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Posts Made By: Bill Byrd

January 28, 2006 04:29 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Parka ?

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Okay, I'm not asking about an OTA or how to cool a scope quickly. What I'm interested in is hearing from some of you all about the parka or heavy coat you use when observing for hours while radiating body heat into space. I find that I get pretty chilled in 30 degree temps after several hours under the stars while wearing several layers plus what I thought was a moderately heavy jacket. I've decided that I need a more insulated parka to keep me warm. Can anyone share their experiences with their favorite cold weather coat?
Thanks!
Bill[/COLOR]

February 8, 2006 03:35 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Stellarvue 20mm

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Anyone have experience with this EP? I need something for a wide field finder EP and the price is right. wink
Bill[/COLOR]

February 23, 2006 02:54 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Is There Anything More Beautiful Than....

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]....a freshly aluminized mirror??

I sent an 8" mirror to Spectrum for a recoat. Arrived at their place on 2/22/06. I got home today from a two day trip and hand a beautiful mirror to greet me. I think that's a pretty good turn around.

There was a problem using the credit card number I had sent to be used for payment. Most small businesses would have held the mirror until they got some kind of payment. Not Spectrum! They shipped the mirror back to me with a note asking me to please send payment. That's trust...and good customer service in my book.

I am not affiliated with Spectrum in any way...just a happy customer. grin
Bill[/COLOR]

February 24, 2006 02:21 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Why Not....

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]...an in-line finder?

I like to have the finder near the EP so I can just move my head a little to use the finder and then go back to the EP. In pondering how to do this, I decided to mount the Rigel in-line with the focuser. This is probably a bad idea if you're mounting a Tak 11X70!! wink The holder is removable for storage/transport. Seems like it will work well.
Bill[/COLOR]

February 24, 2006 03:00 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Moving Closer....

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]...to having a completed telescope.

Slowly working on the 18.75" project. Here's the secondary being attached to the holder. Note toothpick spacers to allow removal later. Eventually I'll be upgrading to a better diagonal from Antares. Thanks Floyd..you convinced me! For now I'm using a diagonal that was good enough for a well known optician on his scope so it should be okay for me for the time being.

Note also the wires coming out of the holder for the dew heater. I had to use the smallest Dew Guard unit to fit so I'm not too sure how well that will work. Luckily I don't have serious dew problems too often where I observe.

Hopefully, with the secondary mounted,I'll be able to use the upper ring assembly this coming weekend to determine truss pole length. That should be fun...making the poles...I'm trying two piece poles for portability.
Bill[/COLOR]

February 26, 2006 04:58 AM Forum: Telescope Making

More Finder Fun

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]I decided to add the GLP to the now so called "finder stalk". Looks good so far. Have to see how it works in actual observing conditions.
Bill[/COLOR]

March 4, 2006 04:43 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Filter Swing

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]More progress on the 18.75" project.

This is the filter swing for my single 2" filter, an Astronomic UHC. I like the swing because I can easily, and quickly, move the filter into or out of the light path.

I'm still in the building stage so nothing has been painted flat black yet.
Bill[/COLOR]

March 9, 2006 01:24 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Help Me Choose!

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]Hi All!
Sometime lurker here who needs some suggestions.

Here's the idea: At the end of the month I'll be going to Big Bend in W TX for 5 nights of (hopefully) dark sky observing. I'll be taking a brand new 18.75" scope along for its maiden voyage under dark skies.

What I'm looking for is some suggestions for medium to difficult objects to track down. I'm a long time observer with pretty good observing skills. Decent star hopper. 50 year old eyes. My current scope is a nice 14.5" so the 18.75" will be a step up, albeit not a huge one.

I'm thinking I need 5 good (for an 18.75" scope) objects to search out each night I'm observing. If the nights are clear, I'll pretty much be up all night so things that come up late could be on the list. Of course I'll be doing the usual stuff like Omega Centauri, the usual GCs, etc. I'm thinking more along the lines of "Good Over Looked Objects".


Soooo....oh delvers in the deep sky...what objects would you all suggest?
Anxiously awaiting,
Bill[/COLOR]

March 9, 2006 03:31 AM Forum: Telescope Making

I'm In Way Over My Head...Literally!

Posted By Bill Byrd
shocked :S [COLOR="Purple"] Tonight I put the truss tubes together and mounted the secondary ring for the first time. Let's just say it's a good thing we have a tall, cathedral ceiling in the living room or this wouldn't work inside. I'm maybe 5'10" on a good day and that's a 6' step ladder in the background.

I cut the poles a little long so some fine tuning may get me a few inches lower. EP hieght as you see it here is right at 8'.

My current scope needs a single step up to view at zenith...and that's on an EQ platform. This pic shows the mirror box only...rocker box and ground board are going to take me another foot higher, at least. Looks like I'll be traveling with at least a 6' ladder when I observe.

Am I crazy?!?
Bill [/COLOR] :S

March 10, 2006 03:51 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Finder Mounted On Truss Poles?

Posted By Bill Byrd
[COLOR="Purple"]I used to have a pic of a finder mount that kinda slid onto truss poles midway down on a large scope. Change of computers has left me without that pic. Anyone happen to remember where that pic was?
Thanks!
Bill[/COLOR]

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