Posts Made By: Paul Hyndman

I had a chance to compare some of these setups a week earlier at the NEAF, getting that same ohmygosh(!!!) experience when at the binoviewers. It was amazing how much more detail popped out when both eyes were used.

I too am now contemplating a binoviewer for my SolarMax90/T-max/BF30 setup (though I don't foresee myself stacking a 60mm with it). Russ L. and Bill D. are working with Coronado on an H-a optimized binoviewer, presumably based upon the Denk-two, and since I already have the 2" OCS (for another application), I'm already part-way there! )

Paul

(info on this image: http://www.astro-nut.com/sun-ha-21oct02.html )

Aaaargh!!!

You'll get some very pleasing views from the Maxscope40 to be sure, but I for one would not
want to schlep out that 12-incher each and every time I wanted to peek at the sun!

While it can be done, I humbly suggest you rethink this.

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com/ ---

(a quickie from a few days ago... still ironing out new camera problems --->

Fantastic Rick... thanks for sharing!!!

(So you're saying is the 10D is a "keeper" for you? )

Paul

--- http:///www.astro-nut.com/ ---

Hi Saul,

Digital Cameras are a tough act to follow when it comes to lunar imaging, what with their ease of use and the immediate feedback as to the quality of what you've just captured (to be fair, other imaging platforms may also do quite well here, though I personally feel they are more work and less fun than the digicam on this target... and having FUN is what it's all about!)

Film, CCD, DigiCam, WebCam, or CMOS SLR... no matter the medium, what works one night for the moon will not necessarily be the best for other nights, so the parameters should be determined uniquely for each session. Our moon's intensity varies significantly as it progresses through the phases, and to a lesser extent from atmospheric extinction as its elevation varies (peak elevation at zenith changes nightly). Using the histogram available in the LCD on most digicams, assures you are in the ballpark, and bracketing the exposures guarantees a home run or two!

With film, you'll need to do more homework up front (as you already know!) to assure your bracketed values are appropriate. The gang here can best answer to that though, as I threw in the towel on film-based imaging after many disappointing results (despite my best laid plans and manyyyyy rolls of film!) I now have a much deeper admiration for those who do film-based imaging so well!

Below is a vastly reduced lunar image, taken with a digicam. Details and a full-scale cropping of a portion of the "wall" section can be found at:

http://www.astro-nut.com/lunar-03feb09.html

Cheers,

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com/ ---

You might find this Mars simulation a tad more to your liking (choose "Cancel" when asked if you want to install the Japanese languge pack... you don't need it to navigate here):

http://www.kk-system.co.jp/Alpo/kk/Ms2003/MSmenu.htm

Select the date from the table then click the appropriate UT from the right side time table.

Paul

Looks good to me, Steve!

For many of us, it's so darned close to the horizon that we've lots of muck to slice through (

I hope you don't mind, but I ve taken the liberty of splitting it into RGB components and re-aligning to remove the atmospheric refraction (see below).

Thanks for sharing!

Paul


--- http://www.astro-nut.com/ ---

TeleVue Powermates are "Telecentric" devices, their Barlows aren't.

Edmund Optics has a good primer about telecentricity, which helps to explain the potential bonuses of a system such as is used by the PowerMates:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?L25562512

Al has ingeniously designed the PMs such that the extenders are removable from the chromed optics barrels, with customized T-adapters screwing on in their place. This allows close placement of a camera or CCD (using a T-ring), to reduce or eliminate vignetting, and NO extra couplers, thumbscrews, or other geegaws are needed! A real boon to those who may someday want to use these for gathering images in addition to visual use.

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com/ ---

Amazing amount of activity as ol' Sol is putting on quite a show!

Nice pic... thanks for sharing Vladimir!

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---

Here ya' go... mainly sold as a focusing aid (AKA Hartmann mask) but the holes may be covered or you could even install an optional off-axis solar filter in one of 'em.

For more info:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=36&m=15

Paul

--- http://www.astro-nut.com ---

With rechargeable Gel-Cell systems such as "Jumpstart" available for as little as $23 from on-line auction sources, why risk crashing (or worse yet) damaging your PC as a result of feedback pulses from the steppers or rapidly changing current levels should an uh-oh happen with the external load (yeah, but that stuff never happens, especially in a wet, dew-prone, outdoors environment... right Murphy? )

You could also fabricate a system yourself, though the ready-made commercial units are less expensive than buying the parts and doing it yourself! I prefer Gel-Cells batteries, as they hold their charge for an extreme length of time (we're talking months, not days!), can be readily recharged numerous times from any level, and do not tend to dip dramtically as they are discharged.

http://www.astro-nut.com/gel-cell.html

This allows you to have complete portability as well, be it to go to a further corner of your yard or to a remote site where an AC source is just not available.


Cheers,

Paul