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Posts Made By: Bob Young

February 11, 2009 08:43 PM Forum: Refractors

Should I sell my AP Traveler and buy a SV 105" Apo?

Posted By Bob Young
Buy or checkout the replacement scope before selling the Traveler. Observe with the two side by side. If it's as good as the Traveler or quite close and you won't miss the difference, then sell the Traveler.

Don't need to be kicking yourself afterwards.

I'm wondering if the perceived value of the Traveler and fear of harming it are cutting into your enjoyment of the scope. I know I'm prone to that sort of thing. If so, you probably are better off with something a bit more mundane.
Bob

February 14, 2009 10:23 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Trapezium E&F

Posted By Bob Young
I've seen many photos of M42, but the Trapezium is always just a tight knot of stars. I've never seen one that shows them well separated like your sketch or like I see them in the e.p. Is there a problem with splitting this multiple-star photographically or do people just find the nebula more interesting?

I don't do AP, so this may be an uninformed question.

May 21, 2009 03:47 AM Forum: After Dark

Re: star like object seen breaking up

Posted By Bob Young
Oh, great! As a pilot, it's hard enough to spot other, full sized air traffic carrying running lights when called out by ATC, especially over an urban area. Now we have to contend with flying waste baskets that are apparently "above the rules" that all other air traffic have to follow and which are operated by people with no skin in the game.

Do the operators have to abide by Federal Aviation Regulations? No lights at nite--apparently not. Is ATC issuing clearances assigning altitudes, routes and/or operating areas? Can ATC track them on their radar? Is ATC even aware when these things are sent aloft?

If not, this makes a mockery of the entire aviation safety principle of "see and be seen". One of these coming through the windshield of an aircraft approaching to land could ruin the day for a lot of folks.

October 9, 2009 06:38 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Best Grab & Go Scopes?

Posted By Bob Young
Best I've found is a TV76 on a Portamount. I imagine any good 70-80mm short-focus refractor would do as well. A Pronto or a Ranger on a Portamount might come closer to your budget.

I've been tempted to go to a TV85, but I'd be sacrificing portability for aperture and I'm quite happy with the combination I have now. Good for nature viewing too.
Bob

October 9, 2009 06:50 PM Forum: LUNATICS

Name for new crater on the Moon

Posted By Bob Young
Bah! Beyonce shoulda got that prize! Where's Kanye West when we need him?
Bob grin

November 24, 2009 11:54 PM Forum: Refractors

Are refractor guys out to lunch???

Posted By Bob Young
Yeah! And it's either fast-food or starve here in NY!

A clear evening sky here in central NY means you set up and start viewing immediately if you want to see anything. Half an hour later...or whenever the compound optics cool off, the sky will be covered by a high thin overcast.

Wolf down the goodies before they're taken away. Nothing beats a small refractor for that.
Bob

December 7, 2009 04:15 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

My goldfish

Posted By Bob Young
Get in a light plane. Fly over the midwestern states, the western portions of the middle atlantic states, the Adirondacks/Catskills/Southern Tier of NY, northern VT/NH/ME, not to mention most of the American West and Southwest. If there's not enough room in these places, fly over the interior of Canada and Mexico. Show me your overcrowding.

If you want drastic changes to correct a problem, be prepared to prove that the problem exists. But, for Heaven's sake, develop a wider horizon than a fishbowl. Though, actually the fishbowl analogy certainly fits an urban dweller who doesn't get out much.

The problem is the homo sapien tendency toward urbanization and congregating in "nice" areas along coasts. Yes, the city is crowded, so are the suburbs, and so is the beach. If you don't like it, move somewhere less crowded. There's lots to choose from.

December 12, 2009 03:08 AM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

A NEW ICE AGE.

Posted By Bob Young
New Ice Age? Darn tootin'! Started yesterday. This morning it was 16 degrees F. with a 30 mph NW wind. Get one about this time every year in Central NY. We'll handle this one same as we handled last year's.

Seriously, though, I agree. The concern over climatic change seems misplaced when we're daily moving closer nuclear war. AGW would be a fart in a windstorm compared to the climate disaster brought on by multiple nuclear explosions.

To date, that's been avoided because the U.S. was ready and able to play nuclear cop. Now it's apparently more important to weaken/hamstring the U.S. in the name of averting AGW than it is to thwart third world nuclear ambitions. It seems we're going to flirt with climate destruction in the name of avoiding a theoretical and uncertain climate change.


December 15, 2009 01:17 AM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Blair: World must take action even if science not correct

Posted By Bob Young
There's no closure with this. What metric is being offered as an indicator that the crisis has been averted? If one was offered, could we trust it anymore than the climate "data" underlying climategate? We're being told to sign on to an open ended drain on the global economy and unlimited sacrifice of personal prosperity...with no end in sight.

If the world bankrupts itself throwing trillions of dollars at this "problem" and GW does not occur, we'll be hearing that the spending solved the problem and more sacrifices are needed to avert warming in the future. If GW does occur, they'll be demanding even greater sacrifices. Is another Ice Age the best thing we can hope for?

The volcano is angry! We must sacrifice more virgins!
The anger of the volcano has abated! We must continue to sacrifice virgins to keep it so.

January 22, 2010 01:49 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Ethos: I Took The Plunge

Posted By Bob Young
And here I thought you were one of the few who would keep his head through the Ethos craze. What happened to that calm, sober demeanor? What happened to that carefully reasoned, analytical approach? Seems overnight we have another giddy Ethos schoolgirl...

wink

Seriously, enjoy it to the full. We're only here for a little while. What's $500 in the scheme of things. Wish I had one too.
Bob

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