Image of the day

Captured by
Philip Imbrogno

M 33

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Randy Roy

April 29, 2007 10:27 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

Same-Scale DSO Collage

Posted By Randy Roy
Peter,

My poster has arrived and is at the framers. It will be up in my observatory in about a week. It is the best looking astro poster I have seen!


April 30, 2007 08:41 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Good 2.5mm and 3.5mm EPs?

Posted By Randy Roy
To answer your question literally, I would agree with the T6's. However, I use the T6's above 5mm and have opted for the 3-6 Nagler zoom for my 90mm GEM mounted APO. The Nagler zooms are just incredible for the price and I agree the performance is at least on par with the T6's (except for FOV, of course). Keep in mind the Nagler zooms are a bit short on eye relief. I literally have to trim my eyelashes every month or so to keep from depositing oil on the lens. Others may not have this problem, but I know of some that do.


May 6, 2007 03:55 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Eyepiece Confessional

Posted By Randy Roy
I started the hobby in 1960 and have been involved since. My first scope, a 4" reflector, lasted me about 10 years and I used two Kellner eyepieces and a barlow. Later I added a Ramsden to that. That was it. My first major upgrade was when I ground an 8" mirror about 35 years ago and purchased 3 plossls. At that time, owning simple plossls was like owning a box full of Naglers. I want to laugh today when I hear people refer to plossls as inferior or like "looking down a straw", etc. I remember when plossls were very cool.

Since, I have had the pleasure of owning lots of eyepieces, but have "matured" my belief that you only need about 3-5 eyepieces per scope. Lowest useful power, low power, medium power, high power and highest useful power. My other advice is to buy quality eps, such as any of the Televues or Pentax. Try all you can and put comfort ahead of tiny differences in constrast, lateral color, etc. Fewer, high quality eyepieces are way better than a box full of junk at every imaginable focal length.

But, "junk" is a thousand times better than nothing and most of today's "junk" is wonderful compared to the Kellners and Ramsdens I used to own.

May 29, 2007 02:10 AM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Marking a item sold

Posted By Randy Roy
It didn't really disappear. Go back to the ads page and click the "Include Sold/Found Items Y N". Click Y for yes. Its a great feature that makes it easier to browse through unsold items, but still allows you to see sold items.


June 10, 2007 07:49 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

9.25 SCT focuser issues

Posted By Randy Roy
Joe,

Sometimes the problem you describe can be fixed by simply loosening all three screws on the focuser shaft and retightening by torgueing each screw evenly. If the shaft is bent, this won't work, but it may be that the screws were tightened one at a time at the factory causing this problem. I have seen it several times before.


August 12, 2007 01:55 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Persieds shower

Posted By Randy Roy
I counted 21 meteors Friday night in 55 minutes of observing and 12 last night in 45 minutes. Some of them were very colorful and quite bright. Both observing times began just before midnight. Hopefully, tonight will be even better.

As a data point, I live in western Tennessee with about mag 5.5 skies. The Milky Way is easily seen, though not brilliant.




August 13, 2007 04:34 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Annual Spellcheck reminder

Posted By Randy Roy
Let's not forget "Amatuer", er. . amateur.


September 7, 2007 06:22 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

The Terms Half Moon and First & Last Quarter

Posted By Randy Roy
I've always heard/read/believed the first and third quarter moons represent their position in the synodic/lunar period rather than their apparent shape. This makes good sense to me. Using terms like "half-moon" while helpful for some would seem to perpetuate the common misunderstanding that lunar quarters represent the apparent shape of the illuminated disk rather than a fraction of the synodic period.

At least that is my take.


October 7, 2008 03:45 AM Forum: Eyepieces

XW40 or Panoptic 41 for CGE 1400?

Posted By Randy Roy
Well, I've used both in my C14 and they work great. However, let me recommend another choice and that is the 40 Paragon. It works as well in my C14 as any eyepiece I have tried. It provides as flat a field at a the 41 Pan and is slightly, but noticeably flatter than the XW40. It is as contrasty as the XW40 and slightly contrastier than the 41 Pan. It's relatively light weight and a bargain at about $250 new.

Caveats--I've only used my scope at F11, so do not know the relative merits of these eyepieces using a focal reducer. Also, this is based on my experience, though I have been building, buy and using scopes for nearly 50 years. Your experience or the experience of others may differ.


June 19, 2009 03:22 PM Forum: Celestron

CGE14 on the CGE mount: Advice?

Posted By Randy Roy
I've had my CGE1400 for two years this month. I use it pretty much every clear night, thanks to a big observing pad, dark skies and Wheeley Bars. My only real problem had to do with the infamous cables. After buying cheap aftermarket cables a couple of times, I purchased some outrageously expensive hi-flex cables from L-Com and have had no problems for about 18 months. I understand Celestron seems to have fixed this problem on newer mounts.

I find accuracy not to be a problem at all. The All Star polar alignment really works. I would hate to do without this feature ever again.

I use my CGE1400 more and more for imaging. Again, accuracy is not an issue, but stability is with C14. I think he CGE1100 would be a better choice for imagers, but the C14 is definitely a crowd pleaser for visual.



Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search