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Douglas Rollain

Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Bill Byrd

September 4, 2006 12:57 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Top end ring width

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Hi Mike!
If the focuser board weight is mostly supported by the truss poles, the upper ring can be pretty narrow...maybe 3/4", depending on the truss attachment needs.

I've been wrestling with a single upper ring but I'm hanging the focuser board off of the ring. I ended up going to two closely spaced rings to get the rigidity I needed. I drilled some lightening holes in my thicker ring and it didn't affect the rigidity much, if at all. Hard to tell since I went with two rings.

Post some pics of whatever you end up with!
Bill[/COLOR]

September 12, 2006 03:11 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Upper Support Assembly (USA) Finished!

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Here's the back of the focuser board showing the notch around one of the support posts.
Bill[/COLOR]

September 14, 2006 03:08 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

!!! Stargazing from Big Bend National park!!!

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Hi Esdras!
Big Bend (BB) is a great place for star gazing! I go out once or twice a year to do 4-5 days of observing. I usually go in April and/or October. In December-January it will definitely be cold in the park. You might even have snow...but probably not! Bring WARM clothes.

If you are camping, one of the back country camp sites would be the best place to be...no lights at all. In the back country sites, there is no water or electricity so have everything you need to stay where there are no facilities.

I like to stay up in the Basin...more lights (still not too bad) but you are at least near some facilities. Site 41 in the Basin is the one I like.
Here's a pic of my scopes at site 41 last April. That's Casa Grande in the background.

Good luck on the trip! Let us know how it goes.
Bill[/COLOR]

September 17, 2006 01:06 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Adding RungsTo A Fiberglass Ladder?

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Good point Bill!
Bill[/COLOR]

September 17, 2006 01:18 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Adding RungsTo A Fiberglass Ladder?

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]So I guess since no "red flags" were raised that it's okay to drill fiberglass to add steps?
Bill[/COLOR]

September 19, 2006 10:37 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

New Observer at our Dark Sky Site

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]I was out observing in a state park one time and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. There was no one else around but I kept looking. Finally I got the red flashlight out and began to look at the trees and bushes around the clearing I was in. Looking up at about eye level in a tree there was a racoon lounging in the crook where the tree branched out, just watching me. I guess he wondered what I was doing.
Bill[/COLOR]

September 23, 2006 11:53 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Removable Alt Bearings

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Thinking of transport ideas for the bearings when they are removed...here's one possibility.
Bill[/COLOR]

September 24, 2006 04:07 PM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

More Monarch Caterpillars

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]This one has company...note the orange aphid below.
Bill[/COLOR]

September 30, 2006 04:21 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Cellular Mirror Portrait

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Here's another angle that shows the center hole in the back plate. That hole is used to keep the mirror centered in the cell and there is a small fan that can blow through the hole to speed cooling of the front plate. Not really necessary but why not go all the way. 8)
Bill[/COLOR]

October 1, 2006 05:56 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 1333

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Nice Dan!
It's like you can see the nuclear fires starting up.
Bill[/COLOR]

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