From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: January 30, 2011 11:52:02 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: OT: Astro-Tech 8" RC Astrograph

New mount`s on the way eventually..The HT is $564 with the extras I`m getting (dual saddle- new bearings) & shipping & customs is likely to be $600 or so.

I won`t see it until April & will have to go on an austerity drive, saving until then..

That review is quite an old one dating from soon after the scope was released so they`re bound to have made some improvements since then..

I started with the idea of a step down a little in size with a plan to perhaps get the Edge HD 8" but got distracted by there being no Hyperstar option for my Nikon..

Returning to the original idea may lead me to new adventures..who knows..!

Mark. 

On 31/01/2011, at 5:23 PM, milton_aupperle wrote:

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.