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RICHARD COFER

VdB 141 Ghost Nebula

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Posts Made By: Randy Roy

September 11, 2005 06:57 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Barlow Question

Posted By Randy Roy
Mark,

My experience has led me to believe this:

1. The Powermate gives better edge performance, especially when used with longer focal length eps on short focal ratio scopes.
2. The Powermate generally yields better contrast, especially when used with shorter focal length eps and most noticeable on the planets.
3. The Powermate adds no lateral color. If you see lateral color when using a PM, look to the eyepiece. If you don't see lateral color with an eyepiece, but you do when you use it with a Powermate--still look at the eyepiece.

The TV barlows are very nice and if I were using them only at F8 or above, I would save the bucks and get the barlow. For shorter F ratios, the Powermate is demonstrably better.

That is my experience. Others may vary.

Randy

September 12, 2005 01:46 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

First light, finally!

Posted By Randy Roy
Floyd,

I am very glad to hear that James is doing a redesign. I started to send you an email offlist suggesting that you and James collaborate on a new design. I've seen the excellent quality of your work and we all know you have a creative mind. I think with strong suggestions and guidance from you, both you and James will benefit.

Randy

September 18, 2005 01:40 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Nag 26 or Pan 35

Posted By Randy Roy
Gerry,

The 26mm Nagler is a great eyepiece with my 16" Starmaster (F4.9 w/Paracorr). The 35 Pan is also very good for framing large star clusters, etc. However, I think the 27 Panoptic is a much better choice for this focal ration than the 35. The 31 Nagler is also very good for this size scope, though the weight and the price are more than many want to deal with.

Personally, I think the 27 Panoptic is one of the most under rated eyepeices and is a great match for an F4.9 dob for low power. For what you get, it is a real bargain relative to the cost of several alternatives.

I use eps from 3mm to 35mm with my Starmaster, but the best views generally are with eps from 7mm to 27mm.

Best wishes,

Randy

September 18, 2005 01:45 PM Forum: TeleVue

Clash of the Titans: TV vs Tak 60

Posted By Randy Roy
My TV76 Light Bucket will crush these scopes. Aperture wins!

Ok--Just kidding, but this may be the only chance I ever get to use that line.

Randy 8)

September 27, 2005 03:43 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Focussing challenges with Digital Rebel

Posted By Randy Roy
Here's what I use with my Digital Rebel:

http://www.dslrfocus.com/

Randy

September 28, 2005 11:41 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

"Analogue setting circles" on an alt-az tripod

Posted By Randy Roy
Darlene,

I have played around with this very thing with my PDA. Here is what I think it takes to get enough accuracy to actually find fainter objects. Find a medium to bright star within 10-15° of the object you are searching and center it. Get the alt az readings from your PDA for that particular time and set the alt az circles to the correct reading. Now, while watching the PDA for the object you want (alt az will be continually updating), move the scope to the desired readings. Expect to require recalibration of the circles each time you move the scope more than about 30-40°.

Forget the compass and don't try to align the circles on one part of the sky and make a great swing to another part of the sky. Even excellent RA/DEC circles will accumulate error as you try this. With some patience, you will get good results.

At least this is my experience.

Randy

October 6, 2005 09:00 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Laser collimator for SCT?

Posted By Randy Roy
Francois,

I've tried the Kendrick laser many times on a number of scopes and find it frustrating and ultimately, not very accurate. I personally find hanging eyepiece from the rear while you point the laser and hanging laser from the rear while you look through the eyepiece to be a source of error and frustration. I always ended up using the star test to improve collimation.

Now if you can star test your scope and collimate it really well and then insert the Kendrick collimator and mark where the beam returns, you have a decent way to see if the scope is roughly collimated properly, but still you may find that collimating to that spot may not give you good repeatable collimation results.

I believe a better investment might be to buy or make an artificial star.

Best wishes,

Randy

October 10, 2005 12:23 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Pier Design Paper

Posted By Randy Roy
Very nice. I just downloaded the paper. Thanks for your generosity.

Randy

October 22, 2005 01:45 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Amateur vs Pro Mmirror makers

Posted By Randy Roy
I dunno. I have a different take on the website. There reference to "amateur optical suppliers" appears to me to be providers of optics for amateur telescopes. They do not reference Royce, CZ and do not compete with them either. It appears more like a clumsy stab at the big guys like M and C and specifically their high end offerings. Star Instruments have some impressive clients and apparently are the source for some very excellent RC telescope optics.

Many of us have shared concerns in the past for makers of SCTs, MCTs and some lower end newtonians. Optics are generally better today, IMO, than just a few years ago, but I've seen plenty of scopes (optics) that are sub par and many others have also.

I think the website could use some rewording and perhaps a little reengineering of the marketing message (i.e., not wise to use a negative to make a positive point), but otherwise I do not equate their message as a reference to any of the premium newtonian mirror makers.

Randy

October 28, 2005 01:13 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Blue Sky to the rescue!!!!!

Posted By Randy Roy
I got one of these for my 16" Starmaster. It is wonderful and befitting the quality of the rest of the scope. The original truss bag is very flimsy. Floyd's is superb!

All you Starmaster owners--Want to a great bag for those triangular trusses? Contact Floyd Blue.

Randy

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