50 replies to this topic

[Rustler46]

If you've been wanting to get a nice APO, the AT115EDT offered by our sponsor Astronomics is on sale for $200 off, just $1299. It's in stock with free shipping.

 

https://www.astronom...ractor-ota.html

 

I bought one some years ago and love it. The sale price is what I paid for it back in 2018. So this is a great opportunity to beat inflation.

 

Best Regards,

Russ

Edited by Rustler46, 11 May 2023 - 02:43 PM.

[truckerfromaustin]

They have been on sale for a month or two along with several other Astro Tech scopes. It's a great time to buy a new one. I grabbed an at80edl.

CS,
Greg

[Moondust]

I grabbed the AT115EDT within the first hour after they went on sale a few weeks ago replacing an 102EDL. I've been very pleased with the AT115EDT.

Edited by Moondust, 11 May 2023 - 10:13 PM.

[DirtyRod]

Picked up a 115 and it’s been on duty every clear every night for the past six weeks.

[Jon_Doh]

That is a superb price.  Even before the sale they were a good bargain given the optical and build quality especially when you compare it to its Skywatcher competition.

[ken30809]

Really can't beat those prices for what you get. Best bargain around IMO.

[Dpasqa]

I got mine on sale a few months ago, they go on sale a lot. I like mine, it’s great but I use my AT72EDll more because it is so easy and quick to set up. But when I want yo do serious observing I bring the big gun out. It is a good deal compared to other brands of similar size. My AT72EDll was on sale and love that one as muck. They make great scopes at great prices. 

[skyops]

*

 

AT130EDT, here. Scheduled delivery tomorrow (Saturday).

 

I wasn't going to buy another refractor, but the sale pushed me to click "buy" and I do hope it proves a wise choice.

 

We'll see.

 

 

 

 

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[rkaufmann87]

I love mine, what are you mounting it on and will it be used for visual or AP?

[edsmx5]

Add me to the list, just waiting for the diagonal.

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[skyops]

I love mine, what are you mounting it on and will it be used for visual or AP?

*

 

Me?

 

GM811G & DM-6 for visual only.

 

 

 

.

[Phil Cowell]

Sales mode again? 

I love mine, what are you mounting it on and will it be used for visual or AP?

[Phil Cowell]

The DM6 is a great mount and will handle it well. I run mine on an AP Mach1, its 6” big brother runs on it well too.

 

*

 

Me?

 

GM811G & DM-6 for visual only.

 

 

 

.

[Orion68]

What a beautiful scope at a great price. If I didn't already have a fine 120mm triplet, I would pull the trigger on this one.

 

Very nice

[edsmx5]

While I'm waiting for the Diagonal, I'm going to ask a Noob question here; does any one have experience with the 8x50 finderscope that mates up with the AT115 ? Seems like it rotates to focus at both ends. My question is ( I know, put it on the scope and try it Dummy ); what is the "default" for the front element, screwed out, or all the way in. At first I thought it was the dew Shield rotating, so I don't know where square one is. I've got time until the star D arrives 

[RAKing]

While I'm waiting for the Diagonal, I'm going to ask a Noob question here; does any one have experience with the 8x50 finderscope that mates up with the AT115 ? Seems like it rotates to focus at both ends. My question is ( I know, put it on the scope and try it Dummy ); what is the "default" for the front element, screwed out, or all the way in. At first I thought it was the dew Shield rotating, so I don't know where square one is. I've got time until the star D arrives 

If it works like my old finder scopes, you adjust the "rough" focus with the front element.  Then adjust the "fine" focus at the back end.  The back ends of mine had a nice helical focuser, so you could look through the scope while fine-tuning the focus.

 

My .02,

 

Ron

[TareqPhoto]

With this price offer there is no escape from getting one really, i am so surprised they make those prices when we are arguing about other brands higher prices, i really respect and appreciate a brand who think about people budgets and financial situations rather than others trying to ecosystem-ing you one way or another.

 

Now i have think about is this scope has a reducer that is fully compatible for a full frame sensor, otherwise if i buy it then i will only use it for short RGB exposures targets rather than NB targets, i wish if Astronomics can produce a reducer/flattener of 0.5x for this scope that is compatible for APS-C sensor, this will get my money immediately, but who knows, i am not in rush.

[Phillip Creed]

 i wish if Astronomics can produce a reducer/flattener of 0.5x for this scope that is compatible for APS-C sensor, this will get my money immediately, but who knows, i am not in rush.

Tareq,

If you get the Starizona APEX-L 0.65X, that yields 523mm @ f/4.55 with the AT115EDT.  That's not a bad place to be; essentially the same focal length as an NP101 but 29% less integration time than the NP101's already-fast f/5.4.

You could get a similar focal length with the new AT110 f/6 + 0.8X (528mm @ f/4.8), but that's WAY more expensive.

Clear Skies,

Phil

Edited by Phillip Creed, 17 May 2023 - 08:24 AM.

[TareqPhoto]

Tareq,

If you get the Starizona APEX-L 0.65X, that yields 523mm @ f/4.55 with the AT115EDT.  That's not a bad place to be; essentially the same focal length as an NP101 but 29% less integration time than the NP101's already-fast f/5.4.

You could get a similar focal length with the new AT110 f/6 + 0.8X (528mm @ f/4.8), but that's WAY more expensive.

Clear Skies,

Phil

If i will go with APEX and this scope for 523mm it means i must use my 90mm triplet at native with 540mm using the same camera with all, so this scope will be wider and a main scope, but then if i use my 90mm reduced to 432mm then i don't know if i can find any cheaper scope of 90mm or larger aperture to give me 432mm reduced or even native or even wider than 432mm very slight, i don't want to be far from 90mm aperture and 432mm as reduced, using IMX571 sensor.

[scout]

With this price offer there is no escape from getting one really...

 

I wish if Astronomics... this will get my money immediately

Astronomics ships only to the United States, with the exception of a few products to Canada:

 

https://www.astronom...and-conditions/

[TareqPhoto]

Astronomics ships only to the United States, with the exception of a few products to Canada:

 

https://www.astronom...and-conditions/

Don't worry about that, i can get it, it is just i need to decide if that will be my choice or not, also i want to know if i am a member here then they can give discounts for CN members, i really don't know how much discount they give for their scopes.

[BobSoltys]

Thanks to many recommendations from CN'ers, an AT80EDT is on its way for visual use.

 

After much deliberation, ordered a Sky-Watcher EQM-35 GoTo mount instead of using the lightweight tripod on my Power Seeker 70.

 

While there was some angst over buying a goto mount, I know my neck and back will be better off letting the telescope do the finding instead of twisting to look through the finder scope. Seems okay after thirty years learning to find what I want to look at.

Edited by BobSoltys, 19 May 2023 - 05:48 PM.

[Kbobrex]

Hi. I've quietly lusted over the at115 for over a decade. The ongoing sale is making it hard to put off getting one, but I'd prefer to not have to spend $$$ on a new mount.  I currently have a Celestron C80ed on a Voyager alt/az mount, which also (close enough) handles a C6 SCt.  On paper the Voyager should handle the weight of the 115EDT but I know that's pushing it. Intended use would be open clusters, lunar and planetary visual. I also have an ancient Cg5 mount that I'm not even sure goes up to the year 2023 in its goto database (?) but which I could use without the goto feature if need be. The final consideration is that I'd like to try some photography, most likely using a Fuji mirrorless to start. 

 

My C80ed refractor gives excellent views, but I'd really like a bit more visual "reach" having recently retired from NJ to AZ, and darker skies. The 102EDL would be easier to accommodate mount-wise, but I don't know that it would give me enough "more" than the C80ed.  

 

I've read posts about the at102EDL vs the at115EDT until my eyes hurt. So, I'd appreciate any opinions on whether it would be an upgrade (visually now and for photography later) over my C6 SCt, C80ed and the at102EDL such that I should just give in and get the 115EDT and worry about the mount later? Or if it were you, would you invest in a better mount now and use my present C80ed (or at66ed) for photography and the SCt for deeper visual?

 

Thanks much.

[Brollen]

Hi. I've quietly lusted over the at115 for over a decade. The ongoing sale is making it hard to put off getting one, but I'd prefer to not have to spend $$$ on a new mount.  I currently have a Celestron C80ed on a Voyager alt/az mount, which also (close enough) handles a C6 SCt.  On paper the Voyager should handle the weight of the 115EDT but I know that's pushing it. Intended use would be open clusters, lunar and planetary visual. I also have an ancient Cg5 mount that I'm not even sure goes up to the year 2023 in its goto database (?) but which I could use without the goto feature if need be. The final consideration is that I'd like to try some photography, most likely using a Fuji mirrorless to start. 

 

My C80ed refractor gives excellent views, but I'd really like a bit more visual "reach" having recently retired from NJ to AZ, and darker skies. The 102EDL would be easier to accommodate mount-wise, but I don't know that it would give me enough "more" than the C80ed.  

 

I've read posts about the at102EDL vs the at115EDT until my eyes hurt. So, I'd appreciate any opinions on whether it would be an upgrade (visually now and for photography later) over my C6 SCt, C80ed and the at102EDL such that I should just give in and get the 115EDT and worry about the mount later? Or if it were you, would you invest in a better mount now and use my present C80ed (or at66ed) for photography and the SCt for deeper visual?

 

Thanks much.

I recently purchased the AT115EDT and it really does deliver. Wonderful sharp views. I also have the Voyager mount, although it is not currently in use (no tripod beneath it). But previously, I used my Voyager for many years and maybe 6 or 7 years ago, I had a Meade Series 6000 115 ED Triplet - which is very very similar to the AT115EDT - that I used with the Voyager. I had no complaints or problems from my recollections, using the combo.

 

I would go for the 115 over the 102 - you will notice the difference … a visual pop from the aperture jump.

 

Clear skies!

[Moondust]

I had the 102EDL, actually twice. Get the AT115EDT.