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Captured by
Erwin Forbragd

M33 in Triangulum

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Posts Made By: Kim Colter

November 16, 2007 12:46 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

In memoriam

Posted By Kim Colter
My condolences, Inge. This week I learned of the loss of David LeVine, a wonderful man and enthusiastic observer I met through my observing friend, Bob Kirschenmann. When I read that your group observed many of Eckart's favorite objects, I thought of David's love of M92. I will not observe M92 again without thinking of David. At the Texas Star Party David introduced me to eating chile rellenos at the Mexican restaurant in Fort Davis. I won't eat chile rellenos without remembering him, either. David kidded Bob and I so much about having gone to the rattlesnake museum in Fort Davis. I think he thought the rattlesnakes might not be the most dangerous aspect of visiting this particular establishment. I suspect that both Eckart and David will take great delight when we who remain pause after a particularly stunning observation and remember them, or think "I wish they could have seen this." When we think such thoughts, they will be observing with us.

February 22, 2008 02:36 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Do You Have The Visual Squigglies?

Posted By Kim Colter
Floaters are much more bothersome when observing with a scope/eyepiece combination that creates a small exit pupil, i.e a 1mm or less exit pupil. Many observers find that the optimal exit pupil for deep sky observing is 2mm. I would predict that your floaters will be much less bothersome if you back off on the magnification, use eyepieces that give you an exit pupil in the 2mm to 5mm range, and avoid looking at bright objects. The best way to survey your vitreous humor for floaters is to put an eyepiece in your scope that gives you a 0.5 mm exit pupil and train the scope on the full moon.

January 4, 2009 02:46 AM Forum: Eyepieces

TeleVue Plossl Eye Relief

Posted By Kim Colter
Eric
I have no idea what the measurements for eye relief in mm are for these two eyepieces. I own both of these eyepieces, I have deepset eyes and wear specs, and I have no trouble using either of these eyepieces with glasses on. I think you'll find that they work fine for you.

August 10, 2009 02:07 AM Forum: Astro-Physics

I've been bested by an old coot

Posted By Kim Colter
Try being one of these guy's doctors. I must have two dozen of them. One has an electric motor on his exercise bike. "It exercises me!" Another is convinced he's "scaring off" UFO's by watching them as they come over his backyard. "That one that comes out of the southwest, he don't like me." When their legs get swollen, they drink a ton of fluid trying to get rid of their edema. Some of them split their pills into sixteen pieces and take however many sixteenths they think they need on a given day. Like Casey said about the '69 Mets, "they're amazing."

February 24, 2010 12:03 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Still so much to discover

Posted By Kim Colter
Strong work, Roland. Makes me want to have a look at this object again.

April 9, 2010 01:16 PM Forum: Reflectors

dew on primary...help

Posted By Kim Colter
Daniel
I am curious about where you live/observe that this is occurring. I have had it happen once at WSP in Florida in a very humid environment. You say it happens when it is very cold. My experience has been that very cold air doesn't hold as much water vapor as very warm air and I would have thought this less likely to happen in observing environments with extreme cold. How long does it take for your primary to dew/frost up? Do you have a shroud on when this is occurring?

November 17, 2010 01:35 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Windy Eagle

Posted By Kim Colter
Paul
Great image. I wonder if you can help an absolute rube (me) out with selecting a digital camera to attempt taking digiscope photos through a Zeiss 85 mm spotting scope. I would primarily be attempting to photograph the perched eagles that show up in my neck of the woods in the winter. (I live on the Missouri River.) Reading posted articles about digiscoping leads me to believe I want a camera with smallish objective to eliminate vignetting, optical zoom of 3X/4X max, the ability to use an electronic cable release. While understanding the concepts behind those recommendations, I really have no idea what digital camera to buy. I am not an experienced photographer. I couldn't tell anyone what a single lens reflex camera is compared to a standard digital camera, or why I would want one versus the other. The camera doesn't have to be a bargain, I'd rather buy my second camera first, if you know what I mean. Thanks!

October 22, 2013 12:44 PM Forum: Sports

MLB Playoffs?

Posted By Kim Colter
Darian
Agree that there were some great games in the playoffs. Being a Cardinal fan I was mostly focused on the NL side. My wife and I were in the crowd for the Carlos Beltran 3 Dodgers 2 13 inning win and the 9-0 victory that won the NL title in St. Louis. I don't think I will be able to part with the cash being asked for World Series tickets. (Hard not to think about the astronomy gear that could be had for the price of two World Series tickets.) The last meeting of the Cardinals and Red Sox in the Series was a 4-0 Boston sweep. I hope the Cardinals have a better series this year. Interesting that Mike Matheny was the catcher for the Cards in the 2004 series against the Red Sox and is now managing. The current Cardinals catcher is pretty impressive and is arguably the heart/soul of the team. If Michael Walka can keep his magic going on the mound it could be interesting.

May 29, 2019 09:46 PM Forum: Mounts

Help with mounting plate for sliding bar on Zeiss APQ scopes

Posted By Kim Colter
I am trying to mount Zeiss APQ scopes in alt az mode on a DM-6 discmount.   I thought that the Astro-physics 10" Saddle Plate for Both D-Style and V-Style Bars (DOVEDV10) would do the job, but unfortunately this plate will not close to a small enough width to grab the sliding bar that comes with the Zeiss APQ scopes.   I am told that the Zeiss APQ sliding bar is an integral part of the scope in that it attaches to the internal baffles in the scope.  I have been reluctant to try putting a different plate or sliding bar on the APQ in order to attach to a mounting plate on the DM-6.   I would appreciate any advice about how to accomplish mounting these refractors in alt az mode.  Thanks.

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