From: "milton_aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: January 30, 2011 11:23:43 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: OT: Astro-Tech 8" RC Astrograph

Thanks for the link.

If you search for "Astro-Tech RC 8 review" with yahoo your find a lot of them. Many are quite positive.

It's not clear if the GSO or Astro-Tech are the same or not. I seem to recall reading that Astro-Tech replaced their original focuser with a better model, which the GSO don't have.

Part of the "sag" issue can be mitigated by not running the focuser all the way out (max 2") and using the included solid extension rings to move the Focuser back further.

As it turns out, the Canadian dealer that sells the RC scopes is in Calgary, so I likely won't have any shipping costs and can just pick it up - assuming I go ahead.

I'll have to run some tests with the C8 @ 2,000 mm focal length on the HEQ5 to make sure it all tracks well enough before ordering. Like Ray said previously, if your mount isn't up to snuff for tracking, then there is no point in buying a new OTA.

TTYL..

Milton Aupperle

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@...> wrote:

Milton,

Here`s a review of the Guan Sheng 8" RC I bookmarked some months ago..

As you probably realise this is the same scope you`re looking at under  

a different moniker..

Hope it`s of some use to you..

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2006

Mark.