| The introduction of this new telescope by INTES-MICRO marks the beginning of a new line of medium to large aperature high performance, low budget planetary telescopes. Peter Ceravolo in Canada started the commercial production of "Mak-Newts" with his near-perfect Maksutov Newtonian systems called HD 145 and HD 216. This was followed by Astrophysics/USA with their new 9" F/4.5 Maksutov Newtonian. Attendees at recent US and European Star Parties who have had the pleasure of observing the planets with the new Maksutov Newtonians have been both surprised and pleased with the almost unbelievable results. Cervalo's HD 145 outperformed 130 mm Fluorites and the HD 216 outperformed 7" APOs. How is this possible, many amateur astronomers ask? The answer lies in the unique combination of high quality optics and an unusually small central obstruction, combined with a closed tube system to prevent air turbulence. As far as the optics are concerned, it is not too difficult to produce a reflector telescope with 1/8 or even 1/10 wave p.t.v optics. But, on the other hand, it is extremly difficult to produce a like quality in APO's, because of inhomogeneities in the special exotic glass materials that are used in their objective lenses. |
|
Meanwhile, on the "Russian optics front," INTES started this new generation of telescopes with the recent introduction of their 6" f/6 MN61. That forced their Moscow competitor, INTES MICRO, to start immediately with the production of larger aperature Maksutov Newtonians. The first prototype of the INTES MICRO 8" MN 86 is now ready for delivery to APM-Telescopes in Germany. The optical tube offers the following features: Multicoated optics, 20% central obstruction, optimized knife-edge 10 unit baffle system in area of the focuser to protect from any stray light, baffled removable dewcap, cooling fan with air spacing around the cell of the meniscus corrector, and a 8x50mm finder scope. Summary of standard features:
| Technical Specification | Value | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Aperature | 203 mm | interior tubebaffle at focuserplace ventilation on tubeend, airspacing at meniscuslens, 2" low prodfilfocuser 8*50 Finder, piggy back cameraholder, baffled dewcap, tuberings |
| Focal Ratio | f/6 | |
| Focal Length | 1.200 mm | |
| Backfocus | 60 mm | |
| Diameter of Secondary | 40 mm | |
| Tube Length | 1.20 m | |
| Tube Weight | 13 kg (28 pounds) without tuberings 20 kg (40.4 pounds) incl. Tuberings, Dewcap and Finder |
