Astromart

May 3, 2004 01:16 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Printable Concentic Circles Anyone?

Gregg,

Let me know if your'e still having a problem and I'll use my cadd program to draw them for you.

Bill

May 5, 2004 02:34 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Experienced visual planetary observers

Vincent,

I have a homemade 10" f6.3 that has an excellent figure. Uses a 2" secondary (20% co). Provides beautiful planetary images. I recently completed a 12" f5 travel scope with a 2.625" secondary (22% co). The primary is a Guan Chen (Tiawan) optic with a decent figure based on a ronchigram I performed.

I was shocked about a month ago that the 12" gave me the "best" view of jupiter I have ever seen! I only regret that I didn't have the 10" out the same night for a side by side comparison. From memory though, even on nights of great seeing, the 10" has never given an image that good. Based on that I would say that a 12" can provide better images, but I agree with everything Carlos has said about seeing, figuring, central obstruction, etc...

By the way, I am currently building what I think will be my ultimate planetary/lunar scope... a 10" f8 w/ a 1.375" seconday and curved vein spider. Of course it will be confined to my back yard. This atm stuff is really additive. Good luck and clear skies.

Bill

August 21, 2004 03:18 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Value of used equipment? Opinions please.

Posted By William Earl

Thanks to all who responded. He and I agreed to $1500 for all. Now just need to convince my wife.

Clear skies

Bill

August 31, 2004 03:30 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Antares Diagonal

Posted By William Earl

William,

If you're talking about one of the collimatable refractor diagonals I bought one to use until my 2" diagonal finally showed up from Burgess Optical. It looks and feels very nice but I don't think the Burgess 1026 was a very good test for it. I plan to compare it with a 2" Televue (came with a Pronto) and keep the better one. I'll let you know. Clear skies.

Bill

September 26, 2004 02:09 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Vixen Alt-Az Mount?

Posted By William Earl

Thanks Bob. You should know. I'm thinking of letting it go because I just haven't been using it enough. Wanted to make sure I listed it properly in the classifieds. Clear skies.

Bill

October 9, 2004 03:00 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Dob on a wedge

Posted By William Earl

Ed,

I saw some do this several years ago. To keep the tube from falling out he placed straps over the altitude trunions. He said it worked ok but didn't have smooth movements. I think it was because the tilt of the wedge put all the weight of the scope on the center bolt of the ground board. It seems that if a larger center element was used (like an 8" dia disk) and a couple of bearing pads were placed on the low side it might help.

Good luck and clear skies.

Bill

October 24, 2004 04:07 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: How wide is wide?

Posted By William Earl

Tom,

I just bought one of the BO BV's for the $99 deal (Iown a 1026). Only had it a week, and only looked thru it with a pair of 10mm and 25mm Kellner eyepieces but have been very pleased. Thru the 25mm's I realy havne't noticed any strong vignetting. Was getting the field of view expected for those eyepieces at the power they were operating at. Moon was simply awesome. Deep sky has been hard to see due to moon. Hope this info helps. Clear skies,

Bill

January 23, 2005 05:21 PM Forum: Telescope Making