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Posts Made By: Hugh Bartlett

November 30, 2009 09:53 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Best Values in Christmas Scopes??

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
I'd tell them to get a good pair of wide-field 8x42 binoculars. Nikon Action Extreme seem to be a consensus recommendation on the various Astro-binocular forums I monitor. I should check, but I think a pair can be found for around $100.

The binoculars will be a useful tool for use with a telescope if their interest in astronomy persists long enough for them to accumulate at least enough for an Orion XT4.5 Dob. If not, they are useful for terrestrial use also.

December 10, 2009 04:44 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Cook this data

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
The funny thing is that the red-line projection for the coming solar cycle has been shifted to the right about four times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and counting). It seems there are still some deniers at NASA that believe this solar cycle is going to suddenly appear and surge at any time. By 2011, they may come around to realize we are in an extended minimum and finally abandon their silly exercise of moving the graphic projection of a coming peak to the right every year.

January 18, 2010 06:42 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Need help with eyepiece height

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
I am 6'1" and was surprised to find that I could reach the eyepiece flat-footed on a Meade 16" f/4.5 LightBridge telescope they had at Scope City. I'm not sure if it was a trick they did with the floor model, or if all of them are that height.

One variable not mentioned is the height of the focuser above the secondary. One can shorten the zenith eyepiece height a couple inches by extending the focuser out a couple inches. That is not a desirable solution, however, because you need a larger secondary to get a fully illuminated field of any decent size.

Previously, I had thought a 16" f/4 would be needed for me to see the zenith flat-footed, but I guess it depends.

I think the Obsession 15" f/4.5 or the Starmaster 14.5' f/4.3 would safely get you to Dobson's hole with your feet on the ground.

As someone else mentioned, you may want to add a tracking platform at some point, which adds 5 +/- inches to the height calculation.

February 3, 2010 07:23 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Wolverine Decline and Climage

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
I am extremely skeptical of this kind of story. The implication is that wolverines are in peril because of shifting climate zones. I suspect, that the measures of decline in populated areas (Yellowstone NP) are offset by gains farther north where no one is counting. It is probably beneficial for the wolverines to be farther from that other species that counts them and occasionally goes after them with guns.


March 6, 2010 01:29 AM Forum: Astro Binoculars

Nikon14x40 vs Canon12x36IS

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
Thank you for the review. That fixes my aperture fever in stabilized binoculars!

March 21, 2010 02:51 AM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

Protected Forests & GW

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
And then there is the article in the March 2010 issue of Scientific American that summarized several studies of how higher CO2 concentrations would impact plant growth around the world. Besides enhancing yields for commodities such as wheat, rice, barley, soybeans, and cotton; one report predicted that trees and shrubs could replace grasslands, on their own by outcompeting them. More trees to consume the excess CO2 and more crops to feed the starving masses around the world. Kinda makes ya want to go out and buy a Hummer, don't it? wink

To be fair, there were some downsides of more CO2: more exotic species, weeds, etc. (you get more of the plants you don't want along with those that are beneficial).

March 21, 2010 07:18 PM Forum: Global Warming - REAL or NOT

ENSO & temps revisited & a record for 2010?

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
Clearly, you are on to something here. I am most interested in the detrending factor you used. It looks like about 0.5 degrees Centigrade over the last 30 years.

March 22, 2010 05:10 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Brass compression ring replacement

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
I have one, and just sent you a Private Message if you are interested in buying it.

April 5, 2010 12:28 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Marking up a star atlas

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
Rather than permanently marking up your atlas, you might try using those post-it stickers with a clear sticky part and colored tab. I've done that on my SkyAtlas 2000.0 to indicate something I want to check out the next time I am in that area. That way if you are less impressed after viewing an object, you can easily remove the tag.

April 29, 2010 07:43 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Is this something new?

Posted By Hugh Bartlett
I use a spam filter also. It does NOT mean that your message did not go through to the addressee. Your message just got diverted into a separate spam folder, which the recipient has access to.

I opted out of sending that automatic outgoing message you got, because it is unnecessary and irritating to legitimate senders who are not in my address book. All my Astromart responses go to my spam file, which I check religiously if I just placed an ad. I check it as often as I check my inbox. It is just a tool to keep most of the spam out of my inbox.

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