Image of the day

Captured by
andrews porter

Ic443 jellyfish nebula

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Lorne Johnson

February 16, 2003 03:51 PM Forum: Eyepieces

APM 30 mm Widescan

Posted By Lorne Johnson
Has anyone had any personal experience with the first run of the 30 mm APM widescan? They have made some changes in the new run including a reduction in the AFOV to 84 degrees. It may well be a great eyepiece, but I would like to know more before considering one.

Thanks.

February 21, 2003 01:29 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Re: And Tonight, Ganymede + its shadow in transit

Posted By Lorne Johnson
After getting my dormitory settled down I was too late to see Ganymede in transit. But, it's shadow was crisp and prominent. At moments of good seeing there was pretty good detail emerging on the bands as well (including the "red" spot). Being a complete neophyte at planetary (and really having stumbled into the event), it took me about a half hour to be sure just which way it was orbiting. I had never seen either image before, so it was a good night. I guess that I'll have to look into a planetary filter or two.

April 30, 2003 12:55 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Super Polaris "O rings"

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I recently saw a after market ad for delrin "O rings" for the Super Polaris/Great Polaris worm gear. But, I can't find it again. Can anyone get me a connection to the source?

Thanks much, Lorne

June 3, 2003 07:01 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

What Size?

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I like 8" f/6 because it is big enough to show a fair bit, and small enough to get used a lot. However, if you really want to see more 14" f/5 is supposed to be another good point for usability versus light gathering power. I have had some experience with a 16" f/6 (not my own). It certainly shows a sky littered with NCG's, but it's hard enough to use that It rarely gets out. At f/4.5 or even 5 it would be better, but also more specialized.

My personal ambition alternates between a 14.5" f/5 and a 12.5" f/6.

June 5, 2003 11:32 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Re: Know absolutely nothing

Posted By Lorne Johnson
A small refractor will still cool down more quickly. But, a 5" reflector, isn't bad after 15 to 20 minutes, so it should work pretty well if the mirror is well ventilated.

July 18, 2003 01:14 PM Forum: Maksutovs

Re: TEC 6"

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I would recommend Bob Royce's short article on substrates at rfroyce.com

March 20, 2004 11:04 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Star Status

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I noticed that Klaus Preibe made the front page of the New York Times today! Haven't found any reference to it on this board.

October 2, 2004 01:44 AM Forum: APM

Re: SuperMono respect

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I have a number of TMB supermonos (not for sale). They are definitely superior for planetary, close doubles, and resolve globulars better than anything I have seen. Still, they are a specialized eyepiece (I wonder how many production runs there will be), and there haven't been a lot of planets around for months.

March 5, 2006 03:58 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Re: Galaxies

Posted By Lorne Johnson
I'll take a stab at this.

You certainly won't get anything that looks like the photographs. However, you will be able to see differences in the brighter galaxies. Dark skys, excellent transparancy, and developed observing skills will make more difference than the UTHC coatings.

Most I would expect that you would get hints or glimpses of spirals in M 81 or M 51, dark lanes in M 31, M 82, M104. This would probably be with averted vision. I have been able to do this with a quality 8 inch dobsobian, although it certainly took practice.

When Meade says the UTHC coatings give you the equvalent of a 9.6 inch, they mean a 9.6 inch Meade Schmidt Cassigrain without the UTHC coatings, or a scope with a similar amount of obstruction reflecting and air to glass surfaces. It won't be as good for visual observing as a 9 inch newtonian, or arguably even an 8 inch newtonian. (Be a lot better for imaging though.)

July 30, 2006 03:45 PM Forum: APM

Reduce/Flattener for APM Apo's?

Posted By Lorne Johnson
Is there a dedicated reducer field flattener for the TMB 80/600?

Funding Member

Telescopes, Astronomy, Binoculars

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search