Posts Made By: Wayne Hixson

I conceptually understand position angles of double stars, but am still trying to figure out how to estimate them in the field. I have a Televue NP101 4" refractor, so the fields are reversed east-west, but not north-south. I understand you start at north=0 degrees, but do you go clockwise (w=90) or counterclockwise (E=90)?

Has anyone created an Excel spreadsheet or Access database of the Sky Tour data base, so it could be sorted by constellation or other criteria? Thanks!

Wayne
Seattle

When using the Gibraltar eyepiece caddy to hold eyepieces on cool evenings, I often find them dewed up when I change eyepieces. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, have you found a way to keep eyepieces "dew-free" when they're not in use?

As an eyeglass wearer, I'm wondering about the astronomical benefits of getting antireflection coatings on my own lenses? It seems to me that it's somewhat wasting the super-high-tech AR coatings on my NP101 lenses by viewing through eyeglasses that I'm told lose about 8% of the light through reflections. I'm getting new glasses with an improved AR coating called Crizal, which is supposed to be much more durable than the old AR coatings that I tried years ago.

I'm wondering if anyone in this august and vastly-experienced group has made any comparisions observing with AR-coated and non-coated eyeglasses, and if I can expect improvements?

Lookings for recommendations for hoods or other tools and techniques to help prevent "light leaks" around the eyepiece. I currently use an eyepatch, but with glasses it's kinda awkward - I've heard people use anything from black t-shirts to full hoods.

Wondering if anyone on this forum is planning on attending the Table Mountain Star Party (July 11-13) in Eastern Washington? Would love to meet you in person!

http://www.tmspa.com

Just wondering how many members of this august group will be at the Table Mountain Star Party next month? Held in Eastern Washington July 11-13 this year, TMSP has grown to become one of the largest star parties in the country. The size and variety of equipment, including lots of fine home-made equipment, on the telescope field is truly amazing. There are equipment contests, newbie and kid's programs, and good lectures. John Dobson is scheduled to be at this
year's party.

Quite a few vendors show up, and it's nice to have a hamburger joint and latte stands (hey, it's close to Seattle!) open late into the night. (My daughter says the cheeseburgers are "the best"!) You can't understimate the importance of hot food and drink and other comfort items to the enjoyability of the observing!

Although the star party officially starts on the 11th, a lot of people go up early to get a choice camping site and extra days observing. I'll be up there on Tuesday the 9th.
It will probably be the first time I'll have the pportunity to observe through my new NP101 away from the big city under truly dark skies, and based on the tantalizing views I've gotten in poor skies, I'm really looking forward to it. Would love to meet other Televue users while up there!

Here's the website for further information:

http://www.tmspa.com

Just wondering how many members of this august group will be at the Table Mountain Star Party next month? Held in Eastern Washington July 11-13 this year, TMSP has grown to become one of the largest star parties in the country. The size and variety of equipment, including lots of fine home-made equipment, on the telescope field is truly amazing. There are equipment contests, newbie and kid's programs, and good lectures. John Dobson is scheduled to be at this
year's party.

Quite a few vendors show up, and it's nice to have a hamburger joint and latte stands (hey, it's close to Seattle!) open late into the night. (My daughter says the cheeseburgers are "the best"!) Don't understimate the importance of hot food and drink and other comfort items to the enjoyability of the observing!

Although the star party officially starts on the 11th, a lot of people go up early to get a choice camping site and extra days observing. I'll be up there on Tuesday the 9th.
It will probably be the first time I'll have the opportunity to observe through my new NP101 away from the big city under truly dark skies, and based on the tantalizing views I've gotten in poor skies, I'm really looking forward to it. Would love to meet other Observer Forum members while up there!

Here's the website for further information:

http://www.tmspa.com

One word - hot!!! Weather wise and seeing wise.

Posting this from the Ellensburg Library where my daughter and I chose to escape the heat (nearly 100 degrees) and the huge number of tiny insects for the day. Last night was my first extended time with my new Televue NP-101. Not sure what to nicknname it, Ron got the "Light Cup" for his TV102. Maybe "No Problem" 'cause most everything I asked of the scope it did with absolutely no problem? I'll have to think about it some more.

I'll post more observations when I get back home this weekend, but wanted to post some highlights (f0r me). The seeing was above average, although heat waves and dust obscured the horizons. Started on my Doubles League quest and bagged about 15 doubles in Bootes, Casseiopeia, Scorpio, etc (more detail later - don't have my notes with me. Also spent some time on open clusters and globs and PNs.

First impression of the NP101 (as compared to my 1997 vintage TV101) was - more clearly defined airy disks, better detection of subtle colors, better discernment of "faint fuzzies".

Firsts - I *think* I split Antares at 180x, even in the muck. The first diffraction ring was dancing, but would steady occasionally and I believe in those moments I could consistently detect a near pale green companion at about 10:00 o'clock (with north being 12). This is consistent with the PA of 276 degrees (which I didn't remember until after I looked!) Also cleanly split Zeta Aquarius at 180x also, which is about 1.6" I think.

Bagged the Owl with no problem, but was pretty dim. Got more spectacular results on the Ring, Dumbbell and Little Dumbbell. Each was fairly bright and clearly discernible. The Ring was especially striking. At 108x, not only was the "hole" clearly visible with direct vision, I could even make out the irregularities in the shape of the nebulosity. The Dumbbell was breathtaking (looked more like an Apple Core to me, but the shape was obvious). I also cleanly picked up the Little Dumbbell with it's tiny hourglass shape obvious.

M13 was the best I've seen in a little 4" scope; granularity across the disk with clear strings of stars emerging from the core. M11 (Wild Duck) was also awesome - fine fine diamond dust on a black background. I also think I picked up a lot of dark nebulosity - I'll have to compare my notes with the book. I even tried Steve O'Meara's trick of slightly defocusing and did see a skull shape! Bulbous head, big eyes, narrow jaw - cool!! Spent quite a while on the Double Cluster with my 22 Nag. Those clusters really show their stuff the more you look at them, as faint stars and a variety of colors emerge.

Only one frustration - I could not find the Blue Snowball! Tried every lens I have from 22 Nagler Type 4 to 10 and 5 mm Radians, but no go. Maybe tonight - if we don't pass out from the heat!

I have a Televue NP101 and am interested in getting a fine-control focuser for focusing at high powers. I often go to 180x or higher and at that power it is difficult to focus both due to narrow focus range and the shaking when I touch the focuser. I understand there is a device called a Motofocus available for the 101 and was wondering if any refractor owners had this device and how well it works?