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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Ron Bee

July 19, 2002 05:35 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

what telescope should I buy???????

Posted By Ron Bee
Hello John,

For an idea of how DSO look like with a 4" APO (such as the Tele Vue 102), see this site.
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Palatable_4-inch.htm
For an idea of how Mars would look like through a 4" APO,
see this site.
http://panther-observatory.com/gallery/planets/doc/MarsCollage2001.htm
Mars will be even more spectacular in 2003.

For me and my lifestyle, the 4" APO has worked out for me far beyond my original expectation.

Ron B[ee]
PS Astromart ate my earlier long reply :-(.

July 19, 2002 02:18 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Problem with Posting Feedback...Help Please!

Posted By Ron Bee
This new Astromart got me several times, Charles. The limit is actually 3000 characters. But like you, it got me many times with way less than 3000 characters and on one night I noticed that if I shrink the title to fit the box, it would work. So try truncating the title.

Ron B[ee]

August 15, 2002 11:40 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Minus violet filter

Posted By Ron Bee
There's one by Sirius Optics that screw into the 1.25"
eyepiece, a very nice well-made one ideed, Mike.
http://www.siriusoptics.com/

Ron B[ee]

August 21, 2002 02:32 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Which scope to purchase?

Posted By Ron Bee
Here are some sketches (my top 3 favorites because there are so many) that will give you some idea of what the DSO look like. They sure don't look like those pretty colorful pictures in the magazine or on the web.
http://www.jwebdale.btinternet.co.uk/
http://www.skyrover.net/ds/
http://hometown.aol.com/billferris/deepsky.html

Ron B[ee]

August 30, 2002 03:14 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Refractor Opion Needed

Posted By Ron Bee
Well, just to equalize the choices a bit, there's now the high quality Japanese Vixen 102-GP f/9.8 achromat that Todd Gross gave a very high mark (the old Celestron/Vixen C-102 achromat which Synta has cloned) for a little over $700 from Anarcortes, thanks to Tele Vue for taking on the distribution ;-). Orion has also introduced a new 102mm f/6 achromat (don't know who makes it or how good it is) with the usual generous return policy.

One of the data you haven't provided us Samuel is what would you use the refractor for (grab and go is a little too vague ;-). Some people got a grab and go scope to end up going into the closet pretty quickly ;-). Then, perhaps, we can help you narrow down your choice.

Ron the 4-inch Tall Evangelist B[ee]

September 3, 2002 04:50 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Planetary Scopes

Posted By Ron Bee
I've love to tell you to jump ;-) onto a refractor, but perhaps, Rick R., you may want to tell us first how the planets looked through your XT10 and what is it in the view you don't like. There may be a simple solution, saving you lots of $$$ or $$$$ (for an APO). (But we can take your
donations ;-). Being short focus, is your XT10 collimation dead on? How about the eyepieces? Are they good quality? Has the XT10 cooldwon?

Maurizo (who unfortunately has taken ill) used to sell a long focus Newtonian (imagine a 10" f/8). And the CCD image from that Newt of his, is like no other images I've ever seen! His sales pitch used to read something like "With Excelsior Optics who needs the space probe" ;-).

Ron B[ee]
PS You'll still need a small refractor to compliment your XT10 (maybe now, maybe someday).

September 4, 2002 02:35 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Time to hunt for IC342

Posted By Ron Bee
My 4" TV-102 Light Cup would like to try too, Inge. IC 342 is a RASC Deep Sky Challenge Object (8"-12" minimum!). Walter Scott Houston wrote that he had seen both NGC 147 and 185 through a "4-inch instrument". He also noted that he couldn't recall seeing IC 342 through a 4-inch :-(. So at least these latter two are hopeful for me ;-).

According to Skiff's Observing Handbook, the surface bright ness are:
IC 342: SB=15.2 (wow)
NGC 147: SB=14.5
NGC 185: SB=14.3

Umm, on 2nd thought ...

Ron B[ee]

September 6, 2002 04:53 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Observing report 9/5/02 LI NY

Posted By Ron Bee
"like 4 diamonds"...say, I like that Jim. Never the double
double quite described like that!

Ron B[ee]

September 6, 2002 05:02 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

AstroPhysics Refractors

Posted By Ron Bee
Highest attention to quality, expertly design drawing from a great store of optical knowledge, hand figured (very expensive and time-consuming),... the epitome of all APO?
Note also that it's the only(?) APO **advertised** as capable of 100X/inch, surely an object of desire, wouldn't you all agree ;-)?

Ron B[ee]

September 6, 2002 08:56 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

AstroPhysics Refractors

Posted By Ron Bee
Here's a good intro on Astrophysics.
http://www.astro-physics.com/about_us/about_us.htm

Ron B[ee]

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