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Coathanger CR 399

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Posts Made By: Ken Fiscus

February 3, 2007 12:53 AM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

video

Posted By Ken Fiscus
I use a portable TV/VCR running off my truck battery and tape on VHS on good days. See my PST review here on Astromart for more comments. A MEE is about the best $35 (the going rate here on AM) you'll ever spend. I have 3 MEEs for class and public sun gazing through filtered scopes and the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Also, I went to RadioShack and bought a 12-foot 3-head RCA patch cord (red, yellow, white). I then separated the 3 cords and have twice the reach with shielded cables.

November 19, 2010 04:03 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Top Gear

Posted By Ken Fiscus
One of my favorites. Very few people know about it when I ask. There's nothing else like it.
Ken

August 7, 2011 04:05 AM Forum: Reflectors

Older Telescope?

Posted By Ken Fiscus
I can offer no help but only my congratulations on your find and efforts. Good luck. I'm jealous.
Ken

August 7, 2011 04:12 AM Forum: My group wants a donation or deal for our cause

1.25" focuser needed, and finder

Posted By Ken Fiscus
I'd help you if I could. I've sold off most of my unused stuff. Good luck.

Ken Fiscus

August 27, 2011 11:21 PM Forum: After Dark

Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd and M71

Posted By Ken Fiscus
Thanks for the heads up, Anthony! The pairing was VERY nice. This was the first telescopic comet ever for my observing partner.

September 23, 2011 04:03 PM Forum: After Dark

Reentry Predictions for the UARS

Posted By Ken Fiscus
Alan, thank you for the excellent link! Those interested should check several times in the next hours. UARS may stay up longer than thought and we in the western hemisphere might get to see something.

January 7, 2012 01:24 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Appraiser Needed

Posted By Ken Fiscus
I've been the grateful recipient of a couple of generous donations of scopes to my high school. The donors requested receipts for their taxes. Numerous helpful Astromarters advised me that fair market value tends to be about 80% of new for equipment in good condition. I used this formula both times and no one has come back to me with any IRS problems. Both donations were in the $2000-$3500 range and have been long enough ago that everything is above board and final.

January 13, 2012 11:51 PM Forum: After Dark

Re: Do people do astronomy with annoying friends?

Posted By Ken Fiscus
Well said, Ivan.

February 21, 2012 11:44 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

What are your most unforgettable telescopic sights

Posted By Ken Fiscus
Comet McNaught low in a golden peach sunset sky. It's bright head was refracted by a thin layer of cirrus and this produced three heads of different colors.

Saturn during a grazing occultation of the moon. Watching it play peekaboo behind unlit lunar mountains and then returning to visibility in the valleys.

Watching Jupiter and Venus merge into a single disk and then split (1988?).

Veil Nebula through a variety of filters.

Realigning my undriven dob on the moon during a star party and catching the moment of reappearance of a star coming out of an occultation I hadn't known about.

M-57's central star.

February 22, 2012 12:02 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Solar observing

Posted By Ken Fiscus
Let me recommend using/borrowing/buying a PST and hooking it up to a Meade Electronic EP. Though the view is black & white because of the camera, you will become addicted. I use an older portable TV/VCR combo (people give these away now) and record the views. I view these VHS tapes inside my darkened classroom through the LCD projector. My students and I always find lots of faint features we missed outside in the glare. We can see prominences, filaments (prominences between the sun and observer), sunspots, plages (white stormy areas), granulation (eggshell-like texture), and limb darkening.

See my old review of the PST on the Astromart reviews section.

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