Posts Made By: Brian Risley

Just watched the launch on Nasa TV webcast, then went out to see it, this thing hauled! I am used to a shuttle launch, this was way faster!
Brian Risley
Ft. Myers, FL.

This just showed up over in Yahoo SCT Forum from Starhopper:

Pullin' the plug on the rumor mill:

"The C20 has been delayed and put on the back-burner a few times in
the past couple of years. We have decided that it would be better to
allocate our resources to the development of product that is better
suited to our core market. I regret to inform you that we have
decided to C20 Astrograph System will not be produced, however, we
will still produce and sell the optical tubes only. The release date
for the tube assemblies has not been set at this time.

Sincerely,
Celestron Technical Services Department"

o-=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=--=|=-o

So, there ya go -- down, but not out.

And rememba, ya hoid it here foist. ~8)
Clear'ns!
~S*H

This is a collage of shots I did last night. (Not the best at processing, did some final tweaks once I got to a real monitor, the laptop display is real different!)
These are all taken with my 1972 C-8 that I have completely rebuilt. Just got the focus assembly working smoothly. For those that wonder about what condition optics can be in and still function fine, the corrector has a single clean crack from the center to periphery, but I cannot detect it in the images. I am still doing final optical alignments as all the optics were unmounted and mirrors recoated. Seeing conditions were 5-6/10. I have a spare corrector I will try just to see what affect it has, but I am pleased with what I am getting. I will do a side by side comparison with my 1980 C-8 soon on a good night and post the images. Toucam 740K, Ultima Barlow and older Meade Barlow were used. (I even did a double stack on the barlows, may process and post one of those if it comes out, filled 1/2-2/3 of the width of the frame!)
Brian

With my Orange C-8's - Meade RG 20mm Erfle, 16.8 Ortho, 10.5 Ortho.
As for Barlow, currently tied with a Celestron Ultima and an older Meade I picked up here on AM from Rolando Chavez.

Brian

Here a some shots I got last night, first night out in 3 months!
Had to dodge some passing clouds. Seeing was not that great.
I did get to test my 2 new drive correctors, and I am pleased with them. (one a Meade Dual Axis Joystick, and one a Celestron Dual Axis with pushbuttons).
Was able to track beautifully. Now I may have to try wome shots with my modified Vesta.
I will be getting a new 900 at work, and may try it for planetary shots. For normal work, our test unit was definitely better than the 740, need to see how it does with planetary work. Just wished they made getting the lens off easier!

Brian Risley
Cape Coral, FL

Greg,
Unfortunately when I had my scope stolen the thieves ended up throwing it in a shallow pond off a backwoods dirt road.
I hope this doesn't happen to your friends scope.
Brian

Ok, here is a montage of Jupter taken 6-23. Taken from Cape Coral FL, long 81.9, Lat 26.6, with Jupiter near the meridian, still kinda low, even here!
Equipment is 1985 Black Tube C-8 Starbright on a SP roboscoped mount.
Toucam 740k. Ultima 2x Barlow and Orion 2x-3x in 3x mode.
K3ccdtools and Registax 3.
Seeing was decent, but deteriorated towards the end.
First time out in a while.

Go here:
http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=183&pid=5816&m=1
or directly to the source:
http://www.celestron.com/c2/product.php?ProdID=103&Style=printable

You will see it as F11, 2350mm
Brian
Celestron Moderator

Well,
Looks like Celestron goofed on this, and others have followed:

Aperture is 234.5mm and focal length is 2350, so that is F10.
In the specifications, Celestron lists it as F10, but they list it as F11 in their features.
I could see how that could be confusing!
Brian Risley
Celestron Moderator

Well, these are my first DSO images using my long exposure modified Vesta Webcam. Exposures were 20 or 30 seconds, 10 to 40 images stacked. These were taken through a Cometron 62mm 300mmfl refractor piggybacked on my 1980 C8 AC fork mount from the Withlacoochee River Park outside of Dade City, FL where the St Pete Astronomy Club observes.
Processed in K3CCDTools only.
No guiding, just left the scope alone while observing the Perseids.

Feel free to play with them. I have PS, but have to learn how to use it.
Brian
First shot is M42.