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This telescope is an 6" f/9 Astro-Physics APO refractor. Of the three basic types of telescopes ( refractor, reflector, catadioptic), the APO refractor is the most treasured by both astrophotographers and visual observers. These instruments produce pinpoint sharp images with very high contrast. They are also very difficult and expensive to produce. Today, there here are only two companies in the world that manufacture this type of telescope on a commercial basis: Astro-Physics (USA) and Takahashi (Japan). I obtained this treasure as well as a superb Takahashi refractor in a serendipity trade from my BMW K75RT Motorcycle .

In October, 1996, this marvelous telescope found a new home with the highly capable AstroPhotographer, John Volk. Shown below are two examples of John's previous work. I am looking forward to seeing some the awsome images John will produce with this instrument. (To see a larger, view of these photos, click on the image thumbnail.)

"I was part of a small eclipse expedition from Los Angeles who drove down to Puerto Challe, a small fishing village on Baja's Pacific coast. The eclispe sight was just north of the centerline. Laminar flow off the Pacific resulted in superb seeing during the entire event. The prominence image presented was taken with a 5" f8 Astrophysics Starfire refractor working at f16. The 1/30 sec. exposure was taken on Ektar 125. " (John Volk)

"The comet is shown in Perseus with Venus, the California Nebula and the Pleiades (in trees) clearly seen. Open cluster NGC 1528 is also evident at the end of the tail. The eight minute exposure was taken with a Pentax 6x7 with 105mm lens @ f3.0 on hypersensistized Konica Super XG400 film. It was taken from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) site in Lockwood Valley, Ca. " (John Volk). This photograph appeared on page 44 of the March, 1997 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.

John has offered to sell copies (8x10 and 11x14 photographs) of these and other fine AstroPhotographs at a very modest cost.

Please contact John by Email at 103037.3107@CompuServe.COM