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Eastern Veil Nebula

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Posts Made By: John Nilsen

January 21, 2005 05:39 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Orion 80f/5 vs. Orion 100f/6 vs. Cel. 102f/5

Posted By John Nilsen
Hi, I used an Orion 80f/5 on some local nesting eagles at 100 yards this afternoon and was not really that impressed with the view/resolution at 40x. (I'll try a star diagonal next time out.) In your experience would a 100mm Orion f/6, Celestron 102f/5, Orion 120 f/5 or other scope offer a much more impressive view for spotting? The low end 80mm ED's would be somewhat affordable for me but I don't know that it would be better than the 100's for spotting. I use a dob for stars and planets. Thank you for all who can respond, John

June 29, 2005 07:56 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Baader full aperture 10" dob or not?

Posted By John Nilsen
I expect to make a baader solar filter for my 80ED, should I also make a full aperture baader solar filter for my 10" dob? Baader seems to indicate a small off-axis mask should be made for improved contrast. Does anyone have any experience in this regard? Thank you.

July 14, 2005 09:32 AM Forum: Refractors

planetary detail smaller ED vs larger achro

Posted By John Nilsen
Hi, will a four or five inch f/9 achro provide more planetary detail than my current Orion 80ED? Or should I go for a 100ED? Thanks to any who can reply.

August 7, 2006 11:36 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

focal reducer with sct negatives

Posted By John Nilsen
Hi, What are the negatives of using a focal reducer with an sct? (Say turning an f10 into a f6.3)

August 12, 2006 12:26 PM Forum: Eyepieces

shiny filter threads on Meade 30mm UWA

Posted By John Nilsen
Hi, my newly acquired but apparently heavily used Meade 30mm UWA has shiny filter threads. Any blackening that may have been there is gone. I would think this would be an issue. Should I paint them flat black or flock them? Any recommendations? Thanks.

October 20, 2006 08:47 PM Forum: Refractors

AR5 fuzzy star test outside focus

Posted By John Nilsen
My LXD75 AR5 (127mm) has okay diffraction rings inside focus but a fuzzy blob on outside focus. I made a 110mm mask but the outside focus fuzzy blob improved very little if at all. It looks like the objective has been out of the scope at one time (cleaning smudges on inner lens surfaces). Collimation appears good. Any comment on the optics? Acquired from local seller very cheaply who said it appeared to have a turned edge but still provided good views. In very rough camparo with my ED80 (very low Saturn, without the mask) image in AR5 appeared as good or perhaps slightly better.

November 9, 2006 05:31 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mercury transit--size of sunspot?

Posted By John Nilsen
I had a fabulous view of the Mercury transit with my ED80 and Baader solar film. It was my first use of the Baader and the view appeared sharper or more impressive than the photos posted here. Can anyone comment about the sunspot? How big (average size and shape?), how hot, how common, etc.

December 17, 2008 09:55 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Is this a Vixen Super Polaris or a clone?

Posted By John Nilsen
I am going to sell this mount so I would like to confirm what it is. I always assumed it was a clone. It does have a MD-6 quartz motor drive with a Circle V Vixen mark on the controller. Prior to this posting there were two votes for Super Polaris and one for clone. I will post a second photo below. Thank you for any help.

December 13, 2009 06:19 AM Forum: After Dark

It's out there

Posted By John Nilsen
It's out there.

August 12, 2010 04:17 PM Forum: Celestron

Powering homemade SCT cooler directly from Nexstar

Posted By John Nilsen
I would like to power my homemade cat cooler directly from my Nexstar 11GPS. There is a connector on it that says +12 volts. The 3 inch fan I will be using is 12 volts and 0.14amp. Anyone know of a Radioshack pin or something that will make this work? Thanks

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