AP에서 안시용 굴절망원경이 출시될 예정이랍니다..최근에 AP 야후
유저그룹에 AP사장이 새로 출시될 6인치 EDX 굴절망원경에 대한
스팩 및 Prototype 사진을 올렸읍니다.. 성능은 모르겠지만 생산설비
투자증설 확정 및 제작이 수월한 설계방식  변경 등의 뉴스는 5년이상
AP 6인치 굴절 망원경을 기다리던 유저들에게 분명 희소식이
아닐수 없군요..
기존 EDF(S)시리즈 신청자 명단에 이름을 올린
분들에게 신형 EDX시리즈에 대한 우선선택권을 준다면 고민이
될수도 있겠읍니다..그래두 저라면 트리플오일방식 F7 경통을
신청할거 같읍니다..수년간 기다린게 억울해서 말이죠..ㅎㅎ

AP 6" EDX Refracter  스팩

- 신형 6" EDX                      기존 6" EDF(S)
- 트리플 에어                   트리플 오일
- FL:1,200mm(f7.7)              1,085(f7)
-길이 : 99cm~104cm           104cm
-접안부: 4인치                  4"(2.7")
(9:1 FT 마이크로 나사 옵션)
-무게 : 11.3KG                        12.3kg
-가격 : 미정                       $8,800
-납기:                                         5년 이상


- AP 사장의 신제품에 대한 내용

Some specs for the new scope:

1) The lens is a new 3 element air spaced design of 1200mm focal length.
Color correction is such that over the wavelengths of 7065A in IR to 4358A in
violet there is zero secondary spectrum and .08mm Tertiary spectrum (3 color
crossings). This amounts to .007% focus difference over the visual spectrum (vs.
0.
24% for an equivalent achromat). The lens will have a high tech ion-assist
multi-coating with approx. 0.25% per surface reflectivity. The coating will be
quite hard and durable, and will withstand any kind of normal cleaning.

2) The tube will come with sliding dewcap which will have a front baffle for
dew prevention. Diameter of tube is 6.5 inches, same as our 155 EDF. Overall
length of the prototype is 39 inches, but this will probably increase by about
2 inches for the production tube. I was originally figuring about 8 - 9 inches
of back focus, but this will probably be cut down to 7 inches to prevent too
much cantilever of heavy accessories.

3) The focuser will be 4" diameter with rotating adapter and options for 9:1
slow motion Feathertouch mechanism. The focusing action is ultra-smooth with
no image shift during focusing. The drawtube is greaseless.

4) Optional accessories planned for this scope will include a large 4" prime
focus field flattener for CCD or film imaging, and a custom designed large
format telecompressor with at least 50mm fully illuminated field.

In tests on various stars, the color correction is exceptionally clean and
pure with no secondary spectrum showing even on Vega in focus. The out-of focus
images show slight differences in coloration due to inherent
sphero-chromatism, but in-focus the lens shows a hard classical Airy disc with
one or two faint
diffraction rings even on Vega.

I tested many different configurations over the last year under typical sky
conditions here at my observatory. The final candidate was chosen for its
excellent thermal characteristics - the ability to settle down quickly and to
follow a falling temperature profile. I've had some excellent views with this
lens
of the gas giants, the Lunar surface and many close double stars. It performed
extremely well under all conditions including our often poor seeing.

The 1200mm focal length was chosen for planetary observing without putting it
out of range for many imaging applications (of course a telecompressor will
extend that imaging capability). At 1200mm, the typical range of planetary
magnifications will be 100x with a 12mm eyepiece, up to 300x with a 4mm eyepiece

(SPL hopefully:>)). These would be the most useful in my opinion, unless you
happen to live where the seeing is super good, in which case you can double them

with a Barlow.

More specs and pictures will appear on our web site when we have the first
production scopes assembled. I can't give any prices, but can only say they will

be competitive with similar size scopes from other manufacturers. I have a
number of lenses now in production, and soon we will have some new facilities
for increased production of all our products (the papers have been signed and
there is no turning back). The optical design of this lens (all-spherical
surfaces) lends itself well to production, so I hope in the future to be able to

produce more of them than I have in the past.

This is not the only scope on the drawing boards. There will be larger ones
as well as smaller ones coming - refractors, Maks etc.

Roland Christen

------------------------

Since the scope is a little bit longer, the sphero-chromatism is somewhat
less. The difference is not huge. We can, of course eliminate the
sphero-chromatism by using wide airspaces, but then the lens becomes thermally
unstable. I
tested a number of configurations and found poor thermal tracking during falling

temperatures. They would be ok if you lived in California, but in other
environments they really have problems. The difference on the planets is not
visible. On very bright stars like Vega you could see it perhaps, if you knew
what
to look for. Typically, however, the color error due to slight differences in
melt index or dispersion would swamp any gain you could get by using wide air
spaces.

Roland Christen

-----------------------

Just to give you a ballpark idea where this lens fits into the scheme of
things, the sphero-chromatism of this new triplet is less than half that of the
same size and focal length Fluorite doublet from Japan. Since no-one ever
complained about the views through that refractor, or that they even detected
any of
that aberration, I figure this lens ought to work quite nicely in comparison.

Roland Christen

-----------------------

뉴모델 구경에 대한 답변
Actually it's bigger than 155.

Roland Christen

---------------
막스토프가 1~2년 내에 출시될거냐는 질문에 대한 답변
Yes, new Maks will come too.

Roland Christen

---------------
기존 EDF리스트에 이름을 올린분들에게 신형 망원경을 살수 있는
옵션이 주어지는가에 대한 답변
Oui!

Rolando

---------------
기존모델이 신형모델로 대체되는가에 대한 답변
The 155EDF will be transformed into this new scope, name is not quite set
yet. The 10" F14.6 will be come a new design also. Little faster at F12.5 and
another one at F9. Also smaller versions.

Roland Christen
---------------