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Posts Made By: Tom Masterson

February 10, 2007 01:05 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Re: need some new eyepieces

Posted By Tom Masterson
I second Joel's reccomendation. I own the 21, 17 and 13mm Stratus and a 8mm Hyperion and absolutely love them. Hard to beat for the price. I use mine in a 12" lx200, a f/8 apo, and a f/7 apo.

New you're looking at $130 ea, used for about $90-ish. Be aware the used one's are snapped up quickly.

Another eyepiece that has a good performance/price ratio (especially used)is the Burgess/TMB planetaries. I own the 9 and 6mm and like them too. However, I find the performance of the 8mm Hyperion to be equal to the 9mm TMB.

Good luck.

Tom

February 10, 2007 07:15 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Warfles and gammas?

Posted By Tom Masterson
Jess:

I used to own an old military erfle and I remember hearing the same thing. When I researched it years ago I read it was a rare earth element that caused the problem. From what I remember, the way to identify these eyepeices (other than a geiger counter) is that this glass had a amber tint to it.

I seriously doubt any of the well known vendors of surplus erfles would be selling the radioactive ones.

Tom

March 14, 2007 04:40 AM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

Image brightness

Posted By Tom Masterson
I'd suggest you contact Meade and explain the situation.

I had my PST repaired due to objective failure and it came back to me showing a much brighter solar disk. Like yours, surface contrast is less than before. Now my PST doesn't show scattered light like you report and the brighter image allows me to use higher powers so it balances out a bit.

The scattered light doesn't sound right which is why I suggest you contact Meade. I know its a pain, but if your not happy with the repair, you should let them know. I'm sure they'll make it right.

Tom


March 16, 2007 01:40 AM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

recommended scopes?

Posted By Tom Masterson
Steve:

No need to use an APO for h-alpha viewing. Its not how well color corrected a lens is, its how well corrected in red light the lens is. I own both types of scopes and have used both with my 90mm filter. The Achromat - a inexpensive Orion AstroView 100mm f/6 Achromat does "better" than my 94mm f/7 Brandon APO with an AstroPhysics lens. Like in many h-alpha eyepeice choices, less glass is better. Less elements to scatter light or absorb h-alpha red. I was surprised when I discovered my $250 achromat out performs my $1500 APO. The Orion is now my dedicated solar scope.

I'll admit, what will change my opinion is when you say you want to purchase a smaller more compact "all purpose" scope for BOTH h-alpha and night-time viewing. Then a small APO may be the better choice.

My 2 cents.

Tom Masterson

March 20, 2007 05:57 AM Forum: Meade

Magellan one computer aligment fails for DOB

Posted By Tom Masterson
Wes:

I can't say for sure since I've never owned one, but I have used other DSCs that required a ratio be set in initial set-up. If the encoders are directly connected to the axis of the scope the ratio should be 1.0 If there's gearing or belts/cogs involved, its the gear ratio expressed as a decimal. So if the gear on the scope shaft has 10 teeth and the gear on the encoder shaft has 20 teeth the ratio would be .5

Hope this helps.

Tom

March 21, 2007 06:37 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

12v or 18v DC Power Source for LX200 Classic

Posted By Tom Masterson
Paul:

The classics run on 18v.
My 12" has an 18v ac adapter, and a 12v to 18v adapter.

Tom

March 25, 2007 07:53 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Solar Maximum 2011

Posted By Tom Masterson
Oh, crap.... now I have to worry about Solar Warming.

grin

Tom

April 9, 2007 03:19 AM Forum: Eyepieces

reducers - wider fields

Posted By Tom Masterson
You could always find a friend that owns a large schmidt cass and borrow his reducer to try it.

PS - that friends wife says you don't NEED another telescope toy. =;^)

April 16, 2007 06:56 PM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

A PST "Rust" Question

Posted By Tom Masterson
Vince:

I'm not sure I'd worry too much. If your objective hasn't shown signs of failing then you might be ok. My objective went bad and my PST was only used lightly. It started showing a slight haze around the edge of the objective within a year or so.

I don't know anything about where the first objectives were made.

So, I'd say, no "rust" no worries.

Tom

May 20, 2007 05:01 PM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

Three stacked 40mm

Posted By Tom Masterson
Bruce:

I'm sure its been done. I vaguely remember talking about it to someone during one of the Coronado HOTS conferences a few years back.

A few things come to mind. One is that the image is dimmed even more - I doubt 40mm aperture would be large enough to work well because of this. Two, there's more fiddling involved because you have to tune all three filters to work with each other properly. And three, I believe you get diminishing returns with the more filters you add to the system because each filter is in essence removing noise from the image. The more filters, the less noise to remove so less enhancing effect takes place.

I could be wrong but this is what I recall.

Tom

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