The Terrific Tichy Sixty

[Nightspore]

I was searching for a really portable grab and go scope, preferably bigger than a monocular but smaller and more compact than my modified ST80. Like the ST80, it had to be carried in my small blue flight bag and would be mounted on my SW AZ5. The main advantage being that I can carry the flight bag and the AZ5 (also in a bag) at the same time.

 

 

Originally I wanted a Takahashi FS-60 but they had numerous disadvantages for me, and everyone had sold out of them anyway. After some consideration I decided on an Altair 60 EDF. These little scopes are sold under a variety of brand names and liveries. It’s possible these are manufactured by Jiaxing Rui Xing Optical Instrument Co., Ltd

 

 

According to the Altair blurb:

 

60mm FPL53 ED Doublet Lens assembly, 360mm focal length, housed in a fully collimatable, CNC machined cell.
Full multicoatings on all optical surfaces.
Highest practical magnification 95x, Limiting magnitude 11.59.
Light grasp approx. 73x human eye.
23cm length, dewshield retracted, 30cm extended.
Approx. weight 1.5kg (including ring and rear camera-rotator).

 

The limiting magnitude is probably about right, as is the light grasp figure. I'm not sure about the highest 'practical' magnification though. Surely that would be at an 0.5mm exit pupil (120x)? 

 

 

I got first light with the 60mm Altair just after midnight on February the 17th when a miracle happened and the clouds parted ... for a bit. I looked up at what was essentially a springtime evening sky. Orion was sinking in the west and Leo, Cancer and Gemini were above me. I only used three eyepieces for around 12x, 24x and 40x. What fascinated me was the f/6 EDF feels like a much bigger scope to look through. Colour separation, sharpness and contrast are very good and the FPL-53 Ohara glass is excellent. It has a dual speed focuser and a 360° rotating collar for a diagonal or camera. The Takahashi FS-60 doesn't have those!

 

 

I had a decent look at the Moon on Monday the 22nd. At first early on as it was rising, then at transit after a bit of rich field. I used a 5x TV Powermate and an 18mm BCO, 15mm Antares Masuyama clone, 12.5mm KK ortho' and finally a 10mm BCO. These gave: 100x, 120x, 144x and 180x respectively. The 10mm BCO produces a 0.33mm exit pupil! The 10mm BCO was also used for open clusters sans Powermate (36x). To be honest  144x was pretty easy (141.6x = 60x per inch), but 180x (around 76x per inch) looked pretty respectable, even though the conditions weren't perfect. Although I started with the Moon, later I tried some doubles at high magnifications. I was searching for Almach as it's one of my favourite doubles. I often confuse it with Mirach as they are both in Andromeda. Before I realised my mistake I was convinced I could see a binary companion. It dawned on me that I saw NGC 404 (aka Mirach’s Ghost). Not bad for a 60mm doublet! NGC 404 is just over magnitude 10, and the Altair can handle up to 11.6. 

 

 

February the 24th was the first time I used the 60mm with the Porta II/Polaris tripod combo. After adding the XRINGS to the OTA effectively replacing the dovetail the centre of gravity shifted. Although lighter than the Vixen-type dovetail the XRINGS have drastically less weight forwards of the objective.

 

 

This rear heaviness was quite noticeable when mounted on the AZ5. The advantages of the Vixen combo over the AZ5 are that it is more stable and the friction clutches are preset, enabling one-handed use (ideal for me). The disadvantages are that it is heavier and I have to remember to take the slo mo cables out with me. The AZ5 is basically just easier to set up.

 

 

I got the Tichy Sixty out for around two and a half hours on the night of Thursday March the 11th. I doubt the objective would have dewed but I wanted a test with this shield. Which is usually deployed on my 72ED Evostar. Fundamentally to see what the practicalities were. By practicalities; I mean whether it would fall off or not lol. It didn't. There isn't really enough weight in the shield itself to affect balance. In fact it felt very natural. A long shield extension can prevent having to use heaters and therefore not having to carry a large powertank. Which is not ideal for a grab and go scope. 

 

It’s been stated that more 60mm telescopes are sold annually than any other aperture size. I don’t know how true this is. I’ve had ten sessions with the ‘Tichy Sixty’ now. Admittedly a small aperture has limitations. Although in my experience it easily holds its own with my 72ED Evostar. I was impressed while lunar viewing but open clusters and some of the brighter DSO’s are easily within its capabilities. The Terrific Tichy Sixty is now my main grab and go.

Edited March 12, 2021 by Nightspore

[+Bino-viewer]

Enjoyable read, thankyou 😀👍🏼🔭

[Nightspore]

1 hour ago, Bino-viewer said:

Enjoyable read, thankyou 😀👍🏼🔭

 

Thanks, and you're welcome. It is a really good grab and go. I'm definitely impressed.

[philjay]

Nice scope. Interesting to hear it,s collimatable cell, unusual these days but very useful

 

Oh and it,s surprising just what you can see with a quality 60mm. My old 60mm swift used to perform really well

Edited March 13, 2021 by philjay

[Nightspore]

12 minutes ago, philjay said:

Nice scope. Interesting to hear it,s collimatable cell, unusual these days but very useful

 

Oh and it,s surprising just what you can see with a quality 60mm. My old 60mm swift used to perform really well

 

Thanks. It seems to have a high build quality. The focuser is rack and pinion, but very precise.

 

 

Decent Strehl as well.

[Nightspore]

 

I've decided to try it on the AZ5 again. This may help with any balance issues.

 

[Nightspore]

Oddly, although the pivot point appears to be in the same place, it doesn't feel so back heavy. Whether this is an illusion or not is difficult to say. Holding the OTA where the XRINGS were and then comparing that with the original ring seems to feel more balanced with the original OTA ring.

[Nightspore]

 

Might help if I use 1.25" accessories as well.

[Nightspore]

 

I've gone full circle and gone back to the original dovetail. It improves the balance on the AZ5.

[Nightspore]

And the red dovetail didn't go to waste.

 

 

This actually knocks a fair bit of weight off the original dovetail bar I had on the ST80. I occasionally still use the ST80 as a rich field grab and go mounted on the AZ5.

 

[Nightspore]

Good three hour session with the Tichy last night. Highlights include: M44, Coma Berenices, Alpha Persei Moving Group, Gamma Leonis, Cor Caroli, Achird, Almach, M3, The Engagement Ring (Polaris) and the Double Cluster.

 

 

I mainly used these two EP's (BHZ, 36mm Aspheric) but also had a 5mm Tak' LE. First session with the BHZ on the Tichy. I originally bought the BHZ almost exactly two years ago. 

 

 

These go together well.

[Nightspore]

 

Tichy Sixty set up for a twilight lunar session on AZ5, with Baader Amici and Tak' 5mm LE.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Nightspore

[Nightspore]

Meade Zoom plus Altair 3x Tele Extender:

 

 

 

Perfect for doubles!