150mm F/8 Refractor with hidden talents ......

[John]

I just thought I'd post a couple of hastily taken pics of my new toy before I "first light" it. The Skywatcher 150mm F/8 is in the dark blue colour scheme that's normally found in the USA and Canada. The pics make the tone look lighter than really is.

The focuser is a Moonlite CF2 dual speed but the secret weapon is hidden inside the focuser - an Aries Chromacor II which was been matched with this particular scope by Markus Ludes of APM Telescopes in Germany nearly a decade ago. The diagonal is an Intes 2" which the Chromacor's were originally designed to be used with although other diagonals can be used with appropriate spacing adjustment.

The Chromacor is a special optical correcter which addresses both chromatic and spherical aberration. The results can be quite impressive as I found when I paired a Chromacor I with a 6" F/8 a couple of years back. The Chromacor II is claimed to be even more effective ...... we will soon see

Many thanks to fellow SGL'er NAZ for bringing this scope across the country for me on his way to his hols - he's much safer than any courier and much nicer to chat to

Got to go, the sky is clear and darkening ........

[Chris]

I do love fracs and that one looks lovely, the prospect of it behaving like a 150mm apo is very exciting!, I hope you get clear skies and I look forward to more on this:)

[nightfisher]

Very nice John, i look forward to a detailed report on how it performs

[iwatkins]

Lovely big frac John. Would also be intested what the visual image is like with the Chromacor.

Cheers

Ian

[SpookyKatt]

Lovely setup John, I have pretty much the same setup,

dark blue 150mm skywatcher with a moonlight and a

Chromacor. Great setup, its stunning on the moon with

binoviewers and on the sun with a herschel wedge.

Look forward to reading your first light.

Kathleen

[Naz]

At last we have got our spare bed back

Looks good John, enjoy

[Stephen]

Wow!

Can you even get Chromacor's nowadays?

[JamesM]

Congratulations John on a great looking scope. How does it's performance compare with the 6" Meade that you had?

James

[Damo636]

Congrats John, she's a beaut Looking forward to hearing how it compares with your 120 ED.

[Viv]

Ohh - that does look nice John.

Looking forward to hearing what it's like .........

[Andrew*]

Very nice, John! The moonlite will certainly add to the enjoyment.

[spaceboy]

I want one!

I don't know how you do it John? You always seem to land yourself some nice kit :D

[kenmyers]

WOAH! That!-is beautifull!

[AndyH]

Wishing you clear skies to test out the big frac and chromacor.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Cheers,

Andy.

[Caldwell 14]

Very, very nice John, looking forward to your first light report

[philj]

Very nice John, Ive heard good things about the CCII. I am a 6" F8 owner and fan, I reckon the combo og that scope and the CC will be excellent

Philj

[Dunkster]

Wow John :drool:

[swamp thing]

Nice looking scope you've got yourself there.

Nice simple mount set up too. Liking that.

[John]

Thanks for all the comments folks. The Moonlite focuser is off the scope for a time as one of the four bearings is shot - Moonlite in the USA are proving responsive in sourcing a replacement though so that should be sorted soon.

I've had the objective out of the scope for cleaning. The external surfaces were fine but there were a few particles between the lens elements that I wanted to tidy up. A 150mm doublet is quite a hefty piece of glass (pieces of glass) so that needed some care as did re-assembly and re-fitting. For a decade old optic, the objective is in great shape now

I'll post some performance reports when I've enough experience with the scope to say something sensible about it.

[Caldwell 14]

Did you manage to get the bearing issue sorted John?

[John]

Yep - Moonlite sent over a new set so I have spares now too

Of course the weather is cloudy now that I have the focuser working

[Caldwell 14]

Of course the weather is cloudy now that I have the focuser working

Of course it is.