Posts Made By: Walter Hamler

The 20mm RG Meade is considered a "treasure" by many. I used to own one years ago and it was exceptional in the center but seagulls at the edge. They show up periodically on AM and sometimes they go for reasonable prices (< 70.00) but most of the time folks want way too much in my opinion.

Walt

I'm not sure which mount you are referring to but I recently modified my TAL-2 mount with a Celestron CI-700 stepper drive system. The worm shaft required a 1 rev per 8 minutes for the 180 tooth worm wheel. As it turned out the stepper motor's nominal speed is 1 rev in 8 minutes, requiring a 1:1 gear ratio between the motor and the worm shaft.

Walt

Alan, where were you in Cedar Key? I was staying with friends who live right next to the museum and the folks at the museum said there was no observing on Thurs nite. So, I set up in my friends backyard with my 10" f/6 dob. Saturn about blew their socks off!! The seeing was indeed great that night.

Walt

How much does it weigh?

Walt

I was in South Island, New Zealand back in the late 70's. We were visiting the Mt. John Observatory near Lake Tekapo. We had actually gone inside before dark, and had been in several hours talking with the operator and others. Around 11:00 PM I had to go out for a smoke (my stupid days). Upon walking out I couldn't help but notice the full expanse of the southern milky way stretching overhead. I was mesmerized by the Southern Cross, the Coal Sack was indeed a "black hole" next to the cross. As my eyes wandered west toward the horizon, I was suddenly taken by a sense of vertigo because the milky way just kept going below the horizon in one spot, as if there were a gigantic gouge in the western horizon! Mountains were visible north and south, but the milky way kept going due west. As my night vision improved, I began to see more, and then it dawned on me. I was seeing the milky way reflected in the utterly calm waters of Lake Tekapo, a few thousand feet below the observatory. The "extension" of the milky way into the lake acting as a mirror was one of the most memorable sights I have ever seen. THAT is what mag 6.5~7 skies can doo for you. Well, the Southern Milky ain't no slouch either!

Walt

Go to http://www.talscopes.com
They sell a TAL-2m that is a very substantal mount that will carry 30# no problem. It has a drive in RA that is adequate for visual use.

Walt

The TAL-3 uses a stepper drive which is probably ok, but the shafts and bearings aren't as rhobust as the TAL-2M. Also, the -3 comes on a 3" pedastal whereas the -2 comes on a 4" pedastal. I have owned a -2 for several years now, and admittedly have tweaked it to the nth degree, but I find it much better than the Polaris/CG-5 style mounts. There might be some good deals on the -2 now if you check around. The 40# stated capacity is probably a stretch but I have put 30 on mine with no problems. It is a clutched RA drive, meaning you can move it in RA at anytime by just pushing it, no knobs to loosen and tighten. It uses a tangent arm for dec that is nice for visual, but yo do have to loosen a lock knob to move in dec.

Walt

Amelia doesn't think much of all this scope stuff- cats are made for sun!

Walt

There are a lot of astronomical coincidences out there like that. Like the sun and moon being so close to the same size in the sky that you get the solar eclipse as we do on earth. ONLY place in the solar system to get that view. Kinda makes you wonder if it was planned that way....

Walt

You need to rotate it 180 degrees.

Walt