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Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Dave Mitsky

March 11, 2003 08:33 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Poll: "Mars Star Party at WSP site?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
That is a great idea, Brian. Hmm, how hot and/or humid does it get in the Keys in late summer?

I'll bring it up at the ASH excutive meeting on Saturday and mention it to the other clubs to which I belong.

Dave Mitsky

March 13, 2003 01:15 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Missle Test , SDI and.....

Posted By Dave Mitsky
I wonder how the US will be able to afford a trillion dollar SDI of dubious effectiveness after spending a trillion or so occupying Iraq and giving the rich yet another tax cut. Oh, there's the failing economy,too.

Ten thousand nuclear warheads aren't a good enough defense mechanism I suppose.

Dave Mitsky

March 16, 2003 09:49 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

C11 vs Starmaster 11

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Gary,

Every Starmaster and Portaball telescope that I've used having a Zambuto mirror has been superb optically.

Dave Mitsky

March 20, 2003 05:22 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Deep sky - SCT or APO?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
A high quality Newtonian Dob is a better choice.

Dave Mitsky

March 30, 2003 01:17 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Beginner looking for a Telescope V2.0

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Robert,

How much magnification do you require for terrestrial viewing? A binocular, which can be mounted on a tripod and which will also be very useful for astronomy, and a good 8" Dob may make you happier in the long run.

Dave Mitsky

March 31, 2003 09:17 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Which ep to purchase

Posted By Dave Mitsky
David,

First, are you sure the telescope is properly collimated?

My advice is to consider the following:

1) 19mm Tele Vue Panoptic and 2.5x Tele Vue Powermate (the best "image amplifier")
2) 18mm Meade SWA (will exhibit astigmatism in your Coulter) and 2.5x Powermate
3) 15mm T V Panoptic (has limited eye relief) and 2x Ultima or Tele Vue Barlow lens
3) 14mm Meade UWA (the best ocular Meade sells) and above Barlows
4) 14mm Pentax SMC XL and above Barlows
5) 14mm T V Radian and above Barlows

There's an 18mm SWA currently on sale on Astromart.

Dave Mitsky

April 19, 2003 04:50 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

OT: Whirlpools in Space?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Black holes are not the cause of galactic rotation (see http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=150 ). Whether the rotation is modified by dark matter or MOND is still a matter of debate (see http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_rotation_problem ). Information on density waves, the apparent cause of spiral arms, is available at http://www-astronomy.mps.ohio-state.edu/~depoy/courses/lecture.notes/spirals.html and http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=0008A68A-8C7F-1C72-9EB7809EC588F2D7

Dave Mitsky

April 22, 2003 02:18 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

And the Real Discoverer of Neptune Was?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
The topic is also discussed in _Seeing in the Dark_ by Timothy Ferris. Of course, the book was published prior to the recent information questioning the validity of Adams' predictions.

Dave Mitsky

April 28, 2003 06:26 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Favourite Season (Was: Spring the Season of ...)

Posted By Dave Mitsky
I observe the entire year round but late summer and early fall are my favorite periods to do so.

Dave Mitsky

April 28, 2003 06:39 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Good Book

Posted By Dave Mitsky
You can't go wrong with _The Night Sky Observer's Guide_, _Burnham's Celestial Handbook_ (increasingly outdated technically but still a unique resource), _Observing the Deep Sky_ by Phil Harrington, and _Deep-Sky Wonders_ by Walter Scott Houston.

Dave Mitsky

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