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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

February 27, 2010 09:47 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Saving Money in Astronomy 3

Posted By Alex McConahay
I asked a couple of months ago about ways to save money in astronomy. That was doing research for articles I planned to write about, well, saving money in astronomy. I have written two of the articles, and then gone and posted them on my website, http://alexastro.com/

You can see the first two articles, about Andy's Shot Glass, and Astromart, by going here:

http://alexastro.com/Alex%20Home%20Page/Articles/CheapAstronomer/CheapObserverindex.html


And if you have other ideas, keep them coming. (I do want to keep the series going.) Please do not resurrect that old thread--add your ideas here.

Alex

March 9, 2010 01:44 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Flats and Darks in Photoshop

Posted By Alex McConahay
I am working with some night time landscapes and need to apply darks and flats, but cannot use Images Plus, which I normally use to do this job. How do I handle Flats and Darks in Photoshop? There is not much on it, (and that is about darks) by Googling.

I imagine it is a simple layering, and then either calculation or a particular blend mode with an inversion.....but my experimentation is not working.

I would like to know from somebody who has done it.

Alex

March 10, 2010 03:39 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Zabriski Point--Death Valley

Posted By Alex McConahay
Taken from Zabriski Point just after moonrise and before Orion-set. 30 seconds, F 4.0, Canon 450 modified, 1600 iso, 18-55 kit lens at 18, fixed tripod.


March 19, 2010 08:55 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Terms of Service

Posted By Alex McConahay
Hi folks,

Just a reminder......

We cannot use personally identifiable email addresses, etc. in postings on this site. I have had to delete a few postings recently because they referred to individual email addresses.

If you want to say something, obviously, you are free to do so within the terms of service, but you are not free to put in addresses, emails, phone numbers, and such.

Thanks.

Alex

April 12, 2010 07:28 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Re: Mr. Biggs would like us to post this to the FO

Posted By Alex McConahay
Astromart LLC has posted a message. It runs as follows except for an editing I did to remove personal contact information--Alex



~ AstroMart LLC~ said:

Read from the bottom up please:


Alex, please see below.

I'm very sorry to not be able to keep my word on this, I feel terrible.

The Fee below just doesn't feel right to me for many reasons. So I'm sorry to say I'm not a member of astromart any more.

You might wish to post our correspondence on an AM forum, to show what the decision to make this a paying site will have on those such as yourself? And such as myself for that matter. I don't tend to sell equipment, just buy it from those like you. And big things, too! All over $1200. So I can go elsewhere to do this, for better or worse.

I'm otherwise happy to serve as a reference for you should you wish to sell something else and need a good word.

Again, my sincere apologies. Chris

Begin forwarded message:

From: astromart
Date: April 12, 2010 9:43:18 AM MST
To: Christopher Biggs Personal Email address EDITED OUT by moderator
Subject: Re: last chance to leave a rating

Only members can leave ratings
If you are no longer a member then this will not be able to happen
Thanks
AstroMart LLC
[email protected]





On Apr 12, 2010, at 9:41 AM, Christopher Biggs wrote:

Dear Support,

I recently purchased a mount from an Astromart member.

I promised him I would leave a good review on his profile, and he definitely deserves it.

However, I tried to log on to do this, and got the below message.

Would you be willing to provide a membership extension for a week or so to allow me to give him a good review. He is a member in good standing and should be able to benefit from his effort and care.

If not, I could provide you with the rating and review and perhaps you could post it for me?

Sorry, I will not be paying the $12, but that is a separate issue.

Thanks, Chris Biggs

ACCOUNT FEE REQUIRED


Any user who has not paid for access or paid to support Astromart will now be required to pay the $12 access fee to continue using this great website. Not only will this help support Astromart and keep this great community together, it will also make the community more secure by ensuring that all our members are verified.

Click here to pay your account fee

April 20, 2010 04:36 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Tony Hallas Workshop at RTMC in May

Posted By Alex McConahay
About half the spaces for The Tony Hallas Premium Imaging Workshop at RTMC next month are already taken.

The cost of the day with Tony Hallas is $50. You will also need to register for at least day attendance at RTMC that Sunday if you are not already registered.

More info about RTMC Astronomy Expo is here:

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/RTMC_2010_Reg_Package%20(5).pdf

and on page 4 of that pdf is info on the imaging workshop.

If you would like to register, go here:

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/Online%20Registration.htm

See you there.

Alex

April 20, 2010 04:36 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Tony Hallas Workshop at RTMC

Posted By Alex McConahay
About half the spaces for The Tony Hallas Premium Imaging Workshop at RTMC next month are already taken.

The cost of the day with Tony Hallas is $50. You will also need to register for at least day attendance at RTMC that Sunday if you are not already registered.

More info about RTMC Astronomy Expo is here:

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/RTMC_2010_Reg_Package%20(5).pdf

and on page 4 of that pdf is info on the imaging workshop.

If you would like to register, go here:

http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/Online%20Registration.htm

See you there.

Alex

May 5, 2010 03:49 AM Forum: After Dark

Re: I'm observing tonight! (How to justify it to y

Posted By Alex McConahay
Larry,

The sky is clear and starry tonight.

But I am just too tired to go out and have another night in the observatory tonight. It would be four in a row. I'm taking a break and watching the Lakers.

Tomorrow I plan to go out to our dark sky observing site, and spend three nights there. And next week is RTMC. I expect clear skies all the way through.

Ahhhh.....SOuthern California.

Alex

June 8, 2010 01:54 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Herschel 400

Posted By Alex McConahay
Just finished my 400th object last Friday night.

It was a very good learning experience. I plan to write something up for our club newsletter. When I get it done, I'll post it on the web, and you guys can see what I did.

Alex

June 14, 2010 10:25 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Re: Camera focal length

Posted By Alex McConahay
You have to be able to put the chip (near the back of the camera) in the same place the field stop (near the front of the optical elements of the eyepiece).

Do you run out of travel on the way in or on the way out?

If on the way out, there are several ways to fix the problem, including various extenders, and the diagonal.

If on the way in, the problem gets more complex.
Alex

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