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RICHARD COFER

VdB 141 Ghost Nebula

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Posts Made By: Bob Young

March 21, 2005 03:51 AM Forum: Bad to the Bone Autos

My "other" hobby

Posted By Bob Young
Cool, Mike. But here in the snowbound Northeast, that thing would rank behind a Kubota with a Front End Loader as a 'Babe Magnet'. Think Survival grin .
Bob

May 14, 2005 01:57 AM Forum: Refractors

3 " apo's

Posted By Bob Young
Hi Jason,
I've got a 4" APO (TV102) and a 3" Achro (SV80 f9.4) and have found that the smaller scope sees much more use because it's handier and not so demanding of the mount. As a result, I'm in the process of acquiring a used FS78. Hopefully it will be here in a week or so. My understanding is that no more FS-78s will be made; but there may be a few new ones still lurking on the shelf somewhere.

Looked hard at the SV80L, particularly with the sale price that's good til the end of May. If the FS78 hadn't come up, I might've sprung for one, but $1500+ is alot to have tied up in a 3" refractor....so is $1000, for that matter.
Bob

May 15, 2005 05:58 PM Forum: Eyepieces

New EP I just could not refuse it!

Posted By Bob Young
So you got that thing, Floyd. I looked at it hard but, having just shelled out the bucks for an FS78, had to let it pass. Hope you take the time to give us a report on it. I don't have anything faster than f6, so probably won't have the curvature problem.

Saw another 14XL up for sale this morning. Man, what you see when you don't have a gun!
Bob

June 10, 2005 01:48 PM Forum: Eyepieces

7mm nagler, 6mm radian, or Meade 5.5?

Posted By Bob Young
I'm not a Nagler user, so could be wrong about this; but aren't the Nagler's parfocal? Not having to refocus (especially at high power) would make the 7mm Nagler an easy choice for me.
FWIW
Bob

June 10, 2005 02:59 PM Forum: Eyepieces

High Power Eyepiece Recommendation

Posted By Bob Young
Hi David,
I've had good luck using a 5mm TAK LE with my TV102. Sharp, reasonable field of view and very good eye relief. Not too expensive, either, when compared to some others.

If you can find one, a 5.2mm Pentax XL would probably be excellent. I don't have one (yet) but the 7mm and 10mm XLs I do have are my favorites. Have not tried the Pentax XWs yet but they're supposed to be even better than the XLs...they should be, they cost alot more.

I have virtually no experience with Naglers or Radians; but am familiar with the short f.l. Sirius Plossls and U.O. Orthos. The Tak LE is a big improvement over both; comfortable while still very sharp.
FWIW
Bob

June 11, 2005 11:45 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Tree Stump for a Pier

Posted By Bob Young
A few weeks ago I was thinking of doing this very thing with a walnut tree I cut down in my observing area. Left the stump standing about 4 ft. tall until one day I just got sick of looking at it and finished it off with the chain saw.

Why not give it a try, Scott? It might work fine; for awhile anyway. You ought to be able to get a few years out of it at least.

Heck, an overturned 50 gallon drum to put your charts on, a couple of old school buses arranged as shields from the neighbor's lights and you'd have yourself a regular redneck observatory. Maybe put a real big tractor tire around the stump and you'd have a place to sit no matter where the scope was pointed. grin We could start a redneck forum and try to outdo each other; but you'd have a big headstart.

Just kidding. I really do think it's worth a try.
Bob

August 3, 2005 04:36 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Finder Scope Blues

Posted By Bob Young
Rigel Red dot finder combined with Orion 6x30 RA Correct Image finder works great on my Discovery 8" dob. The Rigel quickly gets me into the general neighborhood. The optical finder puts me on specific targets without having to change back to low power eyepieces.

As for the optical finder, correct image and 6x30 make it easier to match the image to the star chart. Bigger finders clutter the field with stars that aren't on the charts making a match more difficult. Correct Image elmininates the mental up/down, left/right flips (it's late, I'm tired, OK?).

The 6x30 is also light enough so that a lightweight red dot finder can be added without messing up the scope's balance.

Right Angle makes the finder much easier to use without contortion. Mount the finder so you can easily transfer between scope e.p. and the finder while seated. Very nice for slowly working your way around a constellation exploring every nook and cranny.
Bob


August 7, 2005 01:55 PM Forum: Refractors

My new Tele Vue NP127

Posted By Bob Young
Congratulations on the new scope, Ron. It's a beauty. The NP127 may be bigger, but it has some big shoes to fill. The 'little' TV102 Light Cup was the scope that launched 1,000 (or thereabouts) very informative & interesting internet posts. Rare the scope that can make that claim.

I've noticed my scope buying pattern sort of follows yours. First a TV102 in 2001 and then an 8" Discovery PDHQ in late 2003. And now.....OMIGOSH! I'll hafta sell the boat!

Love your backyard/observing site. Are you at liberty to divulge the identity of triplet APO you had your fling with?

Good luck with the NP127.
Bob Young

October 18, 2006 10:30 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Criteria for eyepiece condition in sales

Posted By Bob Young
I've had very good luck with my e.p. purchases except once when I bought a pair of Panoptics represented as in excellent condition. The glass in both was absolutely filthy and the barrel on the 19mm looked like a badly scored crankshaft journal. Really put me off used eyepieces except when represented as New in Box.

Still, both eyepieces cleaned up and performed quite well and the 19mm is one of my favorite lenses. On that basis I gave the seller an excellent rating...maybe shouldn't have.
Bob

November 17, 2006 04:45 PM Forum: Refractors

A little rant about refractor postings on Astromar

Posted By Bob Young
James,
Are you talking about Astromart? The photos I see are mostly pretty darn good. Of course you have to make some allowance for individual skill...some are better than others. I particularly like how many posters go out of their way to post photos highlighting existing blemishes.

What does bother me is that scopes like the one I own are listed at prices well below what I'd be willing to sell for (and even further below list) and still, they languish for days with no takers...or the seller repeatedly reduces the price until it's gone. The idea that APOs hold their value is now a myth, thanks to the Chinese.

It seems it's a buyer's market, for some scopes anyway. Maybe you should consider different models.
Bob

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