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Dual Clusters near Antares

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Posts Made By: Marc DiMarco

October 3, 2003 02:26 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Which deep sky filter??

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hi, I have a 16 in f 4.5 dob and live in the suburbs of pheonix. I have always wondered about deep sky filters but never known what to get. I have pretty bright sky's to the south and pretty dark to the north. What would be a great all around filter for this observing site? Broadband, Narrowband, UHC, O III...? I'm not very knowlegeable about wavelenghts, but I want something that will cut down on the brightness of the sky, show significant improvement on reflection and emission nebulae, and show at least some improvement on galaxies and clusters. Does such a filter exist? What would the best compromise be? Thanks guys.

October 6, 2003 08:30 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Orion RA finder 9x50

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hi, I just wanted to know if this finder is left/right corrected, since it is up/down corrected.

Or, is the left and the right still "switched"

Thanks

October 11, 2003 06:43 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Center spotting primary

Posted By Marc DiMarco
What is your favorite method of center spotting your primary? what medium should I use to spot it? (ie Paint, marker...) Give me some ideas. Thanks

October 13, 2003 12:21 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Best way to centerspot my mirror

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Thanks guys who posted ideas for centerspotting my primary. After plenty of alcohol and reinforcing tabs, I finally got it right. I measured my mirror precisly using a ruler accurate to 1/100 of an inch, then I marked a string with the precise diameter.

I took a piece of poster board and put a tiny hole in it. Then I treaded the string through the tiny hole and taped it on one side, with the first diameter mark right in the hole. Then the other diameter mark on the string, I put a dot next to it all the way around the poster board every 1/2 in aprox. untill I had a circle. I then cut it out, placed it on my mirror, and put a little sharpie dot in the hole. The paper folding method wasn't very precise, I found this to be the best method for a 16" mirror. Thanks guys

October 15, 2003 05:49 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Help!! Orion 9x50 finder right angle problem

Posted By Marc DiMarco
I just purchased an a finder to the above description (thanks Dave!) and took it out tonight to observe and noticed it was out of focus. Anyone else have this problem? Obviously it doesn't have a focuser, so I unscrewed the eyepiece quite a bit and noticed that it came to focus. Any suggestions? Should I fill in some threads with glue? There are not many threads left when it comes to focus so I hope to find another solution. Thanks for any help.

October 19, 2003 05:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Second telescope recomendation

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hi, I currently own a 16" meade dobsonian telescope which has served me very well. I am currently looking for a small refractor to compliment my current scope and was looking at the Pronto for portability, high quality, and planet/moon performance that I cannot achieve too well with my f 4.5 reflector. Is there any other comparable scopes of quality that rivals the pronto, but is a bit cheaper? $1000 for the scope and mount used seems a little steep, mabye thats because I got a 16" for around that new. Any help would be appreciated.

October 22, 2003 02:45 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Question: Orion 80 mm ED

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Is this a real APO? On orion's website it states: "finally an APO you can afford." Yet on some review websites they say it is "as close as an APO as you can get." My Question; Does an ED/flourite element make a refractor an APO? Or, does a real APO have a different lens configuration or something else different? Will images in the 80 ED meet that of a more distinguished APO of the same arperture and focal length? Thanks guys,
Marc

October 25, 2003 11:02 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Just Ordered: Orion 80 ED

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hello again,

I just wanted to say I went ahead and ordered the 80ED today. (couldn't wait any longer) The website said Backordered untill december, but mabye it's wrong?

Anyway; I'm new to refractors and would like to know the best, lightest, 2" diagonal for use on this scope. Also, does this scope come with a cap for the end of the objective? If not where do I get one?

What is the best way to test If I got a "good sample"?

Thanks in advance,
Marc

October 27, 2003 02:17 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

2" Diagonal Recomendation

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hi,

I just recently entered the refractor side of astronomy and am wondering what a high quality, lightweight diagonal would be? Any particulary noteworthy pieces? I have been looking at the Meade UHTC 2" mirrored and the Televue standard. What is your opinon? Any hints on what to stay away from / what is the best buy?
PS: I dont have the money ($270) for the "Everbright".

Thanks,
Marc

December 15, 2003 12:52 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Orion ED mounting Question

Posted By Marc DiMarco
Hello,

I just recieved my Orion ED scope and it's optically great. I'm using a crummy photo tripod right now and want to get a nice tripod-head setup. Ive read alot about the Bogen 410 geared head and am leaning toward that. What would be a solid, affordable, light, and compact tripod for this scope and head? Or would another head be best? the telescope wieghs under 6 lbs.

Thanks for your opinions,
Marc

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