Celestron refractors

Does anyone out there have any experiences with the Celestron 6 inch refractor or the 102 SLT computerised scope? I am in the market for a refractor and thse two have their own appeals. I am experimenting with lunar photography and both look like they have limited deep-sky potential. The moon is my main subject.

I had a blast at a Meade 6" refractor once and it was actually very good. Presumably the Celestron version will be up to the task. Their other refractors seem to get good press.

As far as the mount goes, I've no idea how it performs but judging by other experiences on these boards, the mount is probably the weakest link. That said, it may still be up to the task you require.

Finally, your field of view will depend on the imager you choose and the focal length of the scope (with or without focal reducers). 6" refractors will give good renditions of solar system object plus a good few deep sky objects (the very dim ones may be difficult).

HTH

Dave

The problem you may have with refractors is false colour or "chromatic aberration", especially with the moon. A reflector would be alot better, unless you have an absolutely top notch refractor. Top notch - read, very expensive.

I have a Celestron C6R-GT.
The OTA is marvellous, can't fault it. It is built as ruggedly as an artillery piece.
It is NOT an APO mind you so you will find a slight violet fringe on the Lunar edge at high powers.
(I find this charming, rather than annoying, but that is a matter of taste).
You can buy a cheap "Minus Violet" filter for your eyepiece to minimise this if it annoys you.

(I shudder to think what a 6" APO would cost...there is a lot of Hype surrounding APOs. My C6R GT leaves any APO I have ever looked through in the dust, because of it's superior aperture.)

The optics are tack sharp and the contrast is really excellent on the moon and planets,they look brighter and more "real" than through my 8" SCT possibly because of the complete lack of a central obstruction. Views of star clusters with a Bino-viewer are very "3D".

I cannot judge the mount critically because I am a visual observer and have never asked it to track at high precision for images,however I can't find anything wrong with it. I found one trivial error in the database (I think it was the date of the Crab Nebula explosion.) but nothing serious. Mind you others have had trouble with early versions of the mount going stiff and hard to move.

My best telescope so far,and for keeps.
(By the way the Meade 6" OTA version is made in the same factory in China!)

I have a Celestron C6R-GT.
The OTA is marvellous, can't fault it. It is built as ruggedly as an artillery piece.
It is NOT an APO mind you so you will find a slight violet fringe on the Lunar edge at high powers.
(I find this charming, rather than annoying, but that is a matter of taste).

For visual use, you might get away with the achromat and a minus-violet filter alright. However, if astrophotography is the aim, I would think twice.

Overall though, if I were to choose between a good quality 6" achromat refractor vs a good quality 6" reflector, I'd pick the reflector any day.

Just my 2cent...

Lunartic, I have my 4" Celestron refractor for sale if you're interested !

See here: www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=4248

For the moon It's great! Sharp optics! and much better than my 8" SCT! since the SCT has the central obstruction. The only reason I'm selling is due to the fact that I used my 8" more for variable star observing, and piggyback astrophotography.
Would you consider?

Keith..