What would you suggest?Posted By Michael Tencza |
I like the 27 mm Panoptic that weights in at just over a pound.
Posts Made By: Michael Tencza
July 29, 2008 06:24 PM
Forum:
Eyepieces
August 1, 2008 01:14 PM
Forum:
Refractors
Orion EON 120mm F7.5 APO is a winnerPosted By Michael Tencza |
It would be nice to have side by side tests with a few of the many excellent 100 mm refractors that are available. A new EON 120 mm is less money than most of them used so a shoot out (both visual and photographic) is needed. I would love to get a decent quality 4.7" refractor at this price level.
August 1, 2008 06:58 PM
Forum:
Global Warming - REAL or NOT
Perfect energy source?Posted By Michael Tencza |
Its about time, I can't wait to install them.
August 6, 2008 12:24 AM
Forum:
Eyepieces
Low Power Eyepieces for SV NighthawkPosted By Michael Tencza |
At f/7 you might also consider the 40 mm Paragon, especially if exit pupil is not an issue. The exit pupil with it would be 5.71 mm with a 14x magnification and 4.86 degree FOV. I have used it in an f/6.9 telescope and been very pleased. Of course it will not work like a Panoptic or Nagler in a fast Dob, but that's not what you are asking about.
August 23, 2008 05:35 PM
Forum:
Equipment Talk
Great Optics?Posted By Michael Tencza |
When someone is trying to sell something they tend to exaggerate. Recently I saw a Baytronix (ugh) Telescope for sale with the adjective excellent used. Now I'm pretty new to the field but the reputation of these instruments (and I use the term loosely) is not new to me. So, excellent compared to what, maybe looking through the bottom of a shot glass after you've relieved it of its contents? With all due respect to the poster they actually said excellent condition and may have been referring to the paint. Great optics are very rarely mass produced. Great craftsmen make them and are willing to test them afterwards to quarantee quality. For instance when someone advertises anything with a Zambuto mirror in it they don't need adjectives, the name stands for itself.
August 24, 2008 12:22 PM
Forum:
Beginning Astronomy?
Andromeda and . . . . .Posted By Michael Tencza |
First I would recommend some kind of reference. Many sky charts are available that should help you. I just download the PDF from the Sky and Telescope websight every month to get an overview of the night sky and then use Pennington's Messier guide to star hop. Check out Sagitarius on the next clear night. It looks like a giant teapot in the Southern sky. Just above the spout you will find the lagoon and trifid nebulas. With a good guide you should be able to find many open and globular clusters also. Clear Skies!
August 24, 2008 12:26 PM
Forum:
Beginning Astronomy?
Eyepiece cleaning?Posted By Michael Tencza |
The website John suggested is great. I prefer to use Zeiss Lens Cleaner and plain white Kleenex tissues.
August 24, 2008 12:50 PM
Forum:
Eyepieces
Lower vs Higher power EPsPosted By Michael Tencza |
I found its nice to have a complete set of good plossls so you can experiment on your own to find out what focal lengths you prefer. I chose a pre-owned set of Televue Smoothie's (the old kind without the rubber eyecups) that I put together one at a time from the ads on Amart. This was time consuming but I like these. The focal lengths in this set are 40, 32, 26, 21, 17, 13, 10.5, and 7.4 mm. I also added a Televue 2.5 x Powermate (a regular barlow will vignette this set but the Powermates work fine). This set gives me a wide range of focal lenths and on nights when I just feel like a quick look or don't want to deal with the heavy stuff this is the one I go for. Good widefield eyepieces (you will want good ones since you are operating at f/4.7) are costly and can always be added later when you decide what you really want.
August 26, 2008 11:39 AM
Forum:
Refractors
What does "well corrected" mean exactly?Posted By Michael Tencza |
It is amazing to me how much time we have to spend just to figure out what the venders are telling us. Unfortunately what you say is correct most of it is either used incorrectly or simply nonsense.
August 28, 2008 02:23 AM
Forum:
Reflectors
Mirror recoating - oversprayPosted By Michael Tencza |
Check the recent thread in this forum entitled "Edge Blacken Primary?". There was a lot of advise against painting the sides of a primary black.
