Posts Made By: Jim Moscheck

I like the t-shirt and wear mine at our clubs public events and always get comments on it, mostly good. It helps inform newbies as to where they can go to get good used astro equipment.

And being an Astro Cop enables me to go up to folks I don't know and ask them to please put thier EPs where I can see them.

Hi John,

I have three Naglers, a 26T5 and the 12 and 17T4. I really like the T4s and they are my most used eps. I use the 26 on extended objects like the Veil. I was curious as to how well the 22T4 compared and borrowed one from a friend to try out. My totally subjective conclusion was that I didn't like it as much as the other T4s and preferred the 26T5 with the wider true FOV and felt it was too close to the 17T4 in magnification. The 26T5, UHC filter, and the Veil Nebula are my favorite DSO and EP combo. 8)

Lee Spain said:

This upcoming spacewalk looks like it could be a bit scary and could involve electrocution risk to the astronaut.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/11/02/space.shuttle.ap/index.html

Hi Lee,
I watched a condensed version of the spacewalk last night on NASA TV. The tool the astronaut used to keep the panel away looked like a little hockey stick. He was working on the end of the stations Canadarm 50 yards away from the airlock which is farther away than they like. Fascinating.

Hi Judson,

I plan to incorporate my dew control and wiring into a box that rides on the front end of my rocker box similar to this made by Doug Scobel:

http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=512467

I don't remember if you observe from home or if you ever take it to dark skies, but if weight isn't a problem I suggest two layers of 3/4" plywood for the bottom of the rocker and place the sides on this base. Before I'm flamed for overkill the extra weight is definitely worth it for the increased stability of the mount.

My truss scope is easy to wheel up into my Chrysler mini van and is rock solid for observing. I get no flex or backlash at all and using an Argo Navis with just a casual alignment I can put objects into a 100X EP almost 100% of the time. I (over)built mine using the Kriege and Berry book and used 1" sides for the bearings and 1/2" for the front and back and I'm glad I did. Maybe someday I'll rebuild it into a ultra light.

Oh course, yours is for a tube newt and the rocker has to be tall for your altitude bearings, so you could use 3/4" plywood and use side braces like Floyd Blue has done and posted to stiffen up the rocker sides. I'd still use the double thickness for the bottom.

Keep us informed with how your project is coming along.

Why not go all the way and rebuild it into a truss? I leave it assembled in the garage and roll it out to the patio for observing.

This year was supposed to be my first WSP, but unfortunately my work situation has changed, not for the bad, but with lots of additional hours.

I tell you, this business of mine is getting in the way of my hobby. :S

Woo hoo, only 10 more years till I can retire. :S

Hi Bill,

The ones you mentioned will work just fine depending on your equipment as most are either 12 or 17 a/hrs. I use a Kendrick 17 a/hr I bought years ago when I had an SCT. It was barely enough to run everything on my rig for about 5 hours on a dewy night. It works fine for my push to newts, but not with a laptop. It came with a trickle charger and while more expensive than a jump start battery it has given me 5 years of service so far.

I plan to replace it this summer with a marine deep cycle battery with at least 50 a/hrs to be able to run for three or four consecutive nights at a star party.

The wiring is simple, so even a caveman like me can do it. I plan to use a plastic battery box and wire the components and 12v sockets into the top.

I don't know it it's the best ever, but I nominate Alien. Not only great Sci Fi, it scared the bejebas out of me. 8O

One of the more interesting things to come out of this screwy primary is that Hillary actually lost to uncommitted in the city of Detroit.

Jess, you have way too much time on your hands.

I really liked that movie the first time I saw it, but every time I've see it since I've pointed out weaknesses in the story/plot.

I still do like the movie and will watch it if it is on.

Focal length will dictate whether to use a tube or trusses. An Orion XT12 is the size of a water heater and looks difficult to transport. You might want to ask in the ATM forum to get more responses.

You need a book to help you with design and the necessary math.

"The Dobsonian Telescope" by Kriege and Berry is a good place to start, but be forewarned some data is out of date i.e. the mirror cell design chapter. Use PLOP instead.