Posts Made By: john welch

Please, let's don't make this wwIII over what scope is best!
I just want to offer some experience using small spherical mirror newts from 80mm to 114mm.
Over the years for backyard viewing I usually grab or leave outside one of my small newts for the planets doubles and bright deep space objects. In a previous life I moonlighted repairing scopes for a local shop and wound up collimating and repairing lots of small newts for customers and rediscovered what I knew but didn't appreciate decades ago as a kid. Small spherical mirrors that are mechanically made produce exceptional images. They are long enough to be "diffraction limited" without being parabolic. In fact I think small mirror parabolas can't find the radial space for accurate transition especially if hand crafted. Some gifted craftsmen may differ.
The views are exceptionally crisp throughout a wide mag range and stars are airy discs and diffraction rings.
Collimation is very forgiving since the mirror is spherical.
The 4.5" newt is a Russian tube with an old "Mayflower" mirror and secondary. I found the Mayflower at a yard sale for $5.00. It had been run-over by a Buick and left for dead.
The other newt is a 84mmX760mm Mirador from who knows when that I purchased from a fellow astro buddy.
Both scopes produce high contrast planets and great double views. You'd have to see it to believe it. I can see Jupiter moon transits, shadow transits and other detail (Red Spot and band stuff) on an average night of seeing.
Newts in these configurations are extremely comfortable and hassle free. If you're looking for an easy project that produces results for small change........

Thanks for your patience :S

John W.

Hi, Has anyone heard anything about the 'new' Sphinx
from Vixen?

Thanks,
John W.

Hi James,

I some times use a 4.8 Nag with a 5X PM for splitting doubles with a variety of scopes.
Seeing has to be great which happens every few decades

John W.

Anyone have ideas we could pass on to manufacturers?

I'd like to see a 2" zoom eyepiece. Say around 30mm-20mm.
Could be used with a barlow for medium magnification.

Bigger field of view and no need to use 1 1/4" adapter with other 2" eyepieces.

John

I'm curious about the Augen Optics eyepieces advertised in S&T and Astronomy magazines.
I don't really need them, probably won't purchase any, but I thought it would be good to hear from someone that has some experience with them.

Anyone????

John W.

I have a pond with some turtles that need some mild temperatures this winter. I have several ideas for passive and active heating but none are inspiring me.
My mother-in-law says nothing I do is inspiring. Maybe she's right!

The pond is a little less than 350 gallons and the water temperature is already down to 60* at night. It will go below 50* soon as does my Koi pond temperature. I'm located in north Phoenix, Az.

Any inspiring ideas??

Thanks,
John

It seems that Anacortes excersizes too much constraint with ad listings for it's merchandise. I'm sure no one would mind seeing them list much more often.

Maybe a window on each posting page highlighting some of their inventory, or a listing of current used goods in stock.

I know they are separate financial entities, but....


John

Haven't seen a post from Rick Shafer for a few days. I suppose he's visiting relatives for the holiday.

Just seems less lively around here without his comments.

Also note that his sponsorship name isn't listed. Maybe it ran out.

John

This is a 65mm TAL Alcor newtonian. Terrific images. Extremely nice mount, tube and focuser. I owned the 80mm version previously which was every bit as nice.

Novosibirsk has now changed to a more standard mount design for the line to increase sales but I really like this older design for it's robustness.

I just wish I could find a bigger telrad.

John

I'd like to see a major eyepiece manufacturer offer a 2" zoom eyepiece with a decent range of focal length and field of view.

Yes, they have limitations with the design, but a good performing zoom would be a real workhorse for our observing.

Any comments??

Thanks,
John