First thoughts - C9.25 SGT XLT

Just got lots of new boxes today!!! Woohoo my new scope!!

I got a C9.25 Advanced GOTO with XLT coatings. Only got to see ARcturus with it so far but just thought I'd share my 'out of the box' impressions.

FIrst out was the 9.25 SCT OTA. Boy its huge!! Easily carried without straibn but it really does look and feel the part. The XLT coatings make the corrector plate look decidedly blue, a nice aluminium lens which it comes with will ensure the dust gremlins get kept well away. Apparantly the XLT impvroves the Light gathering power by 16% so working this out, my 9.25" scope has the LGP of a 10" non XLT scope. So overall I'm well impressed with the OTA. Only small thing that worried me was the dovetail bar is bolted on at one end with two screw/bolts, but only one at the other end. I plan to change this arrangement in the future with something that will also integrate a piggy back plate for a guidescope and/or camera.

The mount: The scope comes with the CG5 advanced series goto mount. The tripod is massive. Same one that comes with the EQ6, 2" steel tubular legs/ Totally rock solid so no worries there. The mount head kinda scared me a bit at first because it felt so light. I though this wont be solid. But I had seen them before and knew they were well up to a C11 so I knew my C9.25 should be fine. ANyway set it all up indoors and then started to poke around at it. Once it was all put together I have to say it feels totally rock solid. I did an alignment indoors and I have to say its a snip. The mount computes the alignment stars which will give best results, but you can choose your own too, which is good cause only rarely is the sky totally clear that you can see all of the stars all of the time.

Interestingly I didnt need to refer to the manual once, so it must be straighforward!!

So heres what came in the boxes.

Box 1: C9.25 XLT OTA, visual back 1.25", star diagnol, 25,, plossl eyepiece
Box2: CG5 Advanced Series Goto Mount Head, Advanced series hand controller and cables, manual, copy of 'The Sky' level 1., hand controller holder

Box 3: Tripod, 2x counterweights and accessory tray/brace.

Cant wait to get if out on a decent night!

Congrats on the new member to your family.
I hope you get many a clear night with it.

congrats Dave G.
but, which box is the DSI in? :lol:
Bill.

Bill - surely Dave G would ONLY go for the DSI PRO

Dave G - tomorrow night is looking favourable. Hope it all goes well for you and you get plenty of pleasure from your huge 9.25 incher.

Keep us posted on progress - I'd be interested in how it performs.

Is just like xmas day, when you were 6 eh? Just don;t start playing with the boxes :lol:

Cheers

Dave McD

Congrats Dave, hope it all works well, what with 2 big scopes bought this week, it will be cloudy for months...
How much was all that?, and from who?
Any pics..............

Congrats Dave! Hope it brings you many a clear night.