Telescopes

Eyes to the skies

I have a range of telescopes for different purposes and occasions. My latest addition is the ultra fast RASA8 F2. When you have the need for speed, the RASA8 delivers in spades. Imaging times when using the sensitive ASI294Mc Pro colour camera attached are astonishing and I am able to capture enough data of celestial objects in under 30 minutes (from dark sky sites). The RASA8 is perfect for nebula and large galaxies. My portable “grab and go” telescope with a similar field of view is the William Optics GT71 f5.9 refractor. For planetary nebular and galaxies, I turn to the William Optics GTF102 f6.9 refractor.

RASA8

Manufacturer: Celestron
Telescope type: Rowe Akerman Schmidt Astrograph
Focal ratio: f2
Focal length: 400mm
Aperture:201mm
Weight: 8Kg

RASA8 captures M42

RASA8 on Ioptron CEM40 mount

The RASA8 images the Tarantula nebula

RASA8-images-the-Large-Cloud-of-Magellan-1000

RASA8 images the Large Cloud of Magellan

RASA8-images-the-Horsehead-nebula-1000

RASA8 images the Horsehead Nebula

Acrux with RASA8 & ASi294 MC Pro

Acrux with RASA8 and ASi294 MC Pro

M56 captured with the RASA8 & ASI294MC Pro colour camera

Balcony astronomy with the RASA8

The RASA8 telescope on the Ioptron CEM40 mount

RASA8 captures M42 - only 15 minutes of total capture time.

William Optics GTF102

Manufacturer: William Optics
Telescope type: Refractor
Focal ratio: f6.9
Focal length: 703mm
Aperture:102mm
Weight: 5.0Kg
Resolving Power: 1.13 arc”
Limiting Magnitude: 13.9

The William Optics GTF 102 is a 5 element APO telescope designed for both visual and photographic use. It features a 5-element objective using high-quality FPL-53 glass and combined with other extra-low dispersion glass provides an exceptionally flat field, perfect for imaging. Unfortunately William Optics has ceased production of these outstanding 5 element APO’s.

I have imaged with this telescope using a variety of cameras including the Olympus OMD EM5, SBIG ST-10XME and ASI294MC Pro.

The William Optics GTf102mm f6.9 astrograph on an Ioptron IEQ30 mount

Sculpture Galaxy NGC 253 William Optics GT 102 ASI 294

Sculpture Galaxy NGC 253 William Optics GT 102 ASI 294 astrophotography camera

M27 William Optics GTF102 Televue Powermate ASi294MC Pro

Planetary nebula astrophotography with William Optics GT102 and ASI 294 MC Pro M27

Lunar photography with William Optics GTF102

M57 William Optics GT 102 Televue Powermate ZWO ASi 294 MC Pro

William Optics GTF102 on the CEM40 mount balcony astrophotography

William Optics GTF102 on the CEM40 mount

William Optics GTF 102mm f6.9 with Olympus EM5 camera

William Optics with Olympus EM5 camera

HA acquisition of NGC 6188 with William Optics GTF102 - Queensland Astrofest 2014

William Optics GT71

Manufacturer: William Optics
Telescope type: Refractor
Focal ratio: f5.9 (f4.72 with field flattener 6A2 * 0.8)
Focal length: 420mm ( 336mm with field flattener 6A2 * 0.8)
Aperture:71mm
Weight: 2.2 Kg
Resolving Power: 1.62 arc”
Limiting Magnitude: 11.1

The William Optics Gran Turismo (GT) uses apochromatic triplet objectives with an FPL-53 element to achieve a higher degree of color correction. When using the WO GT71 with cameras including micro 4/3, APS-C, or full-frame sensors, a field flattener or focal reducer is required to ensure sharp images across the entire field.