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Posts Made By: Floyd Blue

May 31, 2004 11:32 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Mirror cleaning fluids

Posted By Floyd Blue
Well, I tried the MEK on the stuff that is on my mirror and it did not touch it. This stuff must be something exceptionally hard. MEK, Acetone and Pure Alcohol have not dissolved it. Water and soap have no effect either, so I guess I am stuck with it until the next coating is done. sad I suspect it is an over spray of something, just not sure what it could be that this stuff would not remove.
Floyd

June 1, 2004 09:56 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Ricks article on Coma

Posted By Floyd Blue
Thanks for a good article Rick.
We appreciate your easy reading straight forward approach.
I would ask one thing though. It was stated by Vladimir in another post that incorect collimation does not actually effect Coma, but only increases it asymmetrically.
Do you agree with that statement? You said to be sure that the scope was properly collimated.
I for one see a big change in my SCT over the entire FOV if it is not in collimation. Even the sweet spot in the center is effected. It also seems to me that the Newts are effected as well. I am just seeing things?
Floyd

June 2, 2004 12:21 AM Forum: Celestron

NS8GPS jumping while tracking

Posted By Floyd Blue
Is anyone else having problems with the Alt portion jumping while tracking? This is about every 45-60 seconds with my scope. Backlash adjustment does not seem to help.
Floyd

June 4, 2004 10:41 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Artifical Stars

Posted By Floyd Blue
Well, I just made myself an Artificial Star to use for alignment on my NS8GPS. Made from a $7 LED Flashlight and the bottom of a 35mm film canister. The flashlight has a 90° adjustable head, a flat end to set it on something and a clip to attach it to the pocket or something like a fence wire or the like. Works great and produces wonderful refraction rings. It was very accurate and doing the alignment inside under controlled conditions sure beats atmosphere and seeing conditions outside.
Easy to make one of these things. I am not sure why they cost so much to purchase. I guess there is some real mark up in the construction. wink
Anyone that would like to see how it was done I would be glad to show how I did it.
Flashlight, 35mm Film canister and a hot needle is all it takes and a few minute of your time.
smile
Floyd

June 5, 2004 10:15 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Finally a Paracorr!

Posted By Floyd Blue
grin
Well I finally was fast enough on the draw to get a Visual Turn Table-top Paracorr. They never seem to last very long here. Someone always beat me to them in the past. But I prevailed! 8)
Now I just have to hold my breath waiting for it to arrive.
Floyd

June 6, 2004 06:07 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Comets

Posted By Floyd Blue
Found Neat again last night, looking pretty bright and round without much of a tail. Could not find Linear though, must have been to far down in the soup to see it.
Anyone on the West Coast see Linear yet?
Floyd

June 7, 2004 04:01 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Are you in N. CA. near Ukiah? Suggestions for

Posted By Floyd Blue
If the coatings are destroyed on the corrector plate it can be recoated. Same applies to any mirrors. This is not extremely expensive. It needs to be disassembled and clean as well as inspected. It would be a few hundred dollars to have Celestron do it, but it might be worth it.
Hopefully some one lives closed enough to him they can give him a hand.
Floyd

June 8, 2004 05:23 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

We lose I guess

Posted By Floyd Blue
sad
Some times computers just have to lose things. It is a problem that we all will have sooner or later.
Floyd

June 8, 2004 05:28 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Ok, let's start a new one!

Posted By Floyd Blue
Just to warm things up in here I propose this question.
Why is it that people say that a dirty mirror with a lot of dust and spots on it is OK? No real light lost from those countless bits of dirt and all that cover the whole mirror and scatter light all over.
But then turn around and say that cleaning the mirror may cause small micro-scratches that will scatter light?
Seems to me that all those small bits of dirt and spots have got to be scattering a lot of light. 8O
Come on, start the flames. 8)
I like to keep the mirrors clean myself, but I do take care not to scratch them.
Floyd

June 11, 2004 12:39 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Ellipitcal Flats

Posted By Floyd Blue
If you had your choice of Elliptical Flats for you DOB, which maker would you choose?
I am entertaining getting a replacement and would like some opinions. I will not mention who I am considering because I do not want to influence your choices. grin
Floyd

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