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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

September 30, 2005 01:55 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Televue 85 with a nextstar go to mount?

Posted By Alex McConahay
I often run my TV 85 on a Meade LXD55. All it takes is a simple dovetail adapter.

Works great.

Alex

October 3, 2005 03:46 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Collimation question

Posted By Alex McConahay
Ivan,

My photos often look like that. I hope you get a good answer that will cure my problems.

Alex

October 3, 2005 03:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Collimation question

Posted By Alex McConahay
Ivan,

Do you use an electric focuser? How do you control it? What size steps do you take through the zone of focus?

Alex

October 16, 2005 02:42 PM Forum: Eyepieces

TV Powermate

Posted By Alex McConahay
I think the big issue here is whether you will have a use for the 4X anything in a 12 inch scope. Your Genesis was an extremely high quality refractor with a relatively short focal length. The 12 incher you are getting probably has a very much longer focal length. therefore, with a given eyepiece, you will already get a lot more magnification. I question whether you will be able to use anything but a 40 mm eyepiece with it. I mean, how many times will you ever use a 10 mm eyepiece with a 12 incher--not as often as you might think.

Alex

October 20, 2005 02:09 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Cleaning of the Primary mirror (Newtonian)

Posted By Alex McConahay
Kim,

You said "It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be."

I don't think most telescope owners think it is hard, so much as risky--you have to remember to do things carefully. But the procedure, as explained by the other posters, is not difficult. As long as you let the cotton balls work on their own weight you should be Okay.

Alex

October 24, 2005 12:44 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Which scope is "better"

Posted By Alex McConahay
You have all you need.

The SCT has more flexibility as far as photography and such--but that is a moot point in your case. Dob or EQ mount, just keep the reflector. If you had started out with the SCT, I*'d say just keep that, too. There just is not much reason to cahnge what you have.

Alex

October 25, 2005 12:26 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Need Observatory Design

Posted By Alex McConahay
What all do you want in the "observatory?"

If you just want a permanent pier and scope, put the pier and scope on a pier, and make a roll-off cover--a large, tall box on wheels that just gets rolled away to use.

If you want to have your computer, observing tables, and all, and four walls around, then check out Sky Sheds.

Alex

October 25, 2005 08:09 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

Canon

Posted By Alex McConahay
I assume you have either an equatorial wedge and fork, or a German Equatorial mount, and that your drive system is controllable (can be sped up slowed down and powered in both axes).

For the simplest you would need a piggyback bracket and a remote release. Use your camera and its lens riding atop your main tube.

For other astrophotography you would need a guiding system (off axis guider/illuminated reticle or separate scope) and something to attach camera to main tube (off axis guider or universal camera adapter). You would also need t-ring to attach to camera, and cable release.

One thing to check is whether your battery is good for an hour or so expsure. Those batteries can be expensive, and they are not made for long bulb exposures if they have to hold the shutter open.

And--astrophotography is a lot harder than it looks.

Alex

October 27, 2005 12:53 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

The new coolest toy I have to get

Posted By Alex McConahay
it looks too bright for astronomical use--even filtered with red filter.

It costs twice as much as the brinkman red/white headlamp at Walmart.

It doesn't offer the flexibility of the Rigel, for instance, with its variable red/white light.

.....in short--cool idea, but not for our hobby.

Alex

November 2, 2005 09:34 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

neural networks and focus

Posted By Alex McConahay
YES an NO.

And I do not know about "neural networks." But when things are messed up in images, it is because the are convoluted by turbulence, optical imperfections, and lack of focus......

If you know what the image is supposed to be, you can write an algorithm to "deconvolute" them. Richardson and Lucy, for instance, have come up with something named after them. It makes stars more pinpoint. The Hubble was rescued by developing a deconvolution and applying it to optics.

But there are a lot of assumptions in the process, so it is not as accurate as proper focus.

Also, simply "sharpening" an image, i.e., increasing the contrast between two pixels next to each other that appear to be part of different intensities, makes the picture look more focused.

But, if the data is not there, you are making up stuff, not actually "focusing."

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