, so my last target would be the
horsehead.
Barely anything was visible initially until I activated the
"photographic
film compensator". Unbelieveable! I couldn't believe I was actually
looking through a telescope! All colors were present and the horsehead
was
unmistakable. SPEECHLESS!

Bottom line, I'll never buy another telescope or use any other optical
instrument ever again! There's simply no need, this one does it all!

Richard Walls


Note: The aforementioned is for entertainment purposes only and is not
to
be
taken as fact.


Sounds like a superb scope, but where do i find details of it please?

Martin

Must admit, you had me going for a few... then I started to wonder if you
were a troll, and finally realized the reality meter was at zero. Nice
post!

Fuzz