ASTRO-PHYSICS
140mm f7.5 Starfire EDF - 5.5" aperture:
with 2.7" Focuser
(140EDF27),
with 4" Focuser (140EDF4)
Roland Christen at NEAF with the 140mm f7.5 StarFire EDF and 900GTO German Equatorial Mount.
Astro-Physics introduced the prototype of this new triplet apochromatic refractor at the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) on April 28, 2007.
Lens: This new triplet refractor features exquisite Astro-Physics optics and has the latest multi-coating technology, just like our 160mm StarFire. This oil-spaced apochromat uses the highest grade of optical glass to achieve exceptional image brightness and excellent color correction. Color correction is ideal for all visual and imaging needs. The 1050mm focal length allows a full range of eyepiece designs from simple to complex to produce extremely sharp planetary images.
Tube assembly: Multiple baffles reduce stray light to a minimum. The lens resides in a push-pull cell that maintains its collimation even under conditions of vibration during shipping. The new sliding dewcap has a built-in baffle to help prevent dew as well as block stray light.
Focuser: The 140EDF will be offered with your choice of Astro-Physics 2.7" or 4" greaseless focuser. Both focusers will include the FeatherTouch 9:1 dual-speed reduction focuser knobs. The rotating collar will enable you to frame your images for optimal, artistic composition. Focus travel is a generous 105mm (4.1") for both focusers, and is positioned so that the Baader Planetarium Mark V Binocular Viewer will come to focus without the 1.25x compensator. This allows the user to see glorious wide-field views with both eyes - a real treat.
The giant 4" focuser will allow you to enjoy any and all of your astronomy pursuits. The 4" ID of the drawtube will allow maximum coverage of the Pentax 6 x 7 cm negative for medium format photography. The inside of the drawtube has a series of knife-edge baffles for maximum contrast. Choose from a full line of photographic accessories for CCD imaging, 35mm and medium format film photography. In addition to an optional 4" Prime Focus Field Flattener, we offer a dedicated f5.75 Flat-Field Telecompressor that is diffraction-limited over the entire 35mm field. Perfect for the new, large chips available today.
Roland designed this scope with approximately the same focal length of our original 155mm f7 StarFire (and 130 f8 and f8.3 StarFires), so that it can be used with all of the same specialized astrophotography / imaging accessories that were designed for the 155. These include the 4" Field Flattener (S155EDFFF), the 2.7" Field Flattener (67PF582) and the new, dedicated CCD Telecompressor Corrector (155TCC). The general purpose 0.75x Photo-Visual Telecompressor (27TVPH) is also an excellent choice for those who chose the 2.7" focuser. The idea of the 140mm f7.5 was to present a lower cost option to the 160 f7.5 while maintaining the same imaging abilities of the larger 155mm f7 StarFire EDF. With the 4" field flattener, it will cover a 100mm circle at f7.8, and with the new 155TCC, it will cover approximately a 57mm circle at f5.7. We are certain that astro-imagers, as well as visual observers, will find this scope a real joy to use.
M-17, Imaged with an AP 140 F7.5 Starfire at F5.7 |
NGC 6888, Imaged with an AP 140 F7.5 Starfire at F5.7 |
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M-17 taken with an AP 140mm F7.5 Starfire EDF refractor working at F5.7 with the 155TCC Telecompressor Corrector. STL11000 camera, |
Image by Roland Christen. Larger Ha version of NGC 6888 Color version of NGC 6888. Cropped close-up of color image. |
Suggested Mountings: The Mach1GTO, 900GTO or 1200GTO German Equatorial mounts are all recommended for astrophotography, depending on your requirements for portability and the amount of wind you are likely to encounter at your photographic site. They are, of course, all three a delight for GoTo visual observing!
Specifications| Color correction | Less than + - 0.004% focus variation from 656nm to 430nm (c to g wavelengths). Color correction curves available soon. |
| Clear aperture | 140mm (5.5") |
| Focal length | 1050mm (41.4") |
| Photographic speed | f7.5 |
| Theoretical Resolution | 0.8 arc seconds |
| Coatings | Multi-layer, broadband, overall transmission greater than 97% in peak visual wavelengths |
| Magnification range | 18x to 550x |
| Tube assembly | White, 6.5" aluminum tube, baffled, flat black interior, push-pull lens cell, engraved retaining ring |
| Focuser type | 2.7" I.D. Focuser with rotating collar, rack and pinion with FeatherTouch Micro 9:1dual-speed reduction, 4.4" travel; 2" and 1.25" adapters. 4" Focuser is optional. |
| Telescope length | 940mm (37") w/ dewcap fully retracted |
| Diameter of Dewcap | 184mm (7.25") OD including paint thickness |
| Weight with dewcap | 24lbs. (11 kg) |
| Carrying-case type | Wood case with gray vinyl covering and foam-lined interior |
| 35mm Photographic field at prime-focus | 1.25 x 1.8 degrees @ f7.5 |
| 35mm Photographic field with 2.7" telecompressor (27TVPH) | 1.7 x 2.5 degrees @ f5.75 |
| 35mm Photographic field with 2x Barlow | 0.63 x 0.9 degrees @ f15 |
| 140EDF27 | 140mm StarFire EDF with 2.7" Focuser | $1,000,000.00 | ||
| 140EDF4 | 140mm StarFire EDF with 4" Focuser | $1,000,000.01 |
There are many other accessories to consider. Please refer to these sections for additional recommendations:
Visual Accessories
Photographic
and CCD Imaging Accessories
Baader Planetarium Filters
Baader AstroSolar Material, or Kendrick Solar Filter: KDRA155V (visual) or KDRA155P (photographic ONLY)
Mounting Plates - your choices will be determined by the mount you own.
Please refer to our availability page for more information on our notification lists and backorder history. To get on the 140 StarFire EDF Notification List, please use our Online Notification Request Form.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Back to ProductsCopyright © 2007 Astro-Physics Inc. All rights reserved.
Last modified:
September 5, 2007
Astro-Physics, Inc.
11250 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115, U.S.A.
Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847