The new scope arrived today

[Razz]

Well, the Apertura AD10 arrived today. Even though I knew the dimensions, the size really doesn't hit you until you open the box...To me, this thing is huge, glad I didn't go for the AD12...Fortunately, I can handle the size and weight without a problem, for now anyway...I have to set it up and check collimation (read as Learn to collimate)and then wait for the clouds to decide to bother someone else...Anyway, I think I'm going to love this scope...A question though...It comes with a laser collimator. I realize that the laser collimator could itself be out of collimation. Any preferences for collimation tools? A collimation cap? A Cheshire? Thanks in advance.

[JayTee]

Congrats on the new scope. It should give you many years of awesome views. Let us know how your first light goes.

Also, a cap and a Cheshire is all I use to collimate my Newt.

[Ylem]

Congratulations!

The 10" is the perfect size IMHO, at 4 feet long it will fit across most rear car seats, the 12 at 5 feet won't.
Also, unless you are tall, you may need a stool with the 12.

I always just used a collimation cap, nice and simple.

If it gets too heavy for you, you could get a 2 wheel hand cart, put some pipe foam around it and make a great scope transporter

Now enjoy those clouds!

[Razz]

Thanks for the replies...I'm gonna order a collimation cap and a Cheshire...That way I can try out the 3 options and see what works best for me. Also, while the 4' length may fit into the backseat of my G6, I'm not sure the base will...Of course I could always put the base in the backseat and strap the OTA to the roof with my kayak carrier....
As far as the clouds go, I'm giving up and just thinking maybe I'll be an amateur cloud scientist....

[JayTee]

On the car roof??? I don't think you want that much air assaulting your OTA. Just sayin'. :smile:

[Razz]

No way I would put the OTA on the roof...I was just kidding. The scope will go in the backseat, the base on the front seat and my observing partner Poshie, my 6 year old English Bulldog, will be strapped to the roof. (She's glaring at me right now. I think this dog can read)

[Razz]

I added a Rigel Quickfinder. I've seen it suggested more than a few times so I just went ahead and did it. I'll find out if it makes a difference or not. I shaved the edges of the base a small amount and it fits nicely between the focuser and finder scope.

[Ylem]

I added a Rigel Quickfinder. I've seen it suggested more than a few times so I just went ahead and did it. I'll find out if it makes a difference or not. I shaved the edges of the base a small amount and it fits nicely between the focuser and finder scope.

Great addition, a right angle finder can be difficult to use without a straight through finder like a Rigel.

[Razz]

Thanks. That does make sense to me. One thing I forgot to mention, which kind of surprised me, was after I took the scope out of the box I noticed the focuser was flopping around. 2 of the nuts and bolts that hold it in place had fallen out and the other 2 were fairly loose. I found the tiny bolts in the plastic wrap the scope was in and the nuts were inside the OTA. Fortunately it doesn't look like anything happened to the mirrors as the nuts are small. I did email Highpoint Scientific and told them. Not as a complaint but as a heads-up for them.

[SkyHiker]

Great choice. I have a Z12 that is heavy and bulky. I spent time making it collapsible so now it's fine but in retrospect I should have gone with the Z10 or Skywatcher 12" collapsible. I just could not resist the $630 price back when Zhumell was competing with Apertura. I used to have a 10" Coulter Odyssey that I could just throw in the back, no such thing with a Z12. A 10" is the golden size. Enjoy!

[Razz]

Thanks, SkyHiker. I almost went with the AD12 but my logic kicked in. I figured the AD12 would give me more aperture but it would be useless if I don't feel like lugging the thing outside very often. Even though I'm capable of moving it, chances are I wouldn't feel like it most of the time. The AD10 seemed to be about the limit for me so I went with it. Now, someday should I ever construct an observatory....

[Razz]

I set it up outside today so I could align the finder scope. I have a tall pine tree that I use for that. I got it all set with the 30mm eyepiece but when I put in the 9mm eyepiece, the treetop was gone. Now, I did feel a slight breeze but paid no attention to it. However, the top of my "alignment tree" was now moving all over the place...lol...I ended up using a utility pole. So apparently this is how life is going to be : Clouds at night and wind during the day.

[Lady Fraktor]

The combination of a Rigel/ Telrad and RACI finder is a good combination with a newtonian, hunting objects can be quite easy.
Enjoy the new telescope.