Astromart

May 3, 2007 12:45 PM Forum: Star Parties

Cherry Springs Star Party

Anybody heard anything? It's two weeks off and there is still nothing on the web site. Guess I won't be going this year...

Pat

May 17, 2007 01:48 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Premium Focuser or Electronic Focus?

Posted By Pat Plunkett

I have a Moonlight focuser on my 12.5" Dob and the Orion electronic on my 6" Orion Newt (equatorial). I never really thought about comparing them! However, since you ask the question, I'd almost have to say I like the electronic one better (hmmm - maybe I should have thought about this before!). I like being able to look into the eyepiece with absolutely no motion of the scope while focusing. There are drawbacks, such as placement of the controller (I mount mine to the scope with velcro) and the fact that you may be "out of business" if the battery dies since there is no clutch to allow for manual motion (at least on mine). My $.02...

Pat

June 30, 2007 01:24 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Fujinon's BIG binoculars

Posted By Pat Plunkett

I looked through a pair at a star party (either Laurel Highlands or Cherry Springs or Black Forest - can't remember) about 4 or 5 years ago. I looked at the star fields in Sagittarius and was HUGELY impressed. I, too, went home and wanted a pair real bad, but ran into the price tag. They really are incredible. Actually, I think I recall that they were the ones that Hyakutake used to discover his comet...

Pat

August 8, 2007 03:31 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Donate or sell?--that is the question

Posted By Pat Plunkett

I to be in the SAAA (San Antonio Astronomical Association) and found them to be very active and a great club with which to be associated. I'm not sure if they'd have a site, but check with them. Their website: http://www.sanantonioastronomy.org/index.php

Pat

November 4, 2007 12:16 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Can't Focus DSI or Webcam in Newtonian

Posted By Pat Plunkett

There are two solutions, one kinda drastic and the other not so much... First, try cranking your collimation bolts all the way in. If this doesn't work, you'll need to move the mirror up the tube a bit (this is the drastic version).

there is another possibility as well, but it may not meet your needs. You can try putting a barlow in the path. I actually need to double-barlow to get my camera to focus.

Good luck!

Pat

November 25, 2007 02:30 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Scope for Backpacking

Posted By Pat Plunkett

Both of the ones you're looking at have high f-ratios and thus narrow fields of view... I would go for something like a Short Tube 80 or it's cousins. They're cheap (unlike the Celestron) as well, so you won't feel as bad about dropping them. You get great low-power views and decent high-power views with the short 80's, too...

Pat

November 27, 2007 02:51 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Unidentified Lunar Object?

Posted By Pat Plunkett

I saw the same thing a few years ago and was VERY excited about it. I seem to remember the one I saw as being a little larger, more sharply defined, and moving more slowly. I was told it was a weather balloon as well... Hmmm... Isn't that what they said about Roswell???

I do think it was some sort of balloon in my case and is probably the same for you - the wind was probably blowing harder for you.

Pat

March 8, 2008 07:08 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky