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Posts Made By: Joplin Motisher-Chittenden

July 18, 2003 07:33 PM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

Yahoo Group gone!?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I just checked and both the Burgess yahoo groups are still around. Posts have definitely slowed down on the larger of the two groups, in fact both are pretty dead at the moment. The whole issue of censorship seems a bit overblown since the main issue will be resolved as soon as the scopes start shipping. I do think that a certain moderator needs to rethink his heavy handed tactics regarding blocking member postings. To Bill Burgess's credit I have seen no evidence that he is involved in attempting to control or censor either group.

Joplin

July 20, 2003 11:29 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Where to get Mars filters for webcam

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Here's a link to the Alpine Astronomical price list, the UV-IR cut filter is near the top. I notice that a new shipment is due to arrive in a couple days:

http://www.alpineastro.com/product_listing.htm#filters

I have been quite pleased with the performance of this filter on mars. It does a good job of eliminating the infrared light interference/ excessive red saturation since most webcams are quite sensitive to infrared wavelenths once you remove the lens.

Joplin

July 21, 2003 08:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

EP projection/focuser question

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Most aftermarket focusers have a somewhat lower profile than the stock chinese ones. My advice is not to worry about the profile of the focuser as long as it is less than the orginal. A 2" extension tube can be used if the focuser runs out of outward travel. If the 2" to 1.25" adapter threads into the focuser, you will probably not be able to use it with the new focuser. If it is barrel fit (like a 2" eyepiece) you can probably use it with the new focuser. If you are stuck with a thread in 2" to 1.25" adapter, you can use a 2" prime focus camera adapter instead.

Joplin

July 22, 2003 07:37 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Your first scope?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I had a Tasco 4.5" F10 newtonian on a somewhat rickety equatorial mount. It wasn't too bad other than the mount and I used it to observe mars during the 1988 opposition and of course Jupiter and Saturn. My memory of it is more of the fun I had using it with my father than of scope. Later I purchased a Meade 97D maksutov spotting scope which I used to observe the Shoemaker- Levy 9 comet impacts on Jupiter. I wasn't pleased with the performance of the Meade at all and spotted an ad in the local paper for a Dynascope RV-6 that was only $150.00 I bought it and learned how to collimate and adjust everything on it. That scope was really the first one I used to look at objects beyond the solar system and still use it.

Joplin

July 29, 2003 05:27 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Bogen Tripod and Set Screws

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
They are M6 X 1.0 (6mm diameter, 1thread per millimeter).

Joplin

August 5, 2003 08:03 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

IR Filter with WebCam

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
The IR cut filter is useful if you plan to image mars, even if you are using reflector scopes. Some webcams are more sensitive to infrared than others, so the effect varies. I'm using the Baader UV-IR cut filter with a ToUcam Pro on a 10" newtonian. Here's an image I processed from frames taken on the morning of the 28th:

August 12, 2003 01:11 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

My 1st attempt at Mars: need some help!

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Great mars image, there is a fairly easy fix for the halo in Photoshop. See my post in the User Film and CCD photos forum:

http://www.AstroMart.com/messages.asp?message_id=96468&page=

I'd be doing some imaging tonight if the weather here was better (I just heard a thunder clap :-)


Joplin

August 14, 2003 05:46 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Using Macintosh & Web-cams

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I use a program called BTV to capture video on my Mac from a ToUcam Pro. Not all of the Philips webcams will run on a Mac. Whatever program you use, it will use the Philips driver so operation is about the same. One option that some people use is to run Virtual PC on a Mac, which makes it possible to capture and process the images with more refined software.

Joplin

August 23, 2003 03:12 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

ED80 weight?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
The Orion specs state that it weighs 5 pounds 11 oz. and is 23.5" long. In order to acheive the same true field of view you would need a 2" eyepiece so figure on another 2 pounds+ for a diagonal and widefield eyepiece. If you mostly use your ST-80 for widefield views it is really the more practical option considering portability.

Joplin

August 29, 2003 01:21 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

use a gun cabinet /piano dehumifier !

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
As the son of a piano technician with over 30 years of experience I can honestly say that "dew chasers" as they are known for pianos are of more use chopped down and connected to a 12v power supply and used at night for dew prevention. They drive too much moisture out of pianos, which shinks the wooden parts and dries out various other components. In a high humidity environment they won't dry the air out enough and will lead to mold instead as the air becomes both hot and wet.

Joplin

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