849 replies to this topic

[mountain monk]

Fiske, 

 

Don’t give up on you AT 80mm ED! It’s a much smaller and more compact unit than the 120mm. Mine weighs about 11 pounds including the bar, rings, a Baader AMICI, a Super Mount Mini-s, (thanks for the recommendation, Tammy) and a Piny GPL. Add a carbon fiber and you are out the door in a flash.

 

Dark skies.

 

Jack

[Fiske]

Fiske, 

 

Don’t give up on you AT 80mm ED! It’s a much smaller and more compact unit than the 120mm. Mine weighs about 11 pounds including the bar, rings, a Baader AMICI, a Super Mount Mini-s, (thanks for the recommendation, Tammy) and a Piny GPL. Add a carbon fiber and you are out the door in a flash.

 

Dark skies.

 

Jack

Hey, Jack.

 

Far from giving up on the AT-80ED, I'm upgrading TO the ED -- replacing my older AT-80 which is an achromat. 

 

Totally agreed about the size and form-factor of the scope. 

[PatientObserver]

Hey, Jack.

Far from giving up on the AT-80ED, I'm upgrading TO the ED -- replacing my older AT-80 which is an achromat.

Totally agreed about the size and form-factor of the scope.

I wish the AT80EDL was still available. I would love to test out a scope between the 60 and 102 mm aperture scopes I own, and I was pleased with the AT102EDL. Maybe I will just end up with a Takahashi FC-76DCU. However, I do not currently have the budget for that, and it is lower on my priority list for astronomy purchases.

[Fiske]

I wish the AT80EDL was still available. I would love to test out a scope between the 60 and 102 mm aperture scopes I own, and I was pleased with the AT102EDL. Maybe I will just end up with a Takahashi FC-76DCU. However, I do not currently have the budget for that, and it is lower on my priority list for astronomy purchases.

The 80EDL has been discontinued?

 

[PatientObserver]

The 80EDL has been discontinued?

I have not checked every day, but I think it has been out of stock since June.

[Erik Bakker]

The 80EDL has been discontinued?

 

Yes, about a year ago. See more info e.g. here.

[Fiske]

As foretold by prophecy, my AT-80 achromat support telescope, affectionately named Little Jon for a certain Cloudy Nights friend, has been reborn as an Astro-Tech AT80ED.  Looking quite spiffy and ready for celestial action when the skies clear and wind chills subside from current dangerous levels (well below zero degrees Fahrenheit). 

 

Edited by Fiske, 17 January 2024 - 06:58 PM.

[Rich V.]

Looking good, Fiske.  Plenty of mount there for it, I think.      Still easy to take out the door, but hopefully under milder conditions which I hope you get soon.  Don't want to hear you've lost any fingers due to excessive enthusiasm.  

[PatientObserver]

As foretold by prophecy, my AT-80 achromat support telescope, affectionately named Little Jon for a certain Cloudy Nights friend, has been reborn as an Astro-Tech AT80ED. Looking quite spiffy and ready for celestial action when the skies clear and wind chills subside from current dangerous levels (well below zero degrees Fahrenheit).

I know you must have mentioned it somewhere in this thread, but what are you using for a fluid head and tripod for this setup?

[Fiske]

I know you must have mentioned it somewhere in this thread, but what are you using for a fluid head and tripod for this setup?

An OB 5000 tripod with a NitroTech 608 head, which does easily accommodate the 80ED as Rich observed. 

 

It will just be seconds out the door with Little Jon -- my other support telescopes (Celestron 6SE, Orion EON 120, and Televue 101) won't come close to that. The 6SE because of the alignment procedure and the other refractors because they are much bigger and need a lot more mount.

[Fiske]

Looking good, Fiske.  Plenty of mount there for it, I think.      Still easy to take out the door, but hopefully under milder conditions which I hope you get soon.  Don't want to hear you've lost any fingers due to excessive enthusiasm.  

 

  

 

I won't be risking my fingers or toes. 

 

And thank you, Rich. I'm very pleased with the 80ED. 

Edited by Fiske, 17 January 2024 - 08:38 PM.

[Erik Bakker]

That AT80ED with fluid head and tripod looks like a wonderful support scope for your binoculars 

 

Capable, smooth in operation and easy to carry 

[Fiske]

Thanks, Erik! 

 

We will see how it performs for higher magnification views of closer doubles. Obviously, the aperture is a constraint for that, but there are so many things to like about it that I'm not overly concerned. Any double it can't resolve will go on my list for observing with one of its heftier brethren. 

Edited by Fiske, 18 January 2024 - 09:39 AM.

[Bill Barlow]

I like it, Fiske.  The 80ED on your fluid head mount and tripod looks like a nice grab and go option.  Perfect for wintertime observing as it will cool fast and be easy to go out and come back in when you get cold.

 

Bill

[Echolight]

As foretold by prophecy, my AT-80 achromat support telescope, affectionately named Little Jon for a certain Cloudy Nights friend, has been reborn as an Astro-Tech AT80ED.  Looking quite spiffy and ready for celestial action when the skies clear and wind chills subside from current dangerous levels (well below zero degrees Fahrenheit). 

 

Looks a lot like my Barfska Magnus triplet. Also a Kunming United scope.

 

There's a small piece of black tape holding the dew shield from sliding down.

Edited by Echolight, 19 January 2024 - 10:44 PM.

[Terra Nova]

My AT 80mm F6 triplet support telescope just got a lot more supportive. I finally got around to getting the Baader T-2 Amici Prism with 2” nosepiece so now the RACI views match those of my binoculars. Given the last ten days of sub freezing weather, I’ve really enjoyed it as a spotting scope poised at my big living room window to look at the wooded ridge across the road. It’s been fun using it in conjunction with my Meade Masterclass 8x42ED and Athlon Midas G2 12x50 UHD binoculars, my two favorite window-peeping binoculars.

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[Terra Nova]

PS, my AT80EDT is mounted on my vintage Bogen 3040 mount and tripod. The 3040 head, allows a 90° flip to the side, and with the small Vixen clamping saddle the I’ve installed on its mounting plate, it’s easy to attach the scope firmly, and achieve good balance.

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Edited by Terra Nova, 20 January 2024 - 02:23 PM.

[Fiske]

The Amici diagonal makes a big difference in astro usability for an 80mm refractor, Terra. 

 

I had the new AT80ED out for some quick views last night in the coldest weather I have ever done astronomy in -- 6 degrees Fahrenheit. 

 

  

 

Even observing from my front porch with frequent warm up breaks in the front hall, it was crazy. When I brought the scope back inside it was covered with frost.   Well, not the objective -- that was well protected by the dew shield.

 

I'll post more details and a picture of Little Jon freezing his tail off in the sub-zero windchill later today. 

Edited by Fiske, 20 January 2024 - 02:15 PM.

[Dale Smith]

I think I need an Amici diagonal for my AT72edii. But I'll pass on observing in 6 degrees Fahrenheit  

[Terra Nova]

The Bogen 3040 will also tilt in altitude to 90° so the scope can be pointed to the Zenith if need be, (outside of course ).

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Edited by Terra Nova, 20 January 2024 - 03:00 PM.

[Dale Smith]

That's a terrific feature, Terra. Very nice set up you have there.

[Fiske]

I think I need an Amici diagonal for my AT72edii. But I'll pass on observing in 6 degrees Fahrenheit  

  

 

Both good calls, Dale! 

 

I observed way longer than I meant to, of course, until I realized I was struggling to do even simple stuff and decided that was maybe a clue to stop.  Did have some gorgeous views, and the sky was rock steady. Went up to 140x easily. Just figures -- perfect sky conditions combined with dangerous wind-chills...

Edited by Fiske, 20 January 2024 - 02:53 PM.

[Fiske]

Here is Little Jon in popsicle mode last night.  

 

(I'll bet it never gets this cold where Jon lives.  )

 

Edited by Fiske, 20 January 2024 - 02:53 PM.

[hallelujah]

Here is Little Jon in popsicle mode last night. 

Do you wear a mask, or do you stop breathing, when you are near the eyepiece? 

 

Stan

[Fiske]

Do you wear a mask, or do you stop breathing, when you are near the eyepiece? 

 

Stan

I had a group of eyepieces in the front hall and swapped them out often.

 

I was swapping between the Baader Hyperion Zoom, Orion 24mm UFF, Baader Morpheus 9mm, Pentax 7 and 5mm XWs, and Televue 4mm Delite (140x). 

Edited by Fiske, 20 January 2024 - 03:01 PM.