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Posts Made By: Adam Albino

December 21, 2006 02:15 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

custom tube / cap source?

Posted By Adam Albino
Another thought (and what I have done with some scopes in the past) is to remove the FOCUSER, rather then the lens/dew shield end. If the scopes have a screw off focuser - well just screw it off and get a plasic plug for the end - and if its held on by a series of screws (most Vixen's are...) then replace the three/four screws with small thumb screws so you can screw/unscrew the assemly quickly....

January 9, 2007 05:58 PM Forum: Reflectors

Downsizing Why and What

Posted By Adam Albino
Like the others I have "downsized" after going through "Aperture Fever" for 30 years. I've found going to smaller scopes far more pleasing at this point in the hobby - not for the "performance" or portability, but for the challenge. Currently my largest scope is 110mm Apo - and the smallest a 40 year old 60mm f15 refractor. For me it has been a bit of a "reawakening" seeing just how deep I can go with these small scopes. For example, so far only one Messier has alluded my 66mm WO APO (M74)- this 8 miles south of Boston. I remember this was my nemisis DSO when starting out - but find it quite easy now with 6" and larger scopes - So using these small scopes brings back the "challenge" of those early day's.

Mid life crisis? Sigh....Probably sad

January 12, 2007 03:43 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Largest privately owned objective?

Posted By Adam Albino
There is I believe at least one (if not two) 73" reflector scopes out there. There was a good web site dedicated to the buildibng of one of them - "project73" or some such. About 6-8 years ago....I think it was the one Mark was mentioning...

January 19, 2007 09:39 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Pick & Pluck Foam is Hard to Find!! Why??

Posted By Adam Albino
Do a search - Floyd has posted a link to a foam supplier - any sizes you want....

January 30, 2007 02:20 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Plastic Shed Observatory

Posted By Adam Albino
I did several "roll-off" (Really "lift off") in both Plastic and Steel Sheds. The two biggest issues I had :

1. The roof adds structural support so you either need to add "L" brackets to the corners, or better still, build a wood frame around the edges.

2. I was a bit disappointed in the wall height for use with a GEM. Walls on these things are usually in the area of 6.5 feet High. Not as big an issue with a fork mount. Of course if your horizon isn't viewable this may not be an issue.

If I were to do one again, I'd go with a Roll-off observatory, where the scope sits and whole shed slides away....Check the internet - there are a number of sites on building these plastic shed observatories.

February 16, 2007 01:27 PM Forum: Refractors

What in the world are these three dark lanes!

Posted By Adam Albino
Daniel - I think it is pinched optics as the others have said. Most of the WO scopes have a push pull cell design, but the coll. screws are on the SIDES of the cell, not on the front like most designs - so if the screws are too tight you would probably get this effect. To get to them, you have to unscrew the dew shield, and slid it off, or back (depending on model). There you will see the screws. Try backing off each just a SLIGHT bit. I did this with my 105 and it improved the image (although I never had what you see in your photo's - mine was just severly mis-aligned). My 110 TMB is right on and does not show any anomalies.

February 18, 2007 02:30 AM Forum: Mounts

Mount for Celestron 9.25" SCT

Posted By Adam Albino
Personally even for visual Id say a Vixen GP/SP (and the CG-5 clones) are maxed with a C-8 - let alone a 9.25. My 9.25 was at home on a CI-700 and a GM-8 - both of which were nice match-ups. Your mileage and tolerance of vibration may vary - for me if it doesn't dampen in under 1 sec with a hard rap I find I loose detail in DSO's and Planets.

February 20, 2007 04:30 PM Forum: Celestron

First C14 - tips and techniques?

Posted By Adam Albino
By Compustar - you mean the early "GoTo" correct? If so have you done the y2K upgrade? These scopes are not compatable with y2k and needed a chip upgrade (third party vendors not celestron).

February 25, 2007 02:17 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Wood tripod for Celestron c80 ED

Posted By Adam Albino
The Vixen Alt/Az mounts were pretty nice.

February 26, 2007 04:51 PM Forum: Eyepieces

focal lengths of erfles?

Posted By Adam Albino
Besides the 16mm and those already mentioned there is the older 16.3mm - sold by many supliers. Jaegers, Edmunds, and the other surplus suppliers also sold lots of "odd" FL Erfles in the late 50's through 60's, and early 70's when military surplus lens were plentiful...

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