My new planet killer- Orion Optics OMC200 Deluxe Mak Cass

[Tyson M]

The Dark Aster has landed! 

I just received this beautiful scope in Canada from a civil engineer in Italy with expensive tastes with fine mounts and scopes.  He decided to part with his perfect OMC200 Deluxe for me. 

It is pre2013 model. Looks and feel magnificent, a true work of art.

It has:

-paper test report 98.7% Sterhl,  1/8 wave upgrade

-4000mm focal length, f20 @ 22% obstruction 

-CNC machine losmandy dovetail

-micrometer focuser

-passive cooling vents from mirror and corrector plate

Here is live video of this scope in action-  on a steel ball behind a fence 300m away during the daytime away at a staggering 2000x magnification (2mm Vixen)  and the image razor sharp....incredible!  Expand to open the video.

I haven't been this excited over a scope in a while! Yes, it has a small fov, but my Brandon's should sing in this scope.  Looking at possibly adding a binoviewer from Dennis some time.

 

Edited August 31, 2019 by Tyson M

[dweller25]

Congratulations 👍👍👍

[GazOC]

Wow! I've always wanted one of those things but it's a little out of my price range  

[Chris]

Super nice scope, congratulations!

[Mr Spock]

Looks like a cracker. Definitely planetary only, though I wouldn't recommend x2000!

[Geoff Barnes]

Drooool… anyone know how much my kidneys are worth?

[teoria_del_big_bang]

9 minutes ago, Geoff Barnes said:

Drooool… anyone know how much my kidneys are worth?

If anything like mine then they are probably pretty well worn already, so not enough 🙂 

Steve

[andrew s]

Does it have a screw focus Iock on the back? If so I am the Smith on the certificate and it was the first carbon fibre one they made!

Very nice scope either way.

Regards Andrew 

Edited September 1, 2019 by andrew s

[Craney]

Don't forget....  "Planetary Nebula Killer"   as well .....

I have the Orion Optics (UK) Mak 140 with a micrometer focuser.    Took this last night LRGB with ATIK 414 mono.  (only a mere  2000mm FL   )

Edited September 1, 2019 by Craney

[Stu]

Lovely scope, definitely not just a planet killer, obviously for lunar too but fabulous on planetary nebulae and also globular clusters which it will eat for breakfast!

Hopefully the cooling vents will help get it to and keep it at ambient more easily than my aluminium version. Look forward to hearing about first proper light.

[John]

Lovely looking scope - congratulations !

Interestingly the figures on the test sheet of my Orion Optics 12 inch F/5.3 newtonian are very, very similar to yours with a 21% obstruction. Mine reads:

Strehl: 0.987

PV Wavefront: 0.113

RMS: 0.018

AstMag (no idea what this is !): 0.035

I'm sure your scope will be a super performer as well

[Space Hopper]

Very nice.

John tried to persuade me to buy one at the IAS a couple of years ago, and he offered me a nice discount too.

But i didn't take the plunge that day. I was ever so slightly tempted and had the funds, but i was saving that up for my refractor.

I really like refractors and i've read the OMC 200 is perhaps not best suited to UK skys

Best of luck with the new scope ; it looks a beauty and i hope it gives you some great views / images.

[Peter Drew]

The weather and low altitude is "killing" the planets for me.      😥

[John]

3 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

The weather and low altitude is "killing" the planets for me.      😥

Thats a good point. Specialist planetary observing kit is a long term investment currently I reckon

My refractors have had some good views of Jupiter and Saturn but my 12 inch dob has not excelled on them at all this opposition. When they are higher in the sky it's a superb planetary scope.

[Tyson M]

Thanks for the comments and likes all!

Planets are perhaps not the best for me either at 53 degrees north.  Mars comes back at 2020 though at a high elevation, so thats what I am planning for.  Plus, lunar mono and binoviewing, and planetary nebula, small dso's for regular usage. 

 

These scope is a rare bird with the optical quality I am looking for.  It is a very specific tool, but that's how I view my scopes.- to fill a role with respects to other scopes.

I will plan to wrap the OTA in reflectix after measuring some cool down times, and see what works better.

Edited September 1, 2019 by Tyson M

[PlanetGazer]

16 hours ago, John said:

Thats a good point. Specialist planetary observing kit is a long term investment currently I reckon

My refractors have had some good views of Jupiter and Saturn but my 12 inch dob has not excelled on them at all this opposition. When they are higher in the sky it's a superb planetary scope.

Shouldn't the 12 " dob show better views of the planets? I have experienced similar problems with my 10 inch dob against the planets, but after leaving the scope to reach surrounding temperature and observe it while it's at an appropriate angle, I managed to get acceptable views, though not as beautiful as the views I get with my 130 scope. Wonder if the focal ratio has a say on planets?

[Dave1]

Congratulations on the new telescope, it looks fantastic. Look forward to reading the first light report. 😎