Posts Made By: Alan French

David,

Very nice. I haven't seen a Blue Grosbeak since our trip to Texas in 1985.

Clear skies, Alan

I have the Pentax 5.2 XL. It is a very nice eyepiece, but has a rather annoying problem under the right conditions - glare. With the Moon just outside the field, there is a lot of light in the field stop. For the latest Pleiades occultation, I had to switch to the 5mm Nagler.

Clear skies, Alan

As Jean Texereau writes in his "How to Make a Telescope," "The astronomer's hopes are almost wholly tied to the size and quality of the objective." It isn't the type of telescope that is of major importance, it is the aperture and quality of optics that provide the potential for fine planetary views. Over the years I've had fabulous planetary views through apochromats, Newtonians, Dall-Kirkhams, Mak-Newts, and Mak-Casses. The only characteristics they had in common were quality optics, and apertures larger than six inches.

As the former owner of an 8" f/8 Newtonian, and the current owner of a 10" f/9.5, I can attest to their fine performance. However, a well done Newtonian of shorter focal ratio, can work almost as well - close enough that the difference is rather subtle, and adding a little aperture is, IMHO, better than making some monster scope. My wife's 14.5" f/6 outdoes them both. Even when it is seeing challenged, which is usually the case, the brighter view and larger exit pupil (at identical magnifications) are appreciated.

Clear skies, Alan

Augie,

Thanks! I always look forward to their arrival in the spring. Quite handsome birds.

Clear skies, Alan

It isn't free if you have to buy a box of the highly undesireable Frosted Mini-wheats. Bleech!

Got too many red flashlights here anyway, along with a huge surplus of shade 14 welder's glass. 8)

Clear skies, Alan

Greg Nowell said:
[SNIP]
In sum the Vixens are a very good binocular if you had them you'd never think you were missing anything and the price to performance ratio is very good. At 2x the cost the Vortex Vipers give you extra value.

I am left wondering whether you get a tad more detail and color by spending $2k on some Leica or Swarovski 10x42s.

regards
Greg N

Greg,

Perhaps, but I think you have reached the point of diminishing returns.

Clear skies, Alan

The Pentax instruments don't seem to have gotten high marks from birders. On the other hand, birders have a general dislike for instruments that are not waterproof and that take "slip-fit" eyepieces.

I use one of the original AP Stowaways (90mm f/5) for birding, but usually only by setting up on a lake shore or my back deck and staying in one place. For field work, I picked a 65mm dedicated birding scope with an angled eyepiece. I used a 60mm scope with a straight-through eyepiece for two decades, and it was a horrid annoyance for looking upward into the tree tops. The angled scope is much more satisfactory, and works on a lower tripod, which helps with stability.

As far as carrying the PF-80ED-A around in the field goes, you are probably the only person who can answer that question. I like to travel light, but other folks are quite willing to carry a lot of stuff with them, and will put up with more weight than I will.

Clear skies, Alan

Paul Neesam said:

Should there be a concern viewing a full moon through a large scope with out using a moon filter? I'm about ready to start using a 12.5 inch and don't want to damage my eyes. Once before I viewed a full moon with a 10 inch and noticed my eyes hurt for a few days afterword, they felt like they had been in windy conditions, kind of dry and tender. Best to get feedback from those with more experience. I have not read anything or seen anything about this issue. I do have a moon filter...

Thanks in advance...

No. To put the brightness of the Moon in perspective, look for the gibbous Moon in the daytime sky. Compared to what we see around us on a bright sunny day, the Moon is very pale. If it is easy to do, observe it with your telescope during the day.

Clear skies, Alan

John Theodossy said:

Hi all,

It seems that things have been pretty quiet on the "new thing" front for awhile. Yea I know there are always some new gadgets coming out, but no "revolutionary" things for awhile. A few years ago the GOTO scopes had a big impact, and more recently the low cost ccd imaging devices surged. For awhile I thought binoviewers might become the new hot items, but these seem to be more of a smoldering item rather than setting things on fire.

So what does everyone think will be the next truly HUGE thing?

I think I just saw it. A night vision device that can be fitted with a camera lens and used to scan the sky, or can be put into an eyepiece holder (preferable a fast, well baffled instrument). It allows you to comfortably use both eyes.

Impressively bright views of the Veil complex with an NP127.

Clear skies, Alan

I first saw it the year Clyde Tombaugh spoke at TSP, figuring it was an appropriate time. That was through a 17.5", IIRC. I've done it from home (upstate NY) in my 8" refractor, and I thought it was very easy. Probably time for another "visit."

Clear skies, Alan