Image of the day

Captured by
John Greenlee

Before and after

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Mike Alexander

May 23, 2008 12:58 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Visual width of Milky way?

Posted By Mike Alexander
Roughly how wide is the Milky Way visually speaking in terms of degrees?

Thanks......Mike A

January 4, 2009 02:46 PM Forum: Meade

Problem with #497 Autostar

Posted By Mike Alexander
I have two #497 Autostar controllers for my two Meade scopes. They both work fine except that the number and arrow keys on one unit do not light up - only the display screen.

I have swapped with the other Autostar and it works fine, so the problem is not with the scope or the cable but with the Autostar controller itself.

Any ideas as to what might be causing the problem and how I might correct it?

Clear skies......Mike

April 24, 2009 09:30 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Optimum exit pupil for galaxy details?

Posted By Mike Alexander
In your opinion, what is the optimum exit pupil range for viewing details in galaxies? I have a Meade 12 inch LX90, f/10.

I am 61 years old...retired and lovin' it.

Thanks for any feedback.

Clear skies.....Mike

November 5, 2009 11:29 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Does an Ethos EP enhance galaxy details?

Posted By Mike Alexander
For those of you who either own or have evaluated Ethos eyepieces, all other factors the same: telescope, observation sight and time etc - have you found that using an ethos eyepiece enhances the view of details in galaxies?

Thanks.......Mike

November 5, 2009 11:36 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Does an Ethos EP enhance galaxy details?

Posted By Mike Alexander
For those of you who either own or have evaluated the Ethos eyepieces, all other factors the same - telescope, observation site and time etc - have you found that using an Ethos eyepiece enhances the view of galaxy details?

Thanks.......Mike

November 6, 2009 03:02 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

REVISED question on Ethos EP & galaxy details

Posted By Mike Alexander
Hi folks,

Please allow me to rephrase my original question:

I currently have a 12 inch f/10 Meade LX90.

I have been using University Optics HD orthoscopic EP's for viewing details in galaxies. I use either a 9,12 or 18 mm ortho EP, depending on the galaxy size.

That said, in your opinion would using an Ethos EP enhance the view of galaxy details vs the orthos?


Clear skies......Mike

November 20, 2009 01:08 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Optimum exit pupil and magnification for nebulas?

Posted By Mike Alexander
In your opinion, what would the optimum exit pupil range and magnification be for viewing nebulas?

I use a 12 inch f/10 Meade LX90.

Thanks.......Mike

April 12, 2010 10:41 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Dark skies VS Aperture???

Posted By Mike Alexander
I am happily retired and live in Oxford, CT, where I study galaxies using my 12 inch Meade LX90.

Oxford, CT is only 16 miles from New Haven, CT. On the Clear Sky Alarm Clock it is in the orange zone or Bortle Scale 5.

The Catskill Mtns. of NY state are only 2 to 2.5 miles by car from here. Yet they are in the green zone or Bortle Scale 4.0.

One option I have is to simply move to the Catskills with my current 12 inch scope.

The other option would be to buy eg an 8 inch Meade ETX-LS and drive to the Catskills to observe.

On the one hand, images in the 12 inch here in CT are 2.25 times brighter than they would be in an 8 inch.

On the other hand, the Catskills are Bortle Scale 4.0, whereas Oxford, CT is at best 5.0.

My question is this:

In your opinion would I be able to see more galaxy details using an 8 inch in the Catskills Mtn VS using my 12 inch from my current home in CT???

A lot more???

Thank you for your advice.

Keep lookin up.....Mike


October 25, 2010 01:18 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

1.25 vs 2 inch diagonal

Posted By Mike Alexander
I have a 12 inch Meade LX90 with a Williams Optics 1.25 inch dielectric diagonal. This means my current maximum field of view is only about 31 arc minutes.

If I switched to a 2 inch diagonal would it increase my field of view? If so, by how much?

Would it increase the brightness and/or contrast of what I see thru the eyepiece? If so by how much?


Keep lookin up......Mike

March 3, 2006 05:06 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Seeing details in galaxies?

Posted By Mike Alexander
Did your 8 " LX90 have UHTC, (Ultra High Transmission Coatings)? Thanks...Mike

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search