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Posts Made By: George Normandin

March 26, 2007 04:35 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Astronomy Magazine VS. Sky and Telescope

Posted By George Normandin
john shea said:

I have not read Astronomy magazine in some time. While at the newstand this weekend I noticed that Stephen O'Meara is one of the writers. Is Astronomy Magazine setting a new direction? There are also a couple of new writers on staff.
On the other hand Sky and Telescope is the king when it comes to Astronomical publications but I find it a very difficult read. One seems to have to be well versed for many years or have a physics degree to understand most of the articles. Am I alone in this.

There was never a reason given for O'Meara's switch, but maybe Astronomy is trying to "kick it up a notch".

I've subscribed to both (and Scientific American) for years. I've always considered Astronomy to be aimed at the "general public" while S&T is aimed at people with some science/engineering background. However there's been a lot of overlap too. Since I took several "science guy" astronomy courses in college (i.e., aimed at science majors) I find the articles in S&T (and SA) more interesting, but there is always that one-per-month in Astronomy that keeps me on their subscriber list.

George N

April 7, 2007 01:57 AM Forum: Refractors

meade series 5000 127mm ED APO OTA f/7.5 Triplet R

Posted By George Normandin
Daniel Janosick said:

Hi has anyone received shipment on this scope? .

I've looked around on various websites and the most believable info I could find is one vendor who claims that Meade told him about two weeks ago that the first units will ship in August. I hope to pin down the Meade rep at NEAF later this month on when they will ship.

George N

April 27, 2007 01:49 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Port Replicators

Posted By George Normandin
My ABS gamer laptop already has a parallel port. I've not had any luck getting a USB-to-serial converter to work with it. Also I've always been concerned with using such an expensive unit outside with dew, wire tripping, etc. So my solution was to buy a clunky old IBM laptop from a friend for $100 and load an earlier version of TheSky and CCD soft on it. It works fine for telescope control and CCD image capture. I transfer the files to the other PC for processing, etc. I figure if the old clunker gets trashed in the field I'm not out any real money.

George N

April 30, 2007 05:56 PM Forum: Refractors

meade series 5000 127mm ED APO OTA f/7.5 Triplet R

Posted By George Normandin
Daniel Janosick said:

Hi has anyone received shipment on this scope? .....

I asked the Meade rep at NEAF specifically when they will start selling this scope. He said that the Meade just put off the expected date of first delivery to September 2007. He also said that availability will be very limited initially and that if you expect to get one of these scopes anytime in 2007 you better pre-order as soon as possible. I asked if Meade was considering dropping this scope and he said "No way! We have too much money invested in it."

George N

August 2, 2007 08:43 PM Forum: Star Parties

Stellafane

Posted By George Normandin
Alex McConahay said:

I've never been there, and need some advice from somebody who knows....


Back in 1995 I ran into a guy who took the bus to Springfield and hitched a ride up the mountain. He thought that the old bunkhouse was open to Conventioneers. He spent one rainy evening and other times sleeping in the food tent!

I would think that you can get to Springfield via public transportation, but you might have a rough time hitching a ride to the site. I'd get a rental car myself.

The weather looks OK, but you should plan for possible rain/mud, heat, dust, bugs, and just maybe night temps as low as 40 F.

You will find lots of people willing to share their scopes with you and you will have a super time!!

You'll (hopefully) find me next to my Obsession 20 and more than willing to share views.

George N

August 23, 2007 03:08 PM Forum: ASTRONOMY

Astronomy - Oberserving/Hours/Quitting Time

Posted By George Normandin
Michael Franzyshen said:

.....how many times they get out a week/month, how long (in hours) their average session is and their quitting time....


I try and hit 4 nights per month, and maybe 2 to 4 solar h-alpha sessions. My usual quiting time is between 2 and 2:30, except on great nights with no work the next day, when I sometimes go all night. Unfortunately, where I live in New York, the weather is pretty dismal in winter, so my observing is much reduced from mid-December thru mid-March. I've been doing CCD imaging since 1994, and I have exactly zero images taken in January!

George N

August 25, 2007 07:43 PM Forum: Eyepieces

eviscerating eyepieces (warning)

Posted By George Normandin
Greg Nowell said:

If there are other eyepiece brands that disgorge their innards.....


The old Nagler 16mm Type 2 does. It also has a tendency to have the field stop unscrew from vibration. I always know I have the problem when I start getting an oval field of view! Once someone at Televue talked me thru "the fix" I can now do it in less than a minute. However I still have to be careful not to dump the lenses when doing it.

George N

August 27, 2007 03:28 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

So what's the next "big thing"

Posted By George Normandin
John Theodossy said:

So what does everyone think will be the next truly HUGE thing?

Possibilities are endless! wink

However, how about these (OEM's take note):

1. Field de-rotation for big Dobs. They already track and "GoTo", but it's 'build your own' when it comes to imaging and the big Dob. If the pros can do field de-rotation imaging on giant alt/az mounted scopes I don't see why am's can't. It'll take someone like Bisque or SBIG to start this rolling.

2. Big chip and low cost cooled CCD cameras.

3. Many more remote telescopes available for inexpensive on-line use, with at least some located in the southern hemisphere.

4. An amateur space telescope on the International Space Station.

5. I think there *is a new HUGE thing* right now and its name is "Ethos".

George N

September 4, 2007 02:51 PM Forum: Eyepieces

13mm Tele Vue Ethos Review

Posted By George Normandin
Dave Mitsky said:

Dennis di Cicco reviews the new 100 degree AFOV 13mm Tele Vue Ethos......Dave Mitsky

Several "on-line stores" are now saying that the Ethos "price announcement" and "release for sale" date will be September 15th.

October 2, 2007 02:39 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

October DSO Lists

Posted By George Normandin
What's "K12"?

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