Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

If you are making a list of problems, please include that:

The camera is lost every third or so time you try to use it, and has to be reinstalled.

The image processing program cannot open some of the files that the camera takes.

The install program is very awkward.

Alex

The pan heads normally can tilt all the way down, but have problems pointing up since the handle can run into the base or the legs.....If you put the handle the "wrong" way, you can tilt all the way to zenith.

Inconvenient, yes, but it works better.

Alex

Ben,

I invite you to come out with us to Landers once a month. We have a star party with anywhere from twenty to forty scopes, and their handlers. We have five acres in the desert, pretty good skies, a house to sleep in if needed, and to warm up in. SOme locally troublesome lights, but pretty dark otherwise. See Rivastro.org and follow the links to GMARS information for details. We will probably be out there the second weekend in December (even though nothing official is scheduled, but contact me personally closer to then just to be sure.

Oh, and of course you are welcome to our meetings also, (same web page for details).

Alex
Riverside Astronomical Society

One more thought--it is not until Memorial Day weekend, but one of the biggest star parties in the country, RTMC Astronomy Expo--will be at Big Bear, CA.

Alex

With the setup you have, you may want to consider a webcam or an LPI or DSI from Meade. Maybe an off-axis guider to go with it.

With that addition, your equipment is good enough for rudimentary astrophotography (assuming you have motors on the CG-5.)

However, jumping to anything serions will require at least $1500 or so in a mount.

And to answer your introductory question, were I to start all over again, with the knowledge I now possess, maybe I just would not start all over again in astro imaging.

Alex

One of the aspects of fundamentalist Christian thinking that must be addressed in this context is whether a true Christian can be tolerant and accepting of other religions.

In reading the life and teachings of Jesus as I find in the Bible, I do not believe that he himself would have any problems with people believing in another religion, as long as that religion was generally consistent with his philosophy of loving one another, in general following the ten commandments, and practicing the lifestyle characterized in the sermon on the mount.

However, this separates me from most fundamentalist Christians who emphasize one quote--"I am THE way, THE truth, and THE light...."--and make the claim that in this line Jesus was setting aside all the examples of tolerance and acceptance he had established in his life and saying that all other religions are totally wrong.

I just don't see it that way.

However, for many fundamentalist Christians there could be no such hypothetical case of having a total Christianity and allowing other religions.

Alex

Mine always come to the email account I have registered at Astromart. they are a simple email message by the time I get them.


Alex

Look hard at the light for the photocell controlling it. Point the cheapest laser you can find at that photocell. If it goes off, just figure a way to mount the laser so it will turn the light off.

Alex

Sure, I have such a thing for my Olympus lenses. I would suspect it came from the CCD people, but I really am not sure.

Alex

The answer depends on several things.

First off--yes, you need to know your exact focal length.

Secondly, you need to know where your closest focusing eyepiece focuses, and where it sits in the focuser. (Also throw on your Para-corr or whatever other thing would move your focusing position.) When your closest focusing eyepiece (or eyepiece-Barlow-or ParaCorr) is in focus, your focuser should be cranked all the way down except for maybe 1/4 to half an inch.

This is where the focuser needs to be--in my mind.

I keep the quarter to half inch in there because someday I may buy an eyepiece that focuses even shorter. Also, just collimating can move a mirror some (although 1/4 inch is a bit much on a 10 for collimation movement).

If your focuser does not have a lot of travel, you may need to be even more accurate thann all this.

Does this help?

Alex