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Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

June 14, 2005 05:23 AM Forum: Star Parties

California, White Mtn., Barcroft Lab, starparty an

Posted By Alex McConahay
It is an extra hour plus driving to Barcroft (above Grandview), on a road that can really eat tires.

Do you feel the extra altitude would be worth it?

By the way. My buddies and I have been arguing a long time. Some say the Grandview rains are caused by "the monsoons." Some say that anytime in the White Mountains (and Sierras) you can have afternoon thundershtorms, etc. Who is right in your estimation. Are the "summer rainshowers the result of monsoons? Are there better/worse months to be there?

Alex

June 15, 2005 03:43 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Equatorial mount for a C925

Posted By Alex McConahay
I've got mine on a G-11 by Losmandy

Alex

June 16, 2005 08:41 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

God is telling me something (and a solar question)

Posted By Alex McConahay
Well, You should have seen in while you were in with the client! It was really big then.

Alex

June 16, 2005 11:48 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Barlow question

Posted By Alex McConahay
Mike,

Don't mean to be ornery here but as for the "Is it true?" Just try it. It is pretty simple to put your barlow in front of the Diagonal (unless you have a diagonal made just for SCT--

And yes, if it will still come to focus--it is true.

The reason it works is the the Barlow just changes the side angles of the triangle that the lightrays form--It does so either in front of or behind the Diagonal, but if in front of the diagonal, the light rays have more distance to diverge.

Alex

June 20, 2005 01:33 AM Forum: After Dark

Best Astronomy in Southern California

Posted By Alex McConahay
Mike,

You have to visit Mt. Wilson--in many ways more interesting than Palomar--but certainly both are must-sees on an astro trip to southern California.

If you are interesting in observing, the mountains east of San Diego can be pretty nice this time of year.

YOu are welcome to come to the Riverside Astronomical Society's Goat Mountain Astronomical Research Station (GMARS). We are having a Comet Crash Bash on the Fourth of July Weekend, and may be out there the weekend before. It gets a little warm there during the day, but is great at night.

See Rivastro.org.

Alex

June 21, 2005 01:45 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Filters for double stars?

Posted By Alex McConahay
I don't believe so in general.

However, if you have a scope with a lot of false color you may benefit from a minus violet filter. Or just about any colored filter. Then you will only get two spots of light, instead of a smear of the two lights. Of course, you will sacrifice some of the light.

And as far as other filters, they work by cutting out all but a specific color of light. If the two stars you are looking at have the same color light--and they pretty much do--they would both be affected equally by the filter rejecting the light.

Alex

June 21, 2005 01:27 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Where to go next?

Posted By Alex McConahay
Go visit a club. Hang around with them. YOu will learn soon enough.

If your solar filter is one that fits in the eyepiece, throw it away. You do not want to concentrate that much sunlight on a small piece of glass. If it breaks you could be blinded.

Learn how to collimate your finder scope if you have one, and if you don't, get a Telrad, Quickfinder, or equivalent and learn how to use it.

Get a nice star chart, like Rigel's or Will Tirion's Bright Star Atlas, or Norton's 2000, and/or Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers, and/or Turn Left at Orion.

I'd say learn how to collimate, but don't do that until you join a club. It sounds a whole lot more complicated than it is.


But mostly join a club.

ALex

June 23, 2005 02:45 AM Forum: Religion

Purpose of this Forum

Posted By Alex McConahay
If I remember the history of this Forum correctly, the purpose of this Forum is to get the religious discussion away from the Cosmology Forum so they could discuss scientific theories of origins there without having to worry about the religious arguments.

Alex

June 24, 2005 05:22 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Looking for a star guide

Posted By Alex McConahay
Go Here:

http://www.seds.org/messier/

There's lots to read.

If you want a book, try Turn Left at Orion or Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers.

After that, you are talking those collections of thousands.....You'll enjoy the two above more.

Alex

June 25, 2005 06:19 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

solar filter for 80ED

Posted By Alex McConahay
I find that you have to choose between details and color--or maybe just too much green.

The best images are by far the one's I get from the Coronado. The Hydrogen Alpha are just too pretty, with the reds and the details. However, $1700 is a lot more green than you might appreciate.

The next best for detail (and by far the cheapest) Is the Baader solar filter. It is usually just a little sharper than standard white light filters. Unfortunately, the color is not as pretty as I like--a bluish gray. Buy a piece of film for $20, and some cardboard or something to make a filter holder out of.

I like the color in my Orion glass filter the best of all, and it is still very sharp. What I would call a natural color (even though there is really no such thing as a "natural color" for the sun)--A pleasing Orange. Thousand Oaks and others sell similar--and which you prefer may be personal.

Alex

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