Astromart

February 2, 2004 12:43 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn last night

Beautiful shot Jim!
I played a bit with color/saturation, without getting crazy about it, just to give it a natural look...

Hope you like it, and thanks for sharing!

Ivan
smile

February 2, 2004 10:31 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Great image Mark!
Wonderful contrast & detail all around.
Very flat wide-field views, and the Cone Nebula looks great!
Stars are beautiful pinpoints, great tracking!

By the way, is your observatory finished? do you have any pics of the FINAL product? I bet it is Great to have a dedicated place for your hobby!

Take care, and thanks for sharing!

Ivan
smile

February 2, 2004 10:39 PM Forum: A Day in the Life of the Administrator

EZTelescope

Posted By Ivan Gastaldo

Dale, you are not the first one to report this kind of problem with their operation/timing issues...
Even though I have NOT purchased from them, this is exactly WHY I haven't.
Several people have already complained about their very-very long delays on shipment, and their lack of communication with their customers... sort'a like "you'll get your item when we get to it" kind'a business...

Sorry to hear about this, i surely hope you'll get what you purchased soon...

Is there any other way to reach them? Phone?

Ivan

February 3, 2004 03:49 AM Forum: A Day in the Life of the Administrator

Forum webpage format

Posted By Ivan Gastaldo

Don. what is it that you find confusing?
Did you make sure you Edited your Viewing Preferences? (option on the top of the screen...)

I personally browse a lot of websites, forums, and even though AstroMart has it's OWN flavor, it is pretty easy to navigate... (IMHO)

Clear skies!

Ivan
smile

February 4, 2004 07:45 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

12.5" vs. 15" DOB?

Posted By Ivan Gastaldo

Floyd, must be nice to be in such a "predicament"...
smile

Personally, IMHO, I think you already have a very nice setup, and a well covered range, with your 8" and your 15".
If you are looking for comfort of viewing, and your 15" turns out to be too long, might want to see if you could sell it, and with that money plus what you were going to invest in the 12.5", get, as Jarad said, a StarMaster 14.5" which IS a shorter length scope, still providing awesome views & great quality all around.

Just a thought,

Ivan
smile

February 5, 2004 12:46 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Terms

Posted By Ivan Gastaldo

FOV = Field of View
F/L = Focal Length (of a given scope/eyepiece)
SCT = Schmidt-Cassegrain Design Scope
MAK = Maksutov-Cassegrain Design Scope
R/C = Ritchie Chretien Design Scope
EQ = Equatorial Mount, also known as GEM
NEWT = Newtonian Design Scope

These are some you'll see around too...

Clear skies!

Ivan
smile

February 5, 2004 12:27 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Another Image from New Mexico

Posted By Ivan Gastaldo

Wonderful shot, as usual Mark...
Great detail captured on this faint object.
You got a very good tracking setup, as your stars are pinpoints...

How could we get to see the full res shot?

Thanks for sharing,

Ivan
smile

February 7, 2004 03:18 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System