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RICHARD COFER

VdB 141 Ghost Nebula

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Posts Made By: Bernard Kean

February 10, 2007 04:16 PM Forum: Refractors

straight through viewing

Posted By Bernard Kean
Robert
Have you tried a 1.25" diagonal?
Buck

February 16, 2007 09:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

fake star test

Posted By Bernard Kean
Darrell
Like Jim said a bulb of any sort is too big. You can stop it down as Jim said OR use a small Christmas ball ornament or better yet a ball bearing and shine a small light at it then look at the reflection. Insulators on power poles work too.
Just my $.02
Buck

February 17, 2007 12:55 PM Forum: Reflectors

can anyone recommend a good cheshire eyepiece?

Posted By Bernard Kean
Rex
I'll second the Catseye equipment. However, I collimate by barlowed laser (Howie Glatter) then use the Catseye 2" Auto collimator to fine tune. Very quick and very accurate. Of course this is assuming your focuser and spider are set up in the first place.
Hope this helps
Buck

February 26, 2007 01:24 PM Forum: Telescope Making

What Do Amateurs Do For a Living?

Posted By Bernard Kean
Back in the old days I've worked in tool and die shops, Gibson Guitar, and a house parent at the Fla. School for Deaf and Blind. For the last 28 years as outside industrial sales. I only wish I had started this hobby earlier and urge everyone to foster this hobby onto the younger folks.
Buck

March 5, 2007 11:16 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Split block Bolts

Posted By Bernard Kean
Jim
Try McMaster-Carr they have both. The eyebolts may have some unthreaded shank but they have a boatload of sizes to pick from and should be usable with a spacer if needed.
Hope this helps
Buck

March 10, 2007 01:11 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Which one to get?

Posted By Bernard Kean
Hi Dennis
I can't argue with Floyd, he has looked through more eyepieces than I've ever seen in magazines. However, I did switch from a Pan35 to the 26T5, never looked back. I also have the 20T5 and it is one of my favorite eyepieces. The 20T5 seems to hit a sweet spot in my NP101 and Starmaster 11" f/5.4 telescopes. Very comfortable and sucks my eyeball right out the end of the scope, awesome eyepiece. However, since you already have the 17T4, I'm not sure you would gain that much by adding the 20T5. In my case the 20T6 nicely fills in between the 26T5 and a 13T6. I dought you can go wrong with any of them and it may boil down eyerelief, Tfov, or weight preferences depending on your scope.
Just my $.02
Buck

March 16, 2007 03:47 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Speaking of 31 Naglers...

Posted By Bernard Kean
Dan Lamoreaux said:

I now only allow myself to bring it out in the dark so as not to painfully remind myself of my cranial rectal insertion moment.

DanL

Too Funny!!! One persons painful incident is the next persons funny fodder.
Buck

March 16, 2007 04:05 PM Forum: Refractors

Terrestrial viewing considerations

Posted By Bernard Kean
James
I'm with the others about the TV8-24 zoom. When viewing astronomical targets, they don't move too fast so changing out eyepieces isn't much of a problem. However, terrestrial targets may move off pretty quick so being able to zoom in on it quickly and not have to reacquire the target is a huge benefit.
I do have to say that the 8-24 zoom can't hold a candle to the Pans or Naglers for astronomical use, except maybe on the moon IMO.
Just my $.02
Buck


March 21, 2007 08:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Binocular Mount

Posted By Bernard Kean
Hi Darryl
There could be world of weight difference between different 80mm binoculars so beware. You might checkout Universal Astronomics.
http://www.universalastronomics.com/
They will cost more but they are great mounts.
Hope this helps
Buck

March 22, 2007 12:07 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Center spoting my mirror

Posted By Bernard Kean
Jim
They worked for me and should work fine. The Catseye triangles are pressure sensitive also.
Buck

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