Professional Documents
Culture Documents
March 2010
2010 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form
without permission from the publisher. www.Astronomy.com
High-quality impressions
The test scope arrived collimated. Had
adjustment been necessary, I could have
referred to the included instruction sheet
to fine-tune the secondary mirrors three
screws. The guidance, however, specifi-
cally warns, Do not adjust the six
mirror-alignment screws on back of the
rear cell as this will void your warranty.
The AT6RC weighs just 13 pounds
(5.9 kilograms) and measures only 19.25
inches (48.9cm) long, not counting the
extension tubes. The fit and finish are
excellent. All interior surfaces, including
the eight well-designed baffles, are flat
black. Proper baffling and blackening are
crucial in RCs to keep stray light from
infiltrating the optical path.
The AT6RCs Crayford focuser accepts
both 1
1
4" and 2" eyepieces. Both adjust-
ments the coarse focus and the 10-to-1
reduction fine focus move smoothly.
Every photographer will appreciate the
focuser drawtubes numerical scale,
which makes returning to a specific set-
ting easy. A locking screw ensures the
focuser wont shift.
The focuser drawtube has 1.34 inches
(3.4cm) of travel, which alone is not long
enough for cameras and eyepieces to
focus properly. Thats why the AT6RC
comes with two 2"-long extension tubes.
All of my eyepieces focused perfectly
with one tube in place, but for photogra-
phy, my Canon XTi digital SLR needed a
little more out-focus. Together, however,
both tubes proved too long. Once I com-
bined my own 1" extension with one of
the supplied 2" tubes, focusing was easy.
Accessory suppliers offer a matching 1"
tubes for less than $35.
While the focuser worked smoothly, it
sagged slightly under the weight of my
Canon XTi. You can minimize the sag by
checking that the focusers tension screw
is tight. If that screw is loose, the draw-
tube also will move too easily for accu-
rate focusing. Be certain that you screw
the focuser and extension tubes together
firmly. The focuser rotates, which is
handy, but make sure its lock ring is tight.
Sky-testing the AT6RC
Turning the test scope skyward quickly
revealed the first-class quality of its
optics. Images stayed crisp beyond 300x
across the full field of view. Coma, a
problem inherent with some catadioptric
optical designs, was minimal, as was
spherical aberration.
The AT6RC did a great job resolving
small-scale objects, such as globular clus-
ters, lunar features, and closely spaced
double stars. My view of the Double
Double (Epsilon [] Lyrae) especially
impressed me. All four stars remained
clearly split even when I moved them to
the edge of my eyepieces 82 apparent
field. More demanding binaries also
showed clean splits.
A bargain astroimaging tool
Whether taking photos of the Moon or
deep-sky objects, the AT6RC proves to be
a versatile instrument. Its compact size
makes it easy to transport, while its aper-
ture is large enough to capture impressive
images of a variety of targets. If you are
looking to expand into photography and
want the benefit of a Richey-Chrtiens
razor-sharp images without breaking the
bank, I highly recommend the AT6RC.
Phil Harrington is an Astronomy contributing
editor.
The AT6RCs large central obstruction (50 per-
cent of the diameter) makes this scope better
suited for imaging than for visual observing.
Astronomy Technologies AT6RC
Ritchey-Chrtien telescope targets
imagers who use digital SLRs and other large-
chip cameras. Equipment photos: Astronomy: William Zuback
Product specifications
Astro-Tech AT6RC
Type: Ritchey-Chrtien reflector
Aperture: 6 inches
Focal length: 1,370 millimeters
Focal ratio: f/9
Length: 19.25 inches (48.9 cm)
Weight: 13 pounds (5.9 kg)
Included: Dual-speed 2" Crayford-style
focuser, Vixen-style dovetail rail, two
2"-long extension tubes, standard
finder scope shoe
Price: $795
www.Astronomy.com 57
Bob and Janice Fera
New-product listings
Expert observing tips
Field tests: telescopes, cameras,
binoculars, eyepieces, accessories
Monthly pullout star maps
And exclusive online access to Star Atlas,
Star Dome Plus, The Sky this Month, Ask
Astro archives, videos, image galleries,
product information, and more!
your ASTRONOMY subscription
Keep your eyes on the sky and renew
Dont break your link to the leading
astronomy magazine on the market.
Renew your subscription and
continue to receive the insightful
astronomical information that flls
every issue:
RENEW TODAY!
www.Astronomy.com/ASYRENEW
Plus, why not share your enthusiasm? Its easy to send someone a
gift subscription today!
Give a gift today at www.Astronomy.com/ASYGIFT
CIR-ADH-09X1241RH