New Scope and Mount: Nighthawk plus MicroStar

Tonight I had "first light" (from a very polluted location -- LA area)
with a new system I am assembling for use in Chile late this year and in
California sooner (Sequoia next week, the Mojave desert this fall). No
complaints re "light plluted": Most nights in June are overcast.

Scope is a Stellarvue AT-1010, their low-end refractor. But it is a big
improvement over the Celestron 80WA it has replaced. Very impressive
for a small achromat. The reviews were right on!

Mount is a Universal Astronomics MicroStar on a (domestic use) Bogen 475
tripod; smaller carry-on C&S tripod is coming for use on air trips.

So far limited testing only: June gloom here. But I did see Jupiter
with banding and four moons as points (two close enough to be doubles)
using my LV 8-24 mm zoom EP. And Mizar was sharp and easily split
(though the near zenith location did not favor the Az-El mount. Big
improvement over the 80WA.

The MicroStar is buttery smooth. I've not taken it above 60X -- seldom
will, since I particularly enjoy wide views. But I suspect it will work
well at 120 to 180X.

My kudos to Stellarvue and Universal Astronomics.

Phil