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Posts Made By: John Holt

August 6, 2006 10:32 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

6 inch CATs, satisfied?

Posted By John Holt
>>At night I just never have the energy to drag the big scope out from the back bedroom.<<

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There's the rub. I've experienced it too. The best solution I found was to keep the scope outta the back room(s) completely. Park it by the door. Or better yet, in a breezeway, garage or shed. We don't keep the fridge in the bathroom. Nor the stove in the attic. Scopes are for outdoors. Observing the heavens is an invaluable recharge and countermeasure for the typical rat-race day, so make it easy.

Yep, when I first moved a scope to just inside the outside door, there was some squawking. Had to relocate a bookcase to make room for it too. Bummer. But it was one of the best moves I made toward observing. It greatly increased ep time.

August 26, 2006 11:47 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Tripod dolly

Posted By John Holt
A wooden disc under the hub, with one bolt through the center of both?

September 25, 2006 06:01 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Bad Focuser

Posted By John Holt
Look here for 1.25"

http://jimsmobile.com/rcf_data.htm

October 21, 2006 11:22 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

SC vs. MC

Posted By John Holt
<>

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Consider the Orion Starblast. Often available used here.

October 27, 2006 05:35 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Seeking Enlightenment...

Posted By John Holt
<<...a good eyepiece for DSO's that won't break the bank?>>

===================

A mid priced 32mm plossl and a 9mm ortho.
Both often available here in the classifieds for very reasonable prices.

October 28, 2006 10:09 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

finding way around sky

Posted By John Holt
I'll second a couple recommendations of others. Strongly consider a planisphere, whether buy or make, and the Bright Star Atlas.

Then add a powered finder. At least 6x30. Larger if you can.

Yes to bino's too.

October 30, 2006 05:05 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Astronomy Clubs - How to start one?

Posted By John Holt
<
I have been thinking about getting a local astronomy club going. My wife and I might purchase a farm out in the country, where there are some great dark skies (at least for my given location in the midwest). If we do, I will be converting an old abandoned silo into an observatory, and that place would be an ideal star party location between two cities that are about twenty minutes from one another (with a combined population of approximately 120,000 people). Even if we don't buy that property, I'd still like to get something started.>>

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Consider an undeveloped club sight. All that's really needed is a place with dark sky and horizons. An observatoy structure is not required.

November 19, 2006 01:46 AM Forum: Eyepieces

multiple aperture eyepieces

Posted By John Holt
<<...new C8 and piggyback 80 ED, are there any good EPs that would be of good use for both scopes. that is to say that now that im broke i need 2 maybe three relatively inexpensive yet quality EPs that might work for both scopes...>>

============

Buy used here.
Consider a 32mm plossl and a 2x barlow. This will yield you a combination of 32, 25, 15 and 12 mm ep's with decent sized eye lenses and relief, and a max magnification of about 160x. For these two, shop in the _mid_ price ranges. Even if on a budget. There is a reason budget ep's are budget.

For high power, well most folks do most of their planetary observing between 200 and 250x. That's a good upper limit to start with.

Both your scope are already well correct for astigmatism, and the C8 tracks. So your decisions at the higher power focal lengths are: wide field, eye relief, good coatings. If on a budget, then pick any two.


December 10, 2006 11:06 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Be on the Lookout for the Planetary Trio

Posted By John Holt
<>

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It was purdy.
Jove was an oval. Mercury was twinkly. Mars was tiny, red and not seeable to my unaided eye. But all three looked just dandy together in my 6" at 23x.

Saturn and Selene looked cool together too. Still very high near dawn. Saturn sported Titan, Cassini, belting in the southern hemisphere, the ring's shadow and Rhea faintly sparkling in and out with the Moon in the same of the field of view. A near and far, together again.

Darn cold with the temps in the twenties and wind in an open field. My eyes kept tearing up. The seeing was good! Selene was calling. But scope mount and operator where not up to the crosswinds. : )

December 16, 2006 06:13 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Russel Optics

Posted By John Holt
They are konigs. Therefore they will be soft on the edges of the field in faster scopes. Good in slower focal ratio scopes.

Good wide field deep sky ep's. No high performance expencive coatings. So bright targets tent to show a nice cheery glow around them.

I presently have a 15mm. It is comfortable, well made and fun. But it is not the equal of my 16mm University Optics Konig. Nor is it priced like it.

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