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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

February 27, 2005 09:36 PM Forum: Celestron

Collimation C-9.25

Posted By Alex McConahay
In addition to what the others have said, get a buddy (unless you have incredibly long and nimble arms). With one guy up front, and another watching the changes, things happen a lot quicker.

And unless it is uncomfortable, leave the diagonal in until you get it colose. That is just for convenience. It can be awkward to see a star without a diagonal, and awkward is really frustrating. Then, when you are close, lose the diagonal.

Alex

March 1, 2005 04:08 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

20D laptop connection......Help

Posted By Alex McConahay
Tom,

DSLR Focus beta version for 20D does not yet work with Service Pack 2. SO, don't be in a hurry to upgrade if you have SP2. (You get many of the functions in the software, but you cannot focus becuase the image screen is blank. And if you can't focus with DSLR Focus, well......)

As for upgrading the cable, I'll leave that to others, since I have no cable myself and use my remote timer to take pictures longer than 30 seconds.

Alex


March 1, 2005 04:16 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Meade 390 & Canon 20D

Posted By Alex McConahay
Dan,

What objects do you intend to photograph?

At any rate, you need a simple eyepiece projection adapter. It holds an eyepiece, and usually has a sliding tube that increases the projection distance. They usually have one end that fits into the focuser tube (or screws on to the back of an SCT), and the other end that has T-threads. You will also need a t-adapter to screw onto those threads. THe T-adapter would be specific to the Elan mount. Usually the eyepeice projection adapter's end that attaches to the telescope can be unscrewed from the tube itself, and this would allow you to use that part to attach directly to your T-adapter and the camera. THese Universal Camera adapters are available in a number of places that sponsor here on Astormart.

Alex

March 1, 2005 04:40 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

20D laptop connection......Help

Posted By Alex McConahay
Just looking at the picture on the ADIDT cable, Tom, it does not look like it has pins that fit the 20D, even though the advert says it does. (Admittedly, the picture is not big enough to be conclusive.)

Have you tried it with the camera, and found it works as it should?

That would be good news.

Alex



March 2, 2005 03:16 PM Forum: Politics

Re: I've got your excellent example right here

Posted By Alex McConahay
Jim Brown said:


P.S. on edit: You will no doubt recall that Ensign James T. Kirk was the only student at Star Fleet to ever solve the Kobayashi Maru challenge. He did it by changing the rules. Arguably the Iraqi people will win peace and freedom by changing the rules.
- Jim -

And Bush changes the rules whenever he wants! Why not? He doesn't remember what he says. As long as he thinks he is doing the right thing, it is the rule. Go in for WMD, don't find them? Well, how about at least we stopped their support of Osama? Weren't supporting Osama, well, how about this "Spreading Freedom" thing--that is nebulous enough that nobody can quote a bunch of facts about it......Yeah, "Freedom," That's the ticket.

James T. Kirk or Jon Lovitz--Take your pick.

Alex

March 2, 2005 10:14 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

what in the heck is a Dovetail bar?

Posted By Alex McConahay
This thread now officially has a lot more responses than needed. If the original requester does not know what a dovetail is by now (and I think we all agree he does), further responses will only confuse.

March 4, 2005 04:06 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Is there a way to view all of a thread at once

Posted By Alex McConahay
See over there in the column to the left where it says "Forums" and then under that "Display Preferences"

Go play with that until you get the view you want.

Alex

March 8, 2005 06:36 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

widefield orion with canon 300d adapted to zuiko

Posted By Alex McConahay
Dan,

Tell me about this adapter. What is it? Where did you get it? How does it work?

Alex

March 8, 2005 06:46 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

What is the most important in a site?

Posted By Alex McConahay
One other factor to consider is the two types of light pollution.

One type is the light of a city that just creates a general light glow and robs the sky of contrast.

The other type is the neighborhood lights.

Our site is as good as one can find (within an hour and a half of the fifteen million people in SOuthern California) relative to the first kind.

However, we have six or eight "porch lights" and such within a half mile of our five acres that just seem to glow at night.

Alex

March 9, 2005 01:35 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

What is the most important in a site?

Posted By Alex McConahay
I was club star party director for quite some time, and my job was to seek out places for us to go for a weekend. In addition to the things that have been mentioned here, you need camping facilities, restrooms, and such.

I have asked all around southern California and am always told the same thing for any of the mountain camping areas......"It's just beautiful, so many trees, it's cool and shady......" I guess they missed the point.

Alex

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