by Richard Crisp
The moon was terribly bright last night when I took this and there was a lot of dew, but it was my first chance to use the newly acquired Tak FSQ 106. The marine layer has been brutal since I received the scope (hey I tried to make sure it showed up near full moon so we'd not needlessly suffer too badly), so I took the lousy opportunity anyway.
So while some of you folks were probably really having a good time at Montebello, FP or Coe last night, I was soaking in moon bathed dew but at least getting a "respectable" first light image from the new FSQ106.
First impressions are great. The rotating camera ring is really handy to get a guide star on the ST7E's guide ccd array. And the Petzval design makes for very easy focusing as there is a lot of travel for a small change in focus. I think this scope is a keeper and I am happy to displace my TV101 off its piggyback domicile on "The Observatory" and free it up for repose on the Gibraltar mount. That gives me a quick "getaway" scope that can be packed on a whim and will fit in nearly any car.
