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Posts Made By: Alan French

August 25, 2004 01:01 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Dew and Laptops

Posted By Alan French
We have a thick cardboard box, 14x14x18, that sits on its side on a table (an 18" side as the bottom). The laptop is deep within the box, where it is protected from dew. The flaps of the box are held with velcro, so the box can be stored flat when not in use.

Clear skies, Alan

October 15, 2004 01:39 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Comparing the Radian and Pentax XL

Posted By Alan French
This may have been mentioned and I missed it....

Some night when a bright Moon is in the sky, put the Moon just outside the field with a Radian and with a Pentax XL.

Clear skies, Alan

October 15, 2004 09:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Sidewalk Test

Posted By Alan French
Floyd,

Interesting. Tha Parks looks pretty "reflective," and easily the worst of the lot, followed by the UWA. I'd put the Nagler next, followed by the UO (although the UO seems hardest to place), and then the Radian and XL, with an edge to the XL.

One question - what vintage are these eyepieces? Are they all the "latest and greatest" examples, or are some older versions?

Thanks.

Clear skies, Alan

(And here we have another facet of astronomy that requires clear skies!)

October 18, 2004 11:07 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Feathertouch Question

Posted By Alan French
Richard,

Thanks. That does indeed look like it would be a help in cooler weather.

Clear skies, Alan

October 23, 2004 02:55 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

No More Nexstar GPS Scopes!!

Posted By Alan French
Has anyone actually called Celestron and asked them? If someone did, perhaps I missed it, but it seems the best approach to finding out if this is indeed true.

Clear skies, Alan

October 26, 2004 10:51 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

60mm APO's?

Posted By Alan French
Ivan,

Since you ask, the answer is probably "yes" for you. Some folks like small, high quality telescopes, that are easy to take places. I suspect most amateur astronomers - but not all - might find a 60mm APO too constrained by its aperture, but many birders are quite happy with a 60mm aperture scope.

15x50 binoculars are quite nice for astronomy, but you are limited to low power, wide field views. Not so with a small APO.

Clear skies, Alan

October 29, 2004 09:26 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

60mm scope -Do you really need an APO

Posted By Alan French
David,

If you are sticking with low power, wide field viewing, you certainly do not need an APO. If you want to push the powers, and get as much detail as possible for the aperture, then you want an APO. The nice thing about a scope like the TV 60 is that it is capable of providing both types of viewing.

It is also a nice "crossover" scope, and can be used for astronomy and nature study such as birding. Birders do use 60x, and at that power having an APO would be worthwhile.

Of course, many amateur astronomers might feel somewhat aperture deprived with a 60mm scope. Others enjoy small, high quality scopes, especially when they are quick and easy to use.

Clear skies, Alan

November 8, 2004 02:24 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Fiberglassing sonotube

Posted By Alan French
Vince,

I don't understand why anyone would want to cover Sonotube with fiberglass. Sonotube - at least real Sonotrube - is plenty stiff enough and heavy enough without adding weight. The best thing you can do to stiffen it is to add some good end rings.

I spent a lot of time finishing a Sonotube many years ago - removing the wax, sanding and filling, and then painting it. It was a lot of work. With the last seven or eight tubes I've made, I've left the wax on, covered the tube with a nice celestial fabric (Hoffman Fabrics has some great ones), and then Scotch guarded it. They look great, are easy to do, and hold up exceptionally well.

I've attached a photo of Sue's cloth covered 14.5" f/6. The aluminum piece on the front is a light shield that slides on.

Clear skies, Alan

November 13, 2004 09:34 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Staying warm

Posted By Alan French
A simple shelter that keeps your body from "seeing" the sky and can be set up to act as a wind break would be good. Also, a layer of something to insulate your feet from the ground - I believe some folks use the stuff designed to line truck beds.

As far as clothing goes, if your toes and feet are cold it means your brain has decided it is short on heat and is sacrificing the extrmeties. I found a second winter hat kept my feet and hands much warmer. On the coldest nights, when away from the house, I put a couple of hand warmers in my pockets.

To be honest, I'd much rather move somewhere warmer .

Clear skies, Alan

November 27, 2004 04:40 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

AP "Vaporware" Complaint

Posted By Alan French
Given the history of AP products, and their continuing evolution, I have no doubt the new mount will be an improvement over the existing 400 and 600 mounts. Indeed, I believe a post on the AP Users Group (AP-UG) said it would be lighter and have a higher capacity. I wish I'd been on one of the lists so I'd be in line for the new mount.

IMHO, there would be no sense in putting off new, improved products for some years to fill orders for existing products. Telescopes and mounts evolve with time, as do the expectations of the buyers, and that would be a good way for a company to lose ground to the competition.

Clear skies, Alan

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