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Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Dave Mitsky

August 17, 2003 06:58 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

UHC Filter on Mars

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Vincent,

I've tried an Orion UltraBlock but didn't care for the effect that much. The same for the O-III filter, although I did prefer it to the UltraBlock. However, a narrowband filter such as the Orion Skyglow or the Lumicon Deepsky works quite well as a Mars filter. Recently I've heard that a H-beta filter is very effective too.

On Friday night I observed Mars using the 17" f1/5 classical Cassegrain at the Naylor Observatory. One of the best views I had that session was with a Skyglow stacked with a Wratten #30 (a Vernonscope CC30M).

Dave Mitsky

August 18, 2003 12:25 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Spectacular sunspot group

Posted By Dave Mitsky
I observed AR 10431 on Friday afternoon with my 114mm C4.5 Newtonian at 53x. I was unable to see the group without optical aid on Sunday using Mylar solar eclipse shades, however.

Dave Mitsky

August 18, 2003 12:41 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Light Cup toured dreary side of Mars

Posted By Dave Mitsky
You've got it all wrong, Ron. That's the bland side of Mars, only this apparition it's not so bland after all.

Dave Mitsky

August 23, 2003 08:45 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Diemos and Phobos

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Richard DeLuca, an experienced observer who I met at Stellafane years ago, recently observed Phobos with his 6" f/9.4 Astro-Physics Starfire apochromat at 287 (5mm Tak LE) and 359x (4mm Zeiss Abbe ortho).

Dave Mitsky

September 13, 2003 12:27 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Apogee Widescan

Posted By Dave Mitsky
When the 30mm KK WideScan II model was marketed I bought one to replace my 32mm Meade SWA. The WSII had the worst astigmatism and lateral color that I've ever seen in an eyepiece. I promptly returned it for a refund. Eventually I bought a 35mm Tele Vue Panoptic.

Dave Mitsky

September 17, 2003 05:49 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Anybody here looked through a binocular telescope?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
I've looked through a number of ATM versions, from a 6" Newtonian to a 10" refractor that was at Stellafane a few years ago. The only commercial binocular telescopes that I've used have both been refractors, the Orion 80mm BT80 ($869 without mount) and the legendary (and rightly so) Fujinon 25x150 (~$9600 without mount). Despite what you want to hear cost and size are the major factors. I suppose collimation may just be another consideration.

Note the size of the footprint of the 8" f/6 binocular Dob that Eugene Artemyeff entered into the telescope competition at Stellafane this year - http://dvaa.org/php/mpix.php?p=Stellafane_2003&i=BinocularAndPorterTurret

Binocular telescopes do produce wonderful views but they don't come cheap.

Dave Mitsky

September 17, 2003 03:12 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

The Incredible Shrinking Polar Cap!

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Going, going, almost gone!

Dave Mitsky

September 20, 2003 10:14 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

The most difficult Messier

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Daryl,

M74 has the second lowest surface brightness of any of the Messier objects and is generally considered to be the most difficult, Messier Marathon or not. It certainly was the hardest one for me to see when I first worked through the Messier list. It required repeated attempts with a 12.5" Newtonian for me to finally log M74.

Even through 20 inch and larger scopes M74 is not very impressive visually although it does image rather well.

Dave Mitsky

September 23, 2003 08:17 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Where are the darkest skies in the US?

Posted By Dave Mitsky
The best dark sky sites that I've observed from in the eastern USA are Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania and Spruce Knob in West Virginia.

Phil Harrington's Dark-Sky Observing Site Directory - http://www.philharrington.net/dssd.htm - may be of some help to you.

Dave Mitsky

September 23, 2003 08:27 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Light Cup Phasic Beginning

Posted By Dave Mitsky
Ron,

There can be no New Mars. Any superior planet will be either illuminated to some extent or in superior conjunction. Think about it.

Dave Mitsky

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