Posts Made By: Douglas Reilly

Dear All,
I know the Discovery 8" PDHQs are "new", in that they haven't been offered as PDHQs in the past (I imagine someone upgraded the DHQ), but I'm wondering if anyone has recently purchased one, and what they think?

Doug

Dear All,

The subject is basically my question: what would you all choose if putting together a truss scope? I know one big difference is temp. adjusting rates, but are they both good optics?

also, what do truss dobs usually have for feet? I mean, under the azimuth ground board?

thanks
Doug

Dear All,
Thanks for the good advice on the mirrors, dob feet, etc.

The current issue: what are good focusers for truss dobs? I know JMI is universally recognized, as are feathertouch (way out of my price range!) Does anyone know anything about Apogee's own line of focuser? Orion? Thanks!

Doug

Other than Turn Left at Orion, what are some other great books for beginning deep-sky observers? I'm interested in more than just an observing guide or how-to...I'd like some in-depth information about what exactly it is I'm looking at, how it formed, etc. Thanks!
clear skies and good reading,
doug

Would an Orion xt4.5 qualify as a rich field telescope? What exactly determines if a scope is an RFT? Is there a technical definition, or it simply a family of scopes that excell better at showing wider fields?

Dear All,
I was wondering what kind of experience people have had out there with Mr. McShane's products. There are some great reviews out there, but I thought it might be nice to get more reflections of his unique off-axis designs. What size do you have, what do you look at them with, how do they compare in your mind to other scopes? I'm considering getting one as a second scope for planetary, clusters, and some mild-mannered Messiers when its too cold or too light polluted to drag out the 12.5
Doug

Okay, I threatened a new thread and I'm following through with it. This one might appeal more to the dreamers out there, of which I am one.

Inspired by James' critiques of the UN, and the book "The Lords of Poverty", a sickening look at nepotism and corruption in the UN bureacracy, I thought I'd start a discussion about reforming the UN.

I don't want to tackle the corruption question here, rather, the question of authority and enforcement. The security council is set up so that the national interest of a few nations (not even necessarily the most powerful any more) can always scuttle the will of the majority of nations.

I recently read Ben Bova's novel Peacekeepers. Bova imagines someone actually enacting Chapter 7 of the UN charter that calls for the UN to have its own multinational military force. It can respond only to cases of cross-border agression (traditional definition of war). The peacekeepers declare war on war.

Their power comes from control over ABM satellites, which of course, do not really exist, and a small dedicated force of internationals with hi-tech weapons and surveillance satellites. When they spot one country about to attack another (like the large troop movements etc that were visible before Iraq invaded Kuwait in 91), they attack the infrastructure and weapons of the agressive force in order to dissuade the attack.

In the book many are scared that the Peacekeepers will lead to a world government. Others critisize it that it won't intervene in cases like Rwanda. It's unclear if there are provisions for internal interventions by other multinational forces.

Anyway, could a force like this actually be created? What would work against it? What would the dangers be? Obviously the framers of the UN saw a role for it, but the security council ensured it never was enacted out of fear of encroachment of sovereignty. But it seems clear that a higher authority than sovereignty must be found if humanity is ever to unite. Does Mr. Bova have a piece of the puzzle?

Anybody else see that APM Germany has a new GEM mount? The EM 4 (it's listed in mounts)...anybody (maybe Marcus) want to give more information about this mount...where it was made, is that the correct price, etc?
Doug

Dear ATMers,
I was wondering if any of you had any experience with the Williams Optics 2" newt focuser. It sounds like a good deal and it's handsome, but has anyone actually used one? Thanks so much!
Doug

Just thought I'd toss this question out there. Read the recent S&T review and I'm intrigued...seems like a nice compromise vis-a-vis overall size, aperture, and of course, money...

Far as I can tell, the most common choices are TAL, Discovery, Orion, and Stargazer Steve. I know the Orion gets good marks (and I also know all the other arguments pro/con Chinese optics, let's not go through that), but what about the others?

Mr. Ting noted in his review of the Orion that it has a 1.25" focuser and that's fine because a two-inch would show vignetting on widefield eps. But Discovery's 6" dob now advertises a 2" focuser. What's up with this? What's the best ep to take full advantage of the 6"'s field of view.

thanks
doug