Cave Astrola 8"


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Brand and Model:Cave Astrola 8"
Price ($USD):discontinued
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/7
Focal Length:1390mm
Finder:7x50
Electric Power:12v
Mount:Losmandy G-11
Tripod:Losmandy
Weight (lbs):100 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):60 "x10 "x40 "
Description:Rotating tube rings.

Vote Highlights Vote
Cave Astrola 8"
My 8" F/8 Model "B" Deluxe is an amazing performer and everything once can expect from an 8" scope. Razor sharp planetary and lunar images, the "E" and "F" components of the Trap clear and bright at 100x and very nice DSO performance as well. The rotating tube assembly makes good eyepiece placement a breeze and the drive keeps objects centered though there is a little play in the drive. The optics are so good they demand a better mount to really let them shine but I like the complete original package so much I put up with the mount's few shortcomings. It is a beautiful package to look at or through!

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:7 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=575468


Cave Astrola 8"
I inherited an 8" Cave Astrola f/4.5. Standard rings.
Exceptional mirror figure. I added a 2 speed GSO Crayford style focuser.
I have a stout mount for the OTA. Images are stunning.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=618981


Cave Astrola 8"
Having a "need" for larger aperature at minimal cost I was fortunate to find a Cave 12.5", F6 newtonian with all it's original equipment in a sellers hay barn. Although the instrument required extensive repair the optics were in excellent condition. Not knowing the Cave reputation before hand I was pleasently surprised when this telescope out performed other larger "Light buckets". The images are sharp with great contrast. Given the large size of the instrument the smooth workings of the mount and rotating rings make it easy to use. Star diffraction rings are equal on both sides of focus. Although the mount is not adequate for long exposure photography my interest lies mainly in planetary drawing and double star spliting. The high contrast does make this scope great for deep sky as well. The only telescope that I have used that out performs mine is a Cave 16", F6 that our astronomical society has refurbished and installed in a domed observatory.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38747


Cave Astrola 8"
Breathtaking...That is the only thing I can say about my 1959 8" f7 beauty .The mirror is one of the ones Cave was famous for turning "a sows ear into a silk purse". The mirror is signed by 2 opticians,1st f8 2nd f7, closer to a 7.5
I think.
The optical quality is only matched by a friends cave of the same f-r After looking through his, I spent years trying to find one like it.
the rotating rings and mount (Astrola Deluxe)are silky smooth, faint doubles are a snap. Deep space items are surrounded by an inky deep black sky.
My wife calls her my "Madam" This is the only scope that has ever reveiled the "spikes" on Saturns rings,these were debated untill Hubble confirmed them, I've seen only this twice under extremly good conditions. Deep sky items are framed by an inky black sky, Mars gives me shivers.. A true love affair.
I have owned many scopes but this is one is a gem, If you EVER, EVER get a chance at a pre-"65 GRAB IT! computers are nice and modern Schmidts are ok
untill you setup next to me (no offence please). I dont use her as much now as I did because of some health issues, but when the seing is special she still gets to "breath in" the night sky. ldbeach@aol.com

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38746


Cave Astrola 8"
I've loved my Cave 6" f8 Astrola Model-A Deluxe for the last 30 years. I'm looking forward to 30 more. Those of you with lousy Cave mirrors, are you sure the original Cave mirror wasn't swapped out for a third party 2nd? Were you the original owners?

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38745


Cave Astrola 8"
Cave Astrola 12.5" F/6 manufactured on Jan 22, 1976 #M761380 engraved on primary mirror. Astrola mount 1.5" shafts, 8" diameter pier, rotating rings, RA drive AC 110v, 8x50 finder and 2'' focuser. This scope is an optical masterpiece. The inside and outside of focus diffraction pattern is identical. The detail on Jupiter is enough to keep you busy for hours. Detail on Ganymede is visible under good seeing conditions. The color variations,contrast and sharpness is excellent. The Encke's division on Saturn is routinely visible and subtle differences of colors are visible on the globe and within the rings. Inner ring divisions give the impression of a "combed" or "raked" effect. The Astrola mount is stable and tracks very well. It's got a little backlash but I can live with that. I'm fortunate to have found this scope. It brings a whole new level of observation for me!

Rolando Chavez

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38744


Cave Astrola 8"
Our club rebuilt and had recoated a Cave Astrola that was donated to us. This is the 8 inch f/7 model. When we took the 'scope apart I was shocked to see the date on the mirror was 1961! Anyhow, this telescope is an absolute gem. Nearly perfect optically, it's planetary performance is outstanding. Star tests in and out of focus are text book perfect.

The only thing we are changing is the original pedestal mount is so heavy that the kids in my club cannot use this 'scope without a large and somewhat in shape adult around. We are in the process of building a dob style mount for it at this time. If you like vintage 'scopes and don't already have one of these, it would be well worth seeking one out!

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38741


Cave Astrola 8"
I acquired a 10" F6 Cave Astrola OTA circa 1975. Nice fiberglass tube, rotating ring system and other hardware. Foucault tested the mirror to ~1/5 wave at wave front - good but not great. Also acquired an 8" F4.5 Cave mirror - same experience as previous reviewer - mirror was 1/2 wave undercorrected - have refigured it to 1/8 wave for much improved performance. Think the earlier Caves (circa 1960s) were better optically.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38740


Cave Astrola 8"
I had an 8" f/4.5 Cave RFT (circa 1971) for several years, with their German equatorial mount. The optics were mediocre (non parallel Ronchi lines)but it gave pleasing low power views. High power and planetary viewing was very poor. The mount was reasonably good for the time - fairly steady and good tracking.

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38739


Cave Astrola 8"
I have owned this scope for 40 years...for a long time it was on loan to a friend, but I recently reclaimed it. Its outstanding performance is my standard of reference for all other scopes. On the planets it outperforms any other scope I've looked through for contrast and visibility of fine detail. Under dark skies, all of Messier's objects can be readily located and observed. For most of its life it suffered from an inadequate mount. Now that I have mounted it on a Losmandy G-11, it reveals all of its optical qualities, and is a joy to use. The rotating tube rings (bought from Cave, but actually manufactured by Parks), together with the Losmandy mount, enable me to rotate the eyepiece to a convenient angle without losing the object in the field of view.

Geoff Gaherty
Toronto, Canada

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38735

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