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Posts Made By: Alan French

December 8, 2006 07:42 PM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

Abandon Ship!

Posted By Alan French
Good grief! Off to a New Start - yeah, right.

I think I'll take a vacation for a few days.....

Clear skies, Alan

December 10, 2006 10:00 PM Forum: Refractors

Do I Hear 521?

Posted By Alan French
Herb is auctioning of Traveler #520 here on AMart. Another Traveler also came up for sale - #519. What are the odds? Close enough to be sisters.

Clear skies, Alan

December 18, 2006 09:42 PM Forum: Telescope Making

New Books for the ATM

Posted By Alan French
I see that Willmann-Bell has two new books aimed at ATMs - "Making a Refractor Telescope (How to Design, Grind, Polish, Test, Correct and Mount a Doublet Lens)," by Norman Remer (you may remember he sold 4" and 6" lens kitsmany years ago) and "The Schupmann Telescope (The Story, Design, Construction, and Use of a Neglected Telescope Type)," by Jim Daley. The former includes a CD-ROM with the author's spreadsheet for designing well corrected lenses.

The pre-publication prices are $29.95 and $24.95.

Clear skies, Alan


December 24, 2006 02:40 PM Forum: Eyepieces

80mm Plossl!

Posted By Alan French
The recent UO thread got me looking through my 1988 UO catalog. Perhaps this came up in the other thread, but there is a Giant 2" 80mm Plossl advertised in this catalog. "Perhaps the most impressive 2" eyepiece EVER MADE!" it proclaims. It stands almost 7" tall. The AFOV is ~45 degrees.

Anyone seen one of these monsters? It would certainly be an interesting item for the collector.

Clear skies, Alan


January 5, 2007 11:16 PM Forum: Star Parties

WSP "Good to Go"

Posted By Alan French
Tim Khan has posted a message on the WSP Yahoo Group saying WSP is "Good to Go."

Clear skies, Alan

February 28, 2007 12:53 AM Forum: Refractors

More News to Put Things in Perspective

Posted By Alan French
An almost mint condition 1909 Honus Wagner (baseball) tobacco card sold for $2,350,000. It makes those old Clarks and sought after AP scopes sound like great deals!

I can think of considerably better ways to spend 2.35 million dollars, and most would involve a nice warm beach. What the heck would I do with a baseball card? Ah, I could put it on the spokes of my bicycle - that would be fun. smile

Clear skies, Alan


March 3, 2007 02:53 PM Forum: Refractors

"Made in America" Visit to AP Showing on March 13

Posted By Alan French
I see that the visit to Astro-Physics is now listed on the Travel Channel schedule for "Made in America" for 9:00 PM, EDT, on Tuesday, the 13th. Also showing at midnight on the 13th, and again at 3:00 PM on the 17th.

See

http://travel.discovery.com/tvlistings/episode.jsp?episode=10&cpi=119272&gid=0&channel=TRV

or

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2eq4wq

Clear skies, Alan

March 19, 2007 07:45 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Equipment Cases?

Posted By Alan French
I've got a couple of Pelican Cases here, but have seen some other similar cases by at least one other company. Of course, I don't remember the name of the company!

Does anyone know some maker or makers of similar cases? I know one vendor at WSP had something along the same line, but with easier latches.

Thanks!

Clear skies, Alan

March 22, 2007 12:14 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Too Many Eyepieces?

Posted By Alan French
Amateur astronomers seem to develop real eyepiece fetishes. Folks get into "collect the whole set mode," which is expensive - even more so when you have a binoviewer (the manufacturers love you folks!).

I'm curious. Of the eyepieces you own, what percentage actually gets used on a regular basis? What percentage gets used once in a while, and what percentage has spent their life in your eyepiece case or hidden away in a closet? (I'll take a look at my holdings and figure all that out.)

I probably wouldn't count the eyepieces you've been waiting to sell in the "near" future. Actually, that might be interesting too.

Thanks!

Clear skies, Alan

June 24, 2007 02:33 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

The Single Best Investment You Can Make

Posted By Alan French
So you've finally done it! You've got yourself a telescope, a set of eyepieces, and, perhaps, some filters. You've got star charts, an observing guide or two, and a red flashlight so you can read your charts and guides. You are at the point where you are comfortable collimating the telescope (if it needs it), can take it outside and use it with some proficiency, and find objects with reasonable success.

What's the next most important single investment you can make? Time behind the eyepiece! Seeing what your telescope can reveal is very much a learning process, and your skills will benefit immensely from spending time out under the stars observing. There are few investments that will yield a greater return, and, aside from possible travel costs, it is free!

Clear skies, Alan


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