Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

I think the Canon will take better deep sky pictures in the long run. It has better resolution overall.

I think the Canon image transfer software works with the MAC.

And, you can take photos with the Canon needing only what came with it and a simple camera adapter so that it can be fit into your telescope and a remote control cable release. (You can even skip the release if you use the self timer.) If you decide to go deeper into imaging you will need another cable (about $50) to take exposures longer than 30 seconds. You will also need a wedge if you plan long exposures.

The only other consideration I have is that the Canon actually fits on the back of the Meade in the sense that it will not bump into the base, etc. It is a larger camera. This may limit using the camera in some of the telescope positions.



Alex

With all due respect, cause the exposures look good and sharp, but the mosaic looks, well--it looks like something found in the xerox machine the morning after the office Christmas Party.

Alex

I've done lots of public outreaches.

Any scope will do--Last Thursday, I showed up at an elementary school where two of our club guys had already set up, and there was a third scope sitting there--I assumed it was one of the club scopes that the other guys had brought. Assuming that we had only two guys to run three scopes, I did what I often do--I just ran that scope instead of setting up my own. That left the three of us running three scopes. Turns out, that third scope was a $50 newt--4 1/2 inches, I suppose, on an Alt-Az mount that belonged to one of the kid's parents. He had brought it to learn how to use it. He was greatly relieved that I was running it. (And that I corrected how he had put his finder on (backwards).) Point of the anectdote was that I had 75 people look through that scope and be impressed by the moon.

However, when I do have my choice, I take a driven scope. It tracks the stars, thus relieving the operator from sticking the head in every one or two customers. And my most portable scope is a TV-85 on an LXD mount. Any good refractor on a driven mount would be comparable.

I also take my 8 inch Dob sometimes, and teach the first kid that comes by how to use the Telrad and keep it pointed at the object. They get a kick out of that.

Our outreach lead guy comes equipped with a 7 inch Meade Mak, and often his ETX-90. Another guy always brings his TV76 on a Super Polaris, and yet another swears by a club-made six inch Dob.

You do not need much aperture--because you are generally in the city, there is too much light to make it worthwhile, and it is pretty heavy to carry around a lot of aperture.

And you are right--you should schedule these things for the first quarter moon, and when planets are around if possible.

But you do need to know where the globulars, open clusters, and good doubles (Alcor-Mizar, Alberio) are. If you have a LPR filter, then use it, but don't hope for much.

Also very critical is to take a short ladder. Take one about four feet high, two steps, and with a frame that comes up across the top. These are important regardless of the size of the person watching, not just for standing on (for the little ones) but most importantly so that people will know where to stand, and hold on to the top rail of the ladder. It gives them a balance point. Their other choice is to grab the scope for balance--and that is not good.

It is nice if you can bring a somewhat realistic photograph of what your objects will be (Planets, maybe Orion Nebula), and definitely a moon map.

By the way--having said all that about small scopes and portability--the biggest draw will be the biggest Dob.

Alex

Maciej,

Are you looking for a mount for the Starfinder, or for a whole new mount/scope combination?

If whole new mount/scope, well, Good Luck.

But if you are looking for a mount for the Dob base, I would suggest you look into an equatorial platform, which will allow some limited astro-imaging--and should be something you can build yourself with relatively little cost. That seems to be what you already have in mind.

Good Luck.

Alex

James,

You have probably heard and read all there is to say. Just go slow and see what other people are actually using.

Alex

I don't buy the Iridium Flare unless Nick says he saw a streak with some movement. He says it was a starburst.

I vote an incoming meteor--or perhaps a warhead detonating on an alien spacecraft.

Alex

I remember one moonless night in Namche when, despite my fear of the cold, I had to answer nature's call. I stepped out, and the stars were enough to light up the mountains from Kwande to Ama Dablam, and up to Everest. It was so beautiful that, despite the cold, I dragged out my tripod and camera, and snapped an eight second exposure. Not knowing what the proper exposure would be, I tried a fifteen second exposure, despite the cold. Just after I started the exposure, I started to cramp up horribly--the joys of travelling in third world countries. I had to take a break, so quickly, I forgot to close the shutter. I just ran out to the outhouse. When I recovered-- I shuffled back to the camera, shut off the exposure, and rushed back to my sleeping bag inside the hut. It was so cold it took me an hour to warm enough to go back to sleep.

When I got the film developed six months later--I had a beautiful shot of Kwande, and stars, and all that--the only shot that came out in that darkness.

I'll always remember that shot--the only thing I can tell you about the time of exposure is that it took as long as it takes to get over an attack of dysentary.

Alex

Come to think of it, with a continuous twilight during the summer--do they even have a Summer Milky way that far north?

Alex

That depends on your scope. Does it have a 1/4 inch/20 threads per inch hole on one side. If so, you just need to screw in your tripod quick-release shoe. (Actually, it is a little more complicated than that--the tube will tend to rotate, so you have to have something to engage the other little nub that sticks up from your quick release plate.)

If not, you may need a set of rings attached to a short rail, that then attaches to your quick adapter plate.

Can you send a picture of what your connector currently looks like?

Alex

Meade Starfinder Equatorial.
This looks like an AC model. Which means pre 1994 or so.

I cannot tell the size for sure, but if it is the 10 inch, then I had one just like it. Still have the tube, but sold the mount years ago. The pedestal on your mount looks too short for that, tough.

They made them in 6, 8, and 10 on one mount, and then 16 in a larger one.

Mine has very good optics. I think F4.5, but as the other fellow said, may have been 4.5.

They made them for years......

THey were a good "kit" scope. Worked out of the box, but could be improved by changing the focuser and several other things. Had a good mirror cell. The mount was simply inssufficient for the weight. It had no adjustments for polar alignment--just heft the whole tripod around. Also--no way to adjust the dec or the speed of the motor--therefore, one could not guide with it.

But--you are not buying the mount.......The tube and optics and cell worked pretty well. The only downside was the focuser. At least in my 1995 edition.

Alex