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Posts Made By: Ivan Ong

January 5, 2003 10:35 PM Forum: Takahashi

Tak FS102 with TeleVue Gibraltar?

Posted By Ivan Ong
Hi- anyone out there with an opinion if the FS102 works ok with the TeleVue Gibraltar? I intend to do low mag observing but would also want to look at planets and binaries with 4mm and 5mm orthoscopics. Is the scope too large and heavy for this mount? Any tracking problems?

-Ivan

February 5, 2003 07:00 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

A primative eye piece warming system

Posted By Ivan Ong
For what it's worth- if you frequently change EP's during your observation session, it might not be worth attaching/reattaching a heater tape to it. Here is a suggestion: get a kid's or a small insulated lunch box, get about 2-4 hand-held chemical warming packs and put them in separate cotton baby socks (trip to Babies r us)- then keep your EPs in there. Works most of the time. Also, if you can't afford tape heating, try rubber banding the heater sock to your finderscope optics. Direct heating pack contact will be too hot. Downside: hand-held warmers are expensive unless bought in bulk.

February 11, 2003 05:31 AM Forum: Takahashi

Something amiss with my FS-102?

Posted By Ivan Ong
Hi All: Recently I purchased a FS-102 new (after an 8 year astronomical hiatus) and I am not sure if there is something wrong with the optics. Using a different selection of eyepieces (University Optics 5mm, Early 90's Celestron 30mm Plossel, 90's Televue WF 26mm), the focus seems not to "snap" in place confidently, instead there seems to be a very tiny range of ambiguity where I am wondering if I have reached focus. I find myself toggling in and out the focuser and repositioning my eye. At one end of the range, the stars are very sharp but laser-thin elongated. On the other end, they can be "spikey". Looking at Jupiter, I detect a blue fringe on half the circumfrence and a red fringe on the other side. Looking at Sirus, the out of focus image appears a little oval. I don't seem to remember this feeling of being a little worried about the optics 10 years ago when I bought a Vixen 4" fluorite. I remember a more "snap into place" kind of focus. Anyone with an opinion as to how I can proceed to diagnose the problem? Can my new Televue Everbrite star diagonal be out of collimation and be causing this problem?
Thanks, Ivan

February 15, 2003 12:55 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Darn floaters in the eye

Posted By Ivan Ong
I have been doing some serious planet observing lately and have found that the floaters in my eye keep drifting into the object field. Needless to say, this is rather irritating. I have found that a slight change helps the problem: I typically observe looking down with a star diagonal. This downward looking position appears to encourage the settlement of floaters into the visual field. If I observe in a head raise position- either by observing straight through in my refractor (not overly comforatable at Zenith) or by sitting lower and looking up into the star diagonal, the floaters are not as noticeble and drift across faster. Does anyone have any more hints to deal with this? Thanks-Ivan

February 27, 2003 07:00 PM Forum: Takahashi

Vari-Extender

Posted By Ivan Ong
Is the Tak Vari-Extender/tube system essentially a barlow-type optic with adjustable focal length?

Ivan


March 10, 2003 03:24 PM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

FS-102 and Guard Dog

Posted By Ivan Ong
Of course, after I had acquired my beloved FS-102, it became necessary to press our dog into service to guard it against those pesky cats.

Clear skies-
Ivan


March 11, 2003 12:20 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Green Lasers: Thumbs up or down?

Posted By Ivan Ong
Hi...anyone out there using a green laser pointer instead of a Rigel or Telrad? What is your opinion? Is it easier? What are the down points?

Thanks,
Ivan

March 26, 2003 10:13 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

source for rubber eyecups

Posted By Ivan Ong
Hi All: does anyone know where I can purchase some rubber fold-down eye cups for soem UO Orthos and other EPs? I have to wear glasses while observing and the sharp edges of the EPs scratch my glasses lens if I'm not careful.
Thanks, Ivan

April 23, 2003 01:34 PM Forum: Takahashi

How do you like your TOA-130?

Posted By Ivan Ong
To all you lucky people with the new TOA-130, how do you like the scope? Image quality? portability? gripes? How does it compare to a Tak FS?
I can't afford one but will like to experience it vicarously through you. smile All I can say from the photos is it looks awesome.
Ivan

May 2, 2003 12:59 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Karkoschka's atlas for star hopping

Posted By Ivan Ong
Hi there, I wonder what star atlases those of you who star hop (and not use GOTO) use. I have been using E. Karkoschka's The Observer's Sky Atlas and I think it is the best combination of detail, size and usability. I find Tirion's atlas way too big to be ergonomic and also the detail is nowhere as good as Karkoschka's. The field laminated version is nice but not something you want to be holding in one hand while star hopping.

-Are there any other handy field atlases that you use?
-How many of you prefer to pre-plan and print out detailed sky charts from software? I find I am never that organized for that.


Clear Skies,
Ivan

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