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Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

May 16, 2003 12:58 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Assistance please!

Posted By Alex McConahay
Ian,

There are various ways to do what you are asking. (And the other respondents are making good suggestions) But why?

I cannot imagine using a mount for both visual and astrophotography at the same time. I do everything I can to avoid getting near my mount when it is taking an exposure.

Just what do you have planned?

Alex

May 28, 2003 04:15 AM Forum: Celestron

Wide Field viewing with G9.25 SCT

Posted By Alex McConahay
Peter,

Just what eyepiece do you have that can get an 8 millimeter exit pupil on a F10 scope? Or even an F6.3?

Your best bet is a 6.3 focal reducer.

Alex

May 28, 2003 01:03 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Star Chart Question

Posted By Alex McConahay
David,

Go here and get Cartes Du Ciel and use it as your charting software. I think you will find it useful.

http://www.astrosurf.com/astropc/

Alex

May 30, 2003 07:04 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: The best catadioptric telescope

Posted By Alex McConahay
Seems to me you can get by with very limited focuser travel. At most you would want the difference between your shortest and longest focusing eyepiece. Point is, you move you main mirror to wherever it looks like it is in focus, then lock down the mirror (if you ever figure out how to do that) and then you only need a little travel to bring everything to perfect focus.

Alex

June 7, 2003 12:33 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

HELP my computer is stuck in night vision mode

Posted By Alex McConahay
Before you get real drastic, go into your SN pro software, go to whatever menu turns on Nightvision (Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with how to do it in your software), and turn it nightvision on and off, or just off if need be......It may be that that is all you need to do. For some reason, the program did not clean up after itself.

Alex

June 8, 2003 02:18 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Pls Help me find M57 (would a Telrad help?)

Posted By Alex McConahay
Oh look, a finder interferometer! How do you combine the lightpaths?

Alex

June 8, 2003 02:30 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

visual observing "The Horsehead Neb."

Posted By Alex McConahay
John,

As this thread goes along, you will see that dark skies are pretty important to seeing dim objects. One way they help is obvious--Whatever light there is has more contrast with the darker skies. However, it is important that your eyes are prepared to take advantage of those dark skies with good adaptation. This may or may not happen where where there are dark skies. Even in a dark sky site, I have often seen astronomers hurt their vision with ambient light (a nearby streetlight or houselight, or opening up their car door, or using a brighter than necessary red flashlight). In these cases, the skies themselves are dark--but they eyes cannot benefit fully. It takes 45 minutes for eyes to fully adapt, and even a red light can set this back some. SO--be very careful when you are going for the dimmest of objects.

Alex

June 9, 2003 05:23 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Upgrading to a SCT questions

Posted By Alex McConahay
Casey,
It would take up as much or more space, and would be a lot less portable. Remember, the tube and forks should have a case around it, and the tripod itself will be about as bulky as a Dob. A 10 inch Schmidt Cass is getting pretty heavy.

You would probably get a little more light grasp, but lose some in contrast. It is not a big enough step up to make the change.

It's drive can follow the stars, but it is not quite the level you need for consistent astrophotography, and pushing a Dob is not that hard.

I'd say skip it.

Alex

June 11, 2003 12:42 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Who cares?

Posted By Alex McConahay
Jake,

The important thing is not whether there are set-screw marks, but the other thing these people advertize--that it comes with the original box!!! That has to be as important or more than whether the eyepiece has setscrews.

Alex

June 13, 2003 12:40 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Ouch!

Posted By Alex McConahay
Never seen an astronomer in hotpants.

Alex

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