Bob, Update - now there is an 18" F/4 and a 16.5" FX on the in-stock page. Yes, the 22" F/3.3 Super FX is just fantastically convenient to use. I need one...
That's really interesting, Bob. You'd think Rick would be content by now. That speaks volumes about the FX series. I'm sure you noticed the 24" FX that was on...
Hi Starmaster Friends, After reading a post in another telescope group over designing a new focuser that has finer focusing than the current fine focusing on...
It's interesting that the well-known ATM, Mel Bartels, recommends offsetting the diagonal, but no scope maker actually does this to their scopes. I'm going to...
Thanks Jan, I want to use this calculator but could not complete the entering of my pertinent info for my 24" f/3.7 scope. The last entry asks for the...
Mike, Thank you for your time and information. I look forward to learning more about your excellent fast mirrors in the Starmasters, both Pyrex and Quartz. I...
It is the distance from the secondary mirror to the focal plane. The focal plane is (about) at the position of the end of the focuser (the side in which you...
Hey all, I have the older white-faced model Sky Commander. I don't have the new Sky Commander with the black face, but I was wondering about the external...
... You can remove that variable- aim at the moon, then remove the EP and put a piece of scotch tape over the end of the drawtube. Then focus the image on the...
I am taking delivery from Rick at Chiefland in a few weeks. This should be a nice jump from my 12.5 EL f5 I've been using for 8 years. Allen Stuart FL...
I'm going to set up and roll the 24" FX outside onto my driveway and point it at the `bright' gibbous moon. With the moon as a bright target, I will then...
Yes, that's also possible, but only when the wheather is good enough. The way I do it, it's not necessary to assemble the telescope. Only the secondary cage is...
... Yes, 18" * 4 = 72", the same focal length as the 22" F/3.3. It is a VERY convenient height for someone about 6' tall, with lots of seated observing...
... Not true. Proper alignment procedures that use an autocollimator to close the optical path effectively introduce offset. Read on below. ... Well, if...
I set up the 24" FX last night outside on my driveway and pointed the scope at the bright gibbous moon. I put a strip of translucent frosty adhesive tape...
I hope to be stepping up from my 12.5" in the not too distant future, Being very vertically challenged ( I am just over 5'2") I am looking at the 16.5" FX....
John: If you are talking about wanting more light collection, then here are important numbers. One magnitude fainter stars require a 2.5x increase in light...
... Agreed. 75% more light also helps me personally see more detail as planetary magnifications get higher. Another major advantage of the 16.5" is the fast...
... Whatever - but easy there big fella - Vic Menard is friend of this group and used to own a StarMaster. I don't think anyone except, perhaps you, took...
I am on my second 20" Starmaster and owned a 16" Starmaster. The 16.5" is very sweet as Mike said because of the thinner, lighter, faster equilibrating mirror...
Sorry guys (and Bob), I misread that paragraph and thought that Bob was suggesting contacting the telescope company, not Vic! Vic is a great resource and I...
... That's exactly the term I made up for it here (and/or the bigdob group) when I heard about Vic's method several years ago. The optical differences between...
Hi Jon, thought I would chime in on the 16.5". I actually purchased the very first 16.5 FX at F3.6 and it is unbelievable in its performance. I will have to...
... I ran the calculator and to get a 0.37-inch offset requires a 6-inch minor axis secondary mirror! Is that correct? Regardless, a 0.37-inch offset will...
Well, if all went well Rick should be at Chiefland delivering a 28" and an 18" telescope. Please post here if you get a chance to observe with either of them....
Mike, I observed with Rick and Carol last night. We were using Gary Beyerstein's 20" f/3.7 SM. Despite poor sky conditions, we all had a good time. ...
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