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Posts Made By: Erlend Langsrud

January 23, 2003 09:33 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Orion XT8 or Orion XT10 comparison?

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
My astronomy club posted the same question in an astronomy mailing list. Two or three XT10 owners actually adviced us to get the XT8 because it's much easier to lug around.

Apparently, the XT10 is much bigger and bulkier than the XT8.

I have no first hand experience with the XT10 though.

Erlend

February 10, 2003 08:32 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

what about chromatism?

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
I think your reasoning makes a lot of sense. I believe high quality MAK's are at least as good as achromats on planets. In fact, I doubt anyone in their right mind would trade a 3.5" Questar for a 90 mm achromatic refractor.

Maybe the alledged lack of contrast in reflectors is due to surface roughness and straylight rather than central obstruction. (I think reflectors are more sensitive to surface roughness, but I'm not 100% sure)

Erlend

February 13, 2003 09:51 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Battle gear time....

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
There is no war against Iraq, and there will be no war unless the US attacks.

There is a war against Al Qaeda, but Saddam Hussein will not support his enemies. In his latest speach, Bin Laden told the muslems to fight the USA, but not in the name of "socialist" regimes which have abandoned Islam (e.g. Saddam Hussein). The main objective of Al Qaeda is to fight secular regimes and "crusaders" in the Arab world.

I will support an attack on Iraq if Saddam Hussein launch terrorist attacks on the US or Europe. Not before. The idea af a pre-emptive attack is short sighted, and will surely not put an end to terrorism. How can you be the good guys if you attack other nations? Do you really believe this is going to be the "final combat"?

For the record: I'm not a radical, and no passifist. In fact, part of my job is to design equipment for the US-marine corps and US Army (don't ask...) I supported the last Gulf war, as well as millitary actions in Kuwait, Kosovo, Somalia etc.

regards, Erlend.


February 14, 2003 10:35 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

N Korea

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
The worst part is that N Korea talk about pre-emptive attacks too! As if a small-ish nuclear attack on S Korea or USA could ever prevent a war!! I don't think so. Lets just pray there is one sane braincell left to share between them.

Erlend







March 10, 2003 01:46 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

Successful First Attempt at Prime Focus

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
Let the photo lab scan them for you! And please, please post the result on this forum. I've been thinking about purchasing an Orion SVP myself for getting my feet wet in prime focus photography. I'm very curious about the mount.

Erlend

March 12, 2003 07:29 AM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

First Attempt at Prime Focus (M42)

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
Great image, Michael! I think the stars are V-shaped because of less than perfect guiding. (The finderscope has far too little magnification.) Still, it's a great image, and the tracking is not bad at all for a 5 minute unguided exposure.

Erlend

March 19, 2003 12:39 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Deep sky - SCT or APO?

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
You need two scopes. Trust me.

Erlend

March 24, 2003 03:58 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Diplomatic solution

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
I was opposed to a war without UN support, but now I'm thinking the US and UK can just as well finish the job. At least we get rid of Saddam Hussein. I read in the paper yesterday that no tyrant has ever been overthrown by peaceful means. Not ever! (I can't swear that's true, but the article was written by a professor)

The US will provail for sure, but will the Iraqi people percieve them as liberators or occupants? I think a broad international UN-supported coalition would stand a better chance.

Erlend

April 2, 2003 04:21 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

U.S. vs. World media coverage

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
I think we all need to see dead children some times to understand what war is about.
OK, so the war is not all about dead children, but why leave out that particular piece of the puzzle? I mean, all the other aspects of this war are reported in detail (US casualties included), so why not report civilian casualties in detail too?

BBC is a decent source in my opinion.

Erlend

April 7, 2003 10:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

What can you see in a 5" mak cass?

Posted By Erlend Langsrud
5" is not pointless at all! I use an 11" SCT and a 5" newt. The 11" shows more detail in all objects but there's a lot of objects that subjectively look better in the 5".

You can see countless galaxies in a 5". ("Countless" means a few hundred in this case). M81/M82 look fantastic as a pair. Open clusters like M35, M37 (my favourite) and the double cluster look fantastic. M31 looks great. M65/M66 looks great.

M51 looks good. No actual spiral arms, but the dim haze surrounding the core is the about the same size as the spiral arms i know from photos.

M13 will certainly look better in an 8", but it can be resolved to the core in a 5" when the sky is dark and clear.

You will need a low power eyepiece for some deep sky objects. Many objects arguably look best at 40x (my favourite 5" faint-fuzzy-magnification!).

Conclusion: You must buy a 5" or smaller. Now!

regards, Erlend

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