TWO LETTERS REGARDING THE ASTRO-PHYSICS 7 INCH APERTURE F9 STARFIRE TELESCOPE

The following letter here is presented in fond remembrance of a friend of ours who is missed by his friends. The letter was offered by Barry after he received an Astro-Physics original 7 Inch f9 Starfire telescope (which in 1993 was superseded by the improved 180mm f9 Starfire EDT):

Observing with the Astro-Physics 7 Inch F-9 Starfire Refractor by Barry Brooks

The first view through this triplet apochromat presented me with pin-point star images and increased contrast over previous views in other types of telescopes. Everyone who has observed through this has noticed the increased contrast which means better definition and more visible detail. The following is a list of some of the objects I have viewed with a brief description:

• Jupiter - wealth of detail from north to south including detail in the red spot. Don Parker (of the Association of Lunar and Planet Observers) said it showed more detail than a C-14 (telescope) nearby.
• Mars - at 456x the image still small but saw some detail.
• Saturn - Cassini division easy, some bands visible.
• Venus - some shading in clouds.
• M-42 - 5th and 6th stars in trapezium easy with very dark lanes.
• NGC2024 - Christmas tree very dark with wealth of detail surrounding it.
• M-97 - Owl nebula eyes clearly defined.
• NGC6992 - Northeast Veil Nebula - saw fine filamentary detail surrounding it just like a much larger instrument.
• NGC6960 - Veil Nebula - extended almost to edges of 40mm wide field (TeleVue 2") eyepiece.
• NGC2237 - Rosette nebula - saw more detail than photo on Pg. 75 in "Atlas of Deep Sky Splendors".
• NGC3372 - Eta Carinae Nebula - much detail seen in area around star cluster.
• Swan Nebula - bright with clearly defined shape.
• Hubbles Variable Nebula - fan shape clear and bright.
• Omega Centauri - magnificent pin point images filling 13mm Nagler (TeleVue) eyepiece.
• NGC3132 - in Velda - eight burst nebula, bright white with central stars and some rings visible.

Barry Brooks, 1988

Letter of Response from ALPO to One Who Was Considering a Telescope Purchase, dated 5 August 1988

Thank you for your letter. I will answer your questions point by point. Also, I would like you to know that I recently asked the 200 delegates at the July meeting of the Astronomical League whether I should advise you to buy a C-14 or a 7" Starfire" refractor. The vote was unanimous - you should by the 7" refractor!

The 6" or 7" Apo refractors are excellent for viewing planets, star clusters, and especially double stars. In good seeing I have seen some really breathtakingly beautiful views of double stars! Star clusters look especially nice because the stars look very small and crisp.

The fairly large central obstruction in the C-14 destroys the contrast needed for sharp planetary views. A 6" or 7" refractor would show more, sharper, planetary detail. Also the smaller refractor will cool down faster than the C-14. ...it may take 2 or 3 hours before the closed system of the C-14 cools down for the telescope to perform at its best.

I own an Astro-Physics 6"f12 Super Planetary refractor. I have looked through 2 C-14's. A friend of mine owns a C-14 and has flatly told me that compared to my 6" Apo and my 10"f7 planetary reflector, his C-14 is a piece of junk optically!

If you buy the refractor, get the TeleVue Naglers 9mm and 7mm eyepieces. These match beautifully to my 6" Apo and give spectacular high power views of the moon, planets, & double stars!

The Astro-Physics refractors, as far as I know, are now on backorder. So, if you can order one it may take up to a year before you get it. ...yet I advise you to wait and get the Astro-Physics refractor. To me it would be worth the wait.