Posts Made By: Gerald Kuchera

Ok, Maybe not anytime soon. But a company has come out with a "new design", a modified Gregorian Telescope that folds the light path and additional time for a super compact OTA. Wow!! Look out Celestron, Meade...?

Here's some info:
http://www.photonics.com/todaysheadlines/XQ/ASP/url.lookup/id.4748/QX/today.htm

http://www.fsona.com/

Looks like we'll have to look through the Army Surplus stores in the future.

Jerry Kuchera

I've got a friend who is just getting interested in astronomy and I encouraged him to register on Astromart. But he indicated when he tried to subscribe, he told me, "I tried to subscribe to Astromart but they don't allow my Email provider (Yahoo)."

I looked under help and FAQ to help him, but it's apparently under construction. Is a Yahoo account a problem? Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone using the Celestron Ulitma 80ED? It looks like the least expensive ED spotter I've found. But it's apparently brand new and I'd like to know if there are any owners out there and what their opinions are regarding it.

I'm in search of a spotting scope for birding and possibly some celestial
observing (Moon, Planets, mostly) while camping and maybe digiscoping later. I don't want to spend more than $500.

Has anyone had experience with the Celestron Ulitma 80ED? It looks like the cheapest ED sope I've found so far. I haven't seen anything about yet, as it's so new. It's not waterproof so that's a potential debit.

I've looked at the Eagle Optics Raven and that looks like a bargian too. I
realize while digiscoping it would introduce some possible false color...but the price looks very nice.

The Pentax 65ED is at the upper limit of my price range, but since it is an ED, and has the ability to accept standard astronomical eyepieces, it could be a nice scope as well.

Any advice?

Jerry

I'm going to replace the focuser on my RV-6 Dynascope. I'm looking at the JMI RCFmin1 or the NGFMIN2 focuser

The RCFmin1 is 8 oz and the NGFMIN2 focuser is 12 oz. JMI recommends the NGFMIN2 focuser for astro photography, but a lot of dynascope users go with the RCFmin1.

Anyone use the NGFMIN2 focuser? The RCFmin1? Anyone dabbling in astrophotography with either?

I'll be darned if I can find anyway to rate my buyer, and he can't access my profile to rate me.

Is there a procedure? Where is that damn 'rate' button???

FYI-
I was in contact with Sam Johnson of Johnsonian Telescopes after seeing his ad in the latest S&T and noticed the reduced price on the 10"!
Well, I emailed him with a twist--"can you make a Carbon Fiber Pop-Up in an Equatorial version?"

He replied that he thought they could do it! And still retain the Pop-up and dobsonian function! Very cool I think. I'm placing an order tomorrow!

I've got an option to upgrade from a GSO 63mm to a 1.875 Protostar secondary on a 10inch f5 Newt.

I believe it will increase contrast, but will it make collimation more difficult? Any other considerations?

I know many on Astromart share some horror stories but I want to go on record and say my hat is off to Stellarvue and to Vic and his team for my refractor repair.

I figured it was like going to be like a car repair: repair or replace parts, see ya in a day or so. Well, the scope was discontinued and they had to machine new parts, baffling. interior paint and powder coat. Drying for couple of weeks to prevent outgassing. Doing extra stuff beyond belief!

Meanwhile, I'm thinking, hey how long can it take? I hoped to perform a month an a half volunteer work representing my astro club for Mars Madness at the local science museum. And I took apart an old Newtonian to upgrade finder, focuser, mirror recoat thinking the refractor's coming soon. To make a long story short, time passes and now I realize I'm down to the wire,it's crunch time, and I panic. I contact Vic who just got back from a gig in Hawaii.

If there was a funny home video this would've been it--Newt parts all over, some of the new parts don't work, I'm calling machine shops, I throwing things. I'm cranky, pacing up and down. Pestering Stellarvue. Then a pitiful wimper and I'm a blur trying to get the newt re-assembled for a plan B.

Vic moved mountains to get it done and when it came in by FEDEX, I couldn't believe it was the same scope. A delicious pearly white, totally pristine. Upgraded parts. He made it better than it was. Mars looks awesome in this baby!!

I've volunteered for the rest of October and November, and I think there's gonna be some more Stellarvue fans when folks look through mine!

I'm thinking of getting into solar observing with a PST.

I'd like to mount it on an EQ mount but don't wish to go into troubling contortions to view through the non-rotating diagonal.

Has anyone come up with a dovetail mounted rotating ring set for the little guy?

Gerald