Ok, because of your videos I just purchased this telescope along with one of the last ASI071MC Pros in Canada! Totally love your style, presentation, and attitude. You and I are at the same stage of learning this wonderful hobby. Best wishes, Simon PS: Keep up the good work!
Hey Simon! Thanks for watching the channel and I will try! Congrats on your purchases! I love my Askar 103 it is a epic refractor!!! If you found a 071 congrats to you my friend they are scarce out there!!!!
Congratulations and enjoy your new scope! Beautiful instrument indeed and with good optics so I heard. I am planning on getting one as soon as my “CFO” approves the expense.
This video is just in time for me! I am currently planning to buy a new Apo and now I see this video from you. I'm now going to watch your latest video to get an even better impression. Everything looks great at first glance. I hope you have a lot of fun and success with your new Apo! CS Tobi
Hey Tobi!! Glad this could help you out I'm currently working on the .8x and .6x reducer vids I hope to post those soon! Thanks for watching this one too my friend
Really looking forwart to it! Especially the reducer are very interesting for me, since I am working with a mono/narrowband solution@@astronotna Keep up the great work!
Looking forward to seeing. You have lots of good information. I am just setting up my new Celestron 9.25 Cgx. I bought the starizona hyperstar, also a Zwo 183 color camera. Also the asi air pro. Still waiting on getting the Zwo focuser. Big learning curve
It's a good idea to warn anyone who buys one of these Sharpstar/Askar/ZWO scopes that if they take off one of the dovetail mounts to mount something elsewhere, don't be stupid enough to park the screws back in the same holes. They're long enough to lock the focuser and make you wonder why your EAF isn't turning. Been there, done that. Just call me stupid.
Thanks and Yes probably not! LOL Although I am hoping for next Friday we might have a break in the weather. I got lucky last night and had a few hours. Let's keep our fingers crossed!!
@@astronotna Yes, we had a few lucky breaks this week but a lot of high clouds. I was testing a SCA260 this week.... I'm probably not helping the cloud situation either...
Are you having problems unscrewing the 2' adapter? I received adapters glued to the thread😢 I spent 3 days gently unscrewing and installing the reducer. I described this problem on agenaastro. The bottom line is that the rotator - orange pointer is also glued to the thread with super glue. When I unscrewed it, the rotator and the pointer came loose. I couldn't install it based on the markings. until I saw with a magnifying glass that there were drops of glue there. In order to unscrew the 2-inch adapter, I had to install the telescope on a mounting bracket to get a stop; it was not possible to do this on the table. Even the belt wrench didn't help.
Yes I can confirm it's hard for me to remove as well. I'll probably post a how to on this when the time comes. Thanks for the heads up. I haven't tried it until you mentioned something
I'm new to this hobby and last June I purchased a Celestron C8 with AVX mount when they were on sale. Would purchasing a scope like your Askar be better than adding a 8" Hypestar. The 8' Hyperstar is about the same price as the Askar without the flattener/reducers. Would I be able to add and remove the 8" Hyperstar for transportation like you do with your C6". I'm using an ASIAir Plus for managing equipment and finding in native focal length (2032mm) the ASIAir has trouble plate solving. I only have an ASI585MC planetary camera so maybe its because of the small sensor. I have yet to try my Nikon DSLR but I have all the cables and adapters needed. With the Celestron 6.3x focal reducer it plate solves better but not 100%. I have a storage issue where I can't really have both scopes since I'm retired and live in a motorhome traveling around the country and my storage space is limited. The only owners of SCT that seem to have good results with the ASIAir are using RASA. Being new to this hobby I want to image as much as I can; planets, nebula and galaxies. Seems like everyone on Cloudy Nights seems to tell me to ditch the C8 and probably the AVX but financially not possible and get a refractor and better mount. One question about the Askar. Do you have to use the reducer with the flattener or is the .6 reducer also a flattener? What do you think the scope plus the reducer and guide scope and camera all weigh. If I decide to sell the C8 and get something like the Askar 103 would the AVX with a 30lb payload limit be able to handle it. I already have a second counterweight for my mount for my C8. This is in preparation for the Celestron OAG which I have already purchased.
Hmm that's a tough one! Yes I would have to agree that the sensor size of your cam would do that especially racked out that far. That's why you get better results through the reducer. Also yes you would be able to remove hyperstar for transport. I'm a little biased when it comes down to this because living in the pacific nw hyperstar has been a valuable tool due to limited sky time. I'm also afraid to offer advice on the askar since I've never used it. Your sampling would be better with askar I do know that. I guess it all boils down to if you enjoy your equipment now. If you do and like the results you've been getting then consider a hyperstar. If not maybe a change to a simpler instrument might be better. I know an sct and hyperstar is a lot to manage. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. Hopefully some upcoming videos on this scope by me and I am sure other youtubers will have on this soon will help you out in someway. Also the reducer is also a Flattner on the askar 103 so no need to stack them
I have one more question about your ASIAir. Have you noticed in Preview or Focus or Video the mount controls sometimes don't stop slewing when you lift your finder off a direction arrow? On my ASIAIR Plus V2.1.1 10.74 the DEC arrows seem to do it most often. I'm using a Gen 9 iPad. Wondering if it happens on your Samsung tablet and AM5 mount. Its most reproducible for me at the fastest slew rates but I've seen it also on slower rates. I will be near the Tucson area in a couple of months. I may take a trip to Starizona and talk to them about Hyperstar. I wonder how your Askar would be for planet imaging?
I have both the C8 +hyperstar and the Askar 107PHQ. The 107PHQ spends the most time imaging. The reason is that the Hyperstar tilt is VERY critical to getting good stars (the critical zone is about a hair thin). The refractor is just grab and go, which is perfect for travelling. If you are new to the hobby, I recommend the refractor. The C8 is still a great galaxy scope. I've used mine a lot in combination with a 294mm chip (I eventually upgraded the reducer to the Starizona one which gives Edge-like performance). I use it a lot with the ASIAIR too, it should plate-solve just fine to a field of 0.3arc-sec. You may need to increase the exposure if platesolving fails.
Best unboxing ever ! Thanks Astronotna !!! Best wishes :)))
Thanks for watching!!
Beautiful scope and Taco is too!
Ok, because of your videos I just purchased this telescope along with one of the last ASI071MC Pros in Canada! Totally love your style, presentation, and attitude. You and I are at the same stage of learning this wonderful hobby.
Best wishes,
Simon
PS: Keep up the good work!
Hey Simon! Thanks for watching the channel and I will try! Congrats on your purchases! I love my Askar 103 it is a epic refractor!!! If you found a 071 congrats to you my friend they are scarce out there!!!!
Nice telescope. Can't wait to see some images from that my friend :)
Thanks my friend I am really excited too!!
Congratulations and enjoy your new scope! Beautiful instrument indeed and with good optics so I heard. I am planning on getting one as soon as my “CFO” approves the expense.
Thanks and here's good luck with your meeting with the CFO lol.
This video is just in time for me! I am currently planning to buy a new Apo and now I see this video from you. I'm now going to watch your latest video to get an even better impression. Everything looks great at first glance. I hope you have a lot of fun and success with your new Apo! CS Tobi
Hey Tobi!! Glad this could help you out I'm currently working on the .8x and .6x reducer vids I hope to post those soon! Thanks for watching this one too my friend
Really looking forwart to it! Especially the reducer are very interesting for me, since I am working with a mono/narrowband solution@@astronotna Keep up the great work!
Congrats and thank you for posting the video! I consider to buy this scope so this and following videos would be very valuable for me. Clear nights!
Thanks you! Let's hope I get some sky time. Thanks for watching this one! Appreciate ya!
Very nice scope ! Good choice. Looking forward to more videos
Thanks! I am in the midst of editing the next one today. Hopefully I will get it out later this week!
Looking forward to seeing. You have lots of good information. I am just setting up my new Celestron 9.25 Cgx. I bought the starizona hyperstar, also a Zwo 183 color camera. Also the asi air pro. Still waiting on getting the Zwo focuser. Big learning curve
Yes it's is a big learning curve but will be worth it. Sounds like an awesome set up!
I was pretty much decided on getting a skywatcher esprit 100, but this scope is surprisingly competitive.
For sure! I think the overall image quality is definitely better on the esprit but the value here and performance is very surprising indeed
Every time I get emotional by unboxing a new telescope 🤤 and smell of new telescope 😂.
😆 🤣 😂
It's a good idea to warn anyone who buys one of these Sharpstar/Askar/ZWO scopes that if they take off one of the dovetail mounts to mount something elsewhere, don't be stupid enough to park the screws back in the same holes. They're long enough to lock the focuser and make you wonder why your EAF isn't turning.
Been there, done that. Just call me stupid.
Congrats on the new scope, it looks like a really nice one. I guess that's not helping with my cloud forecast for the next few weeks XD
Thanks and Yes probably not! LOL Although I am hoping for next Friday we might have a break in the weather. I got lucky last night and had a few hours. Let's keep our fingers crossed!!
@@astronotna Yes, we had a few lucky breaks this week but a lot of high clouds. I was testing a SCA260 this week.... I'm probably not helping the cloud situation either...
LOL!
OH BOY! The porch pirates know they scored with the picture of the scope on the box. BAD!
Shameful that this is so common.
Are you having problems unscrewing the 2' adapter? I received adapters glued to the thread😢 I spent 3 days gently unscrewing and installing the reducer. I described this problem on agenaastro. The bottom line is that the rotator - orange pointer is also glued to the thread with super glue. When I unscrewed it, the rotator and the pointer came loose. I couldn't install it based on the markings. until I saw with a magnifying glass that there were drops of glue there. In order to unscrew the 2-inch adapter, I had to install the telescope on a mounting bracket to get a stop; it was not possible to do this on the table. Even the belt wrench didn't help.
Yes I can confirm it's hard for me to remove as well. I'll probably post a how to on this when the time comes. Thanks for the heads up. I haven't tried it until you mentioned something
@@astronotna so I,m not alone with this problem.
Not at all!
I'm new to this hobby and last June I purchased a Celestron C8 with AVX mount when they were on sale. Would purchasing a scope like your Askar be better than adding a 8" Hypestar. The 8' Hyperstar is about the same price as the Askar without the flattener/reducers. Would I be able to add and remove the 8" Hyperstar for transportation like you do with your C6". I'm using an ASIAir Plus for managing equipment and finding in native focal length (2032mm) the ASIAir has trouble plate solving. I only have an ASI585MC planetary camera so maybe its because of the small sensor. I have yet to try my Nikon DSLR but I have all the cables and adapters needed. With the Celestron 6.3x focal reducer it plate solves better but not 100%. I have a storage issue where I can't really have both scopes since I'm retired and live in a motorhome traveling around the country and my storage space is limited. The only owners of SCT that seem to have good results with the ASIAir are using RASA. Being new to this hobby I want to image as much as I can; planets, nebula and galaxies. Seems like everyone on Cloudy Nights seems to tell me to ditch the C8 and probably the AVX but financially not possible and get a refractor and better mount.
One question about the Askar. Do you have to use the reducer with the flattener or is the .6 reducer also a flattener? What do you think the scope plus the reducer and guide scope and camera all weigh. If I decide to sell the C8 and get something like the Askar 103 would the AVX with a 30lb payload limit be able to handle it. I already have a second counterweight for my mount for my C8. This is in preparation for the Celestron OAG which I have already purchased.
Hmm that's a tough one! Yes I would have to agree that the sensor size of your cam would do that especially racked out that far. That's why you get better results through the reducer. Also yes you would be able to remove hyperstar for transport. I'm a little biased when it comes down to this because living in the pacific nw hyperstar has been a valuable tool due to limited sky time. I'm also afraid to offer advice on the askar since I've never used it. Your sampling would be better with askar I do know that. I guess it all boils down to if you enjoy your equipment now. If you do and like the results you've been getting then consider a hyperstar. If not maybe a change to a simpler instrument might be better. I know an sct and hyperstar is a lot to manage. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. Hopefully some upcoming videos on this scope by me and I am sure other youtubers will have on this soon will help you out in someway. Also the reducer is also a Flattner on the askar 103 so no need to stack them
I have one more question about your ASIAir. Have you noticed in Preview or Focus or Video the mount controls sometimes don't stop slewing when you lift your finder off a direction arrow? On my ASIAIR Plus V2.1.1 10.74 the DEC arrows seem to do it most often. I'm using a Gen 9 iPad. Wondering if it happens on your Samsung tablet and AM5 mount. Its most reproducible for me at the fastest slew rates but I've seen it also on slower rates. I will be near the Tucson area in a couple of months. I may take a trip to Starizona and talk to them about Hyperstar. I wonder how your Askar would be for planet imaging?
I'm sorry haven't had this issue!
I have both the C8 +hyperstar and the Askar 107PHQ. The 107PHQ spends the most time imaging. The reason is that the Hyperstar tilt is VERY critical to getting good stars (the critical zone is about a hair thin). The refractor is just grab and go, which is perfect for travelling. If you are new to the hobby, I recommend the refractor.
The C8 is still a great galaxy scope. I've used mine a lot in combination with a 294mm chip (I eventually upgraded the reducer to the Starizona one which gives Edge-like performance). I use it a lot with the ASIAIR too, it should plate-solve just fine to a field of 0.3arc-sec. You may need to increase the exposure if platesolving fails.