6-inch f/15

Over the last few weeks I've been working to build and set-up a 6-inch f/15 refractor.  I have had it set-up in the back yard for the last week, testing it out.  I build a Berry style mount, which works pretty well.  I bought a used ServoCAT Jr. since, with the narrow f/15 field, tracking would be a necessity.  Since it's an older unit I haven't gotten the tracking working well yet, but I hope to solve the problems soon.  Overall, it's a really great scope.  Very beautiful star images, textbook airy disks -- especially after I collimated my mirror diagonal.  Contrast is very good.  My only issue is because it is so long it tends to vibrate, even with just putting my eye against the eyecup -- this might be due to the Servo Alt cable.  And so far the Servo motor movements are not smooth -- some considerable backlash.  And, without DSC, I need to star hop using the hand controller, which is a pain.  However I planned to use the scope primarily as a solar scope, both white light and Ha, as well as lunar and planetary, so once tracking is working I should not have to slew often.  However it would be nice if I could also use it for doubles, since the star images are so nice.  In which case I will attempt to add encoders and see if I can get it to work.

Here are some observations from last night.  I started with the double-double, eta Lyrae, and marveled at the gorgeous star images at 175x.

STFA 38 AD: 152; 175x: Wide, white-yellow stars, one delta.
18H 44M 46.36S +37° 36' 18.4" P.A. 150 SEP 43.7 MAG 4.34,5.62 SP F0IVV DIST. 47.87 PC (156.15 L.Y.)

Sh 281: 152; 175x: Bright yellow-white and wide white B, 3 delta mag.

??

STF 2481 A-BC: 152; 175x: Light orange stars, near equal, well separated. (I need to try this with the 20-inch, BC is 0.2" and only one delta mag.)

19H 11M 07.90S +38° 46' 48.4" P.A. 21 SEP 4.8 MAG 8.39,8.31 SP G6V DIST. 52.85 PC (172.4 L.Y.)

DA 9 AB: 152; 285x: Suspected with 175x, solid split and resolution of B with 285x.  Very faint B condenses with seeing.  A is light blue color.

19H 04M 15.72S +43° 52' 49.5" P.A. 172 SEP 2 MAG 7.05,10.22 SP A0V DIST. 233.64 PC (762.13 L.Y.)

STF 3130 AB-C: 152; 175x: Very fine, B very much fainter and red color.  B appears with seeing, very close (AB is 0.4" and doable with 20-inch)

18H 55M 57.14S +44° 13' 41.9" P.A. 258 SEP 2.7 MAG 6.97,10.52 SP A2 DIST. 186.57 PC (608.59 L.Y.)

STT 352 AB: 152; 175x: Wide one delta mag

18H 26M 24.42S +46° 48' 32.2" P.A. 221 SEP 24.3 MAG 7.91,9.38 SP F2 DIST. 100.1 PC (326.53 L.Y.)

BU 648: Orange A and a just split, very small, very faint B, seen only with 285x --175x suspected, 456x image quality not good.  [this one should be added to short period list; will make a half rotation by 2045.]

18H 57M 01.61S +32° 54' 04.6" P.A. 234.5 SEP 1.31 MAG 5.34,7.96 SP G0V DIST. 14.87 PC (48.51 L.Y.)