SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

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pedro
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SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by pedro »

SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Sky-Watcher StarTravel 102 Review
http://scopeviews.co.uk/SW102.htm

The StarTravel 102 is conventional SkyWatcher, with the tube design and focuser they’ve used for a decade now. Nothing wrong with it either – utilitarian but highly functional.

Optics:
The objective is an achromatic (Fraunhofer) doublet. So far, so normal. But Interestingly, Sky-Watcher claim to use a wide airspace between elements in these lenses to help reduce chromatic aberration. In case you thought that’s a marketing trick, it isn’t. Wide airspaces between lens elements do allow for more freedom in correcting aberrations and are used in the Takahashi TOA, FSQ and Sky90 designs for that purpose (Roland Christen of AP reckons the TOA to be the best corrected APO of them all for this reason). One issue with this type of lens is that it can be collimation-sensitive (I have seen a couple of out-of-collimation Sky90s) and the StarTravel lens cell is not adjustable. While we’re on the subject, the lens doesn’t have the kind of ‘proper’ cell that you get with some refractors, but once again that can be good for ruggedness (AP’s Traveller takes a similar approach, as do most Tele Vue refractors).

Imagesw102_20180623-27 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-20 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-24 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-06 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-07 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-10 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-14 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr

Imagesw102_20180623-17 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by ffellah »

Very nice images for a relatively inexpensive scope. On the other hand, we all know that hardware is only part of the equation in solar imaging, together with capture, conditions and processing....and you are a master at all of these.

Franco


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by pedro »

Thanks Franco

The important part here is the SM60 and the BF30. The scope itself cost 100 US dollars (used)
Last edited by pedro on Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by smerral »

I used this scope for years for my narrowband imaging to great effect. :)


BRIAN
Caithness, Scotland.
Double stack PST, Lunt CaK B600, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
with Altair Astro 102 ED f.7 Refractor and 60 EDF f.6 Refractor.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE.
QHY5III678M
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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by marktownley »

I owned one of these for a while. I donated it and a mount to Hertsmonceux for their outreach programme.


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by Montana »

You got some nice full discs, it works beautifully :hamster:
Alexandra


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by Carbon60 »

Works well, Pedro.

Stu.


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by pedro »

Thanks Alexandra


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Re: SW 102 F/4.9, a relatively inexpensive solar scope

Post by Derek Klepp »

Another good test Pedro.On an aside I purchased a 24mm Canon tilt shift lense these allow for differential focal planes .Should be an interesting learning curve.As for budget scopes some of the longer focal length ones perform very well with the Lunt CaK diagonals.
Regards Derek.


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