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Posts Made By: Ed Abel

June 13, 2003 12:28 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Meade 16" Permanent Pier Alignment

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi! I just received a call from the local College asking for help aligning an equitorial permanent pier (no wedge) for their new 16" Meade SCT. I was told that movement in the RA is easy because of the mounting bolts; but that the DEC is accomplished by shimming the scope's base. I'll be visiting the scope today to learn a little more about the mounting. Anyone have experience with this?
Directions? Would a picture help?

Thanks for any leads.

Ed Abel
Greenbelt Astronomy Club
Maryland, USA

June 13, 2003 05:49 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Masking a Refractor and Focal Length

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi! A question which I am confused over: I was told that by masking the front of a 5" refractor, making it say 4", I would increase the focal LENGTH of the scope and have greater magnification possible. Is that correct? Or is it just changing the focal RATIO? Sorry if this is a "dumb" question!
Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

June 30, 2003 08:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Mars 6/30/03

Posted By Ed Abel
Mars this morning with variable seeing. C-14 in the midst of final collimation; Philips Vesta webcam; 2 X Powermate. I have great difficulty seeing detail in the eyepiece; I thus require the CCD images. Comparison to Mars Previewer
Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

August 15, 2003 10:48 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

First Mars with a Borrowed ToUcam

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi! I was so convinced that the image would improve by adjusting the telescope's collimation. Then I was convinced that a better Polar alignment would do the trick. Then I blamed my location's poor seeing since I am in a valley. Next came the camera: it MUST be the Philips Vesta camera not being able to do a "good enough job"! So I borrowed a friend's Philips ToUcam camera and the other problems abated. Now I still do have to get better seeing, and collimation and Polar alignment. BUT, I can't blame the camera anymore. It's getting better!
(8/15/03 Mars processed in Registax)

Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

October 4, 2003 07:45 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

What a Planet! What a sight!

Posted By Ed Abel
My first telescopic view as a child was Saturn. I have a fondness for her arising, perhaps, from a first love. From 10/03/03:
C-14; 2 X Powermate (7800mm focal length), No filter, ToUcam, 2000 frames captured with K3CCDTOOLS, 1000 frames processed in Registax. Wonderful tools!
Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

November 11, 2003 12:47 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Jupiter 11/10/03

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi! I am finally "satisfied" with a Jupiter image taken with a refurbished C-14. Since I really haven't imaged from any area other than around my house in Maryland (just north of Washington, DC), I assumed that turbulent seeing was THE norm. This morning was completely different! There was no Planet jumping all over the screen; there were no wavy cloud bands. What a difference the seeing makes! Another lesson learned.
Details: C-14 (1976); F/22; ToUcam; K3CCDTOOLS; Registax 1000 frames out of 1800.
Ed
Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

January 9, 2004 02:25 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Europa Shadow and Moon Transits 1/08/04

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi again!

I've wanted for some time to image a transit of one of the Jovian moons. I noticed that last night presented an opportunity to get a transit of both Europa's shadow as well as the moon herself. The imaging started at 3:22AM (EST, USA) and ended at 6:15AM. In the collage below, note the "first contact" of the moon with the Planet at 5:34 (second row, last column). THAT was exciting to see! I captured 16 AVIs (K3CCDTOOLS) in building the 13 image (Registax) collage. Due to seeing deterioration, the last two pictures required enhancing the brightness of the moon.

C-14 @ F/22 (2X Powermate); ToUcam;
each AVI: 120 seconds @ 20fps in K3CCDTOOLS;
Registax processing

Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

January 17, 2004 07:18 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Re: A few questions on imaging

Posted By Ed Abel
Steve:
Exposure comments:
Hi! I had a chance to borrow & use the ST2000 camera maybe 8 months ago and had a VERY difficult time with Planets. Their brightness overwhelmed that camera. I called SBIG to discuss it and was told that it really is a Deep Sky camera due to its sensitivity. Even the use of filters had minimal impact. I toyed with masking the C-11's aperture, but didn't take the time. Saturn, while a little less bright (Jup: -2.4; Sat -.8), is available. Try your hand also with the Orion Nebula.
You used an exposure time of .02 SEC; the camera's limit (if I am reading the specs correctly) is .01 SEC. Set it at the lowest end, filter it, and let us know the results.
Thanks,
Ed
Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

March 14, 2004 02:59 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter and Her Moons 3/13/04

Posted By Ed Abel
Jupiter, adorned with her "red spot", was splendid in her dance and, at times, fight with her moons last night.

Ganymede was first on the Planet's surface: both the moon herself and her more dominant shadow. I was able to image after 8:24PM when the shadow was a little before mid-transit. At this time the. GRS was clearly visible. Europa also wanted to get on stage, before playing "hide and seek" behind the planet; pulling her disappearing
act at 9:02. Not to be outdone, Io swung into action! Clearly seen well off the Planet's surface, then onto the Planet, then dragging her seemingly reluctant shadow along. Quite a night!

The seeing started off good, then shortly deteriorated with quite a bit of turbulence. However, it was an enjoyable choreographed ensemble.

March 23, 2004 01:02 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Object Crossing South Lunar Cusp

Posted By Ed Abel
Hi! While imaging a Lunar Occultation of SAO 110038 at 7:34PM EST last night from Mitchelleville, MD, I saw something crossing the moon's surface. There were a couple of bright flashes and then the silhouette against the bright Cusp. Who says that occultation timing can't be fun! I selected three frames from the video which had to be enhanced to see SAO 110038.

Ed

Ed Abel
Silver Spring, MD

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