Posts Made By: John Holt

I'm of the 'any scope will do' camp. I bring 4", 6" or 13"newts on alt-az mounts.
It is a real kick to show folks how to hand track, and how to star hop. Everybody thinks Telrads are really cool when they see how they work. I confess to using garden variety plossls these days at public events, rather then what I usually use myself.

Ramble mode on-

The general rule is: don't shop price on barlows.

Powermates are often regarded as about a good as it gets. Their extra (and real) optical engineering snazz costs extra.

Shorty barlows extend eyerelief to a greater degree than even normal barlows. This can be a real help when combined with simple design short focal length ep's that have tighter eyerelief! It may be a pain with low power ep's though. May. Shorty's combined with any ep that already has ample eyerelief can extend it even more and make eye position difficult and annoying.

Shorty barlows are a bit of a compromise. Generally work very well in any scope. But the concept was more specifically designed for use in star diagonals, where size/ weight issues can be a factor. Lots of us will own more than one type of scope, so they are a popular type of barlow.

Televue and Astrophysics make scopes that pretty much require star diagonals. But neither of these guys is marketing shorty barlows.

Don't shop price. : ) Used is one thing, especially from the classifieds here. Budget barlows are another.

I've had the oppurtunity to own four different units. From UO, Seibert, Vixen and Edmund. The shorter ones extended the eyerelief more than the longer ones, as expected. All work(ed) great with the simple three and four element plossls, konigs, orthos and rke's that I've combined them with. From the compact little Klee to the old school seven inch long Edmund. All are/were mid priced, very well performing barlows!

I often regret having sold the Klee. Haven't replaced though. Yet. Klee's really are sweet little units. Not exclusively, but especially in a small scope that's focal length challenged.

-end ramble.

A 12" re-manufactured budget import, versus a 12" Discovery split tube....?

I don't think there is a wrong way. As long as the glass does not come in contact with the foam, and dust is minimized. Dust on ep's is an experiment we all run at our observing sites. It's easy to fix with an air bulb, or something similar.

Dust combined with dew(or frost) should be avoided. Keep any ep covered that is not in the focuser. An ounce of prevention...

Folks,
try M42 before you are fully dark adapted. Green is most apparent for me before my eyes have done the complete switch over. As I become more dark adapted the green fades. Sometimes replaced by other colors, sometimes not.

The green as I remember is actually an illusion. Like green components in double stars.

Some of us don't! : )

With respect to the very good fishing anologies of others, bass fishing does not require a bass boat. Star gazing does not require expensive equipment.

There are some details to be addressed to catch bass. There are some details to be addressed for the different types of astronomical targets.

I personally enjoy the experience of being out under the night sky far more than the gear. I tolerate the equipment as a means to that end. I am far more interested in the object I seek to see in the ep/scope, than in the ep and scope themselves.

My thoughts are that one should get a decent 2x barlow. Do not shop price. If on a budget, then pick a mid priced(retail) unit. But purchase it used in the classifieds here. It's what they are for. One then gets a good optical quality barlow, instead of just functional. But for a budget price.

<< But for sake of discussion, try to be unbaised.>>

=======

: )


It has been my experience as well, with these sized optics, the 8 will out do the 5 on all targets. No matter what size obstruction the 5 has.

Sir,
I agree with everybody else. If the glass is in good shape, then it's a great price.

You have a bino-scope project going if I recall? So fear nothing regarding this Meade! If it actually needs some kind of upgrades, then you will find it a very compatable unit to work with in this regard.

If you can get your hands on a star chart that plots lots of field stars, then it can really help put you on target. Look when it is nearest to the meridian. Protect your dark adaptation as much as possible. You can do it!