Image of the day

Captured by
Douglas Rollain

M20 Trifid Nebula in LRGBHa

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: James Benton

June 29, 2005 05:05 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Black Skimmers

Posted By James Benton
I had never seen or heard of these birds before last week. I shot these in Galveston, TX , actually at San Luis Pass where the Gulf dumps into the bay

http://www.james-benton.com/adventures/galveston/gal2005/slides/IMG_0101.html

http://www.james-benton.com/adventures/galveston/gal2005/slides/IMG_0129.html

http://www.james-benton.com/adventures/galveston/gal2005/slides/IMG_0134.html

more birds and some boarng beach shots can be found here from my trip last week
http://www.james-benton.com/adventures/galveston/gal2005/index.html

James

August 30, 2005 01:40 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Shorten the OTA Length

Posted By James Benton
I just had a wild thought, and did some searching with no luck.

I have a Meade AR5 im looking to sell modify. I would like to modify it and keep it but not sure if it is possible.

The OTA on the AR5 is 41 inches long. Would it at all be possible to cut the tube down to say 25 inches making a "Short Tube AR5". Im not so much worried about losing focal length as I am more interested in a shorter scope.

Is my idea a good one or just way out in left field?

James

November 17, 2005 04:14 AM Forum: Star Parties

Texas Star Party 2006

Posted By James Benton
Its time to register.....

http://www.texasstarparty.org/

James

January 17, 2006 12:21 AM Forum: Meade

Parts list needed

Posted By James Benton
I have an LXD75 mount, and an AR5 and an SN6 to go on it. Im going to
sell both of those scopes as im not happy with them. I really miss my old LX90 which I sold a while back ago.

I have decided to put an 8inch LX200 OTA on the LXD75 mount (losmandy
or similar mount will be bought next year in 2007).

I am keeping the sadel plate for the LXD75, but not sure what other
dovetail plates and adapters I need to make this work on the GEM mount.

as I understand it the LX200 OTA only is not the same as the fork
mount OTA, as in it does not have the fork mount connections on either
side of the OTA. I had an LX90 on a wedge and do not want to go back
to a fork mount in a wedge.

any ideas will be helpfull

James

March 30, 2006 02:48 AM Forum: Meade

LX200 Prime focus photography

Posted By James Benton
I recently purchased an LX200 OTA only with the Micro focuser. I want to hook up my Canon 20D (DSLR) to this set up.

I have all the parts (t-rings and such) but wanted to know if there was a better way to connect the camera to the micro focuser other than using the Meade #62 T-Adapter for SCT's.

I have the 1.24" to T adapter, but am worried it wont hold the camera in place

James

April 16, 2006 11:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

how to: stiffen a tripod

Posted By James Benton
I have a meade LXD-75 mount (its getting replaced next year) and I want to stiffen it up or do something to it before I go out to TSP for a weeks worth of observing in nice dark skies. I have the older original LXD75 mount and not the updated one. Any ideas would be appriciated.

James

May 15, 2006 03:52 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Owl in a tree (need an ID)

Posted By James Benton
I shot this owl last month. He/she has been hanging out in a pine tree in my neighbors yard. Im not sure what kind of owl it is. can anybod Id



edit: pic did not attach first time

James

November 26, 2006 05:13 AM Forum: Meade

Re: Removing and re-installing OTAs in fork mount

Posted By James Benton
I removed my old LX90 OTA from the forks years ago so I could re-thread the deck lock knob threads and install a longer screw because I over tightened it one to many times.

I had no problems with goto accuracy after this and I did not know there was an issue with goto's if you removed the OTA from the forks until i read this post. I did scratch the OTA along one side of the tube putting it back in the forks.

if you do remove the OTA just be careful and do a complete reset of the autostar, train the drives, calibrate motors and all that fun stuff and you should be ok. I always did that before a long observing night (but not for just a few hours worth of viewing) and using the 2 star alignment always gave me good results.

James

May 24, 2004 03:50 PM Forum: Meade

NEW MEADE LXD75 SERIES COMING OUT!

Posted By James Benton
I just saw adds on internet sites over the weekend for the LXD75 series. I have been wanting a refractor for some time now and may pre-order the 5" LXD75. But I need to sell off my LX-90 first.

Also I dont think it will start shipping until July

James

June 19, 2004 01:54 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Digital Rebel prime focus questions

Posted By James Benton
I dont have all the answers , but the 1.6 crop factor will have an affect.

Im not sure of the focal length of your TV 85, but for giggles lets say it is 400mm, with the camera the on there the focal length is now 640mm (400mm X 1.6 = 640mm)

I did a compare with my 80-400mm Tokina lens @ 400mm and my Celestron 80mm spotter scope, it has a fl of 400mm. and I got the same image out of both the Tokina lens and the small scope

James

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search