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Posts Made By: Joplin Motisher-Chittenden

March 22, 2007 08:48 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Too Many Eyepieces?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I have sort of an odd assortment of eyepieces that I use most of the time. In order of most to least used it would be 13mm T6 nagler, 10mm Pentax XW, 30mm 1RPD UW, and 19mm Orion Ultrascan. I use my 2.5x powermate and Orion 2x shorty plus barlow quite a bit as well. Also have a 7mm Pentax XW on the way that will see plenty of use. Eyepieces I don't use that much would include a 3.8mm ultrascopic, 7mm/ 9mm/ 12.5mm orthos, and 9mm/ 18mm/ 30mm eyepieces that came with came with my Criterion RV6. Lately I've been using alt-az mounts a lot so the widefields are getting the most use of course.

Joplin

March 23, 2007 08:08 PM Forum: Celestron

My new C80 cannot be mounted to my new Vixen Icaru

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
As far as I know the C80ED has a 90mm tube diameter. I would just get a pair of 90mm mounting rings from Orion or a similar supplier for about $20. Just make sure that they have 1/4 x 20 threads. Then leave the mounting rings installed on your Icarus mount and open them to attach the scope. From what I could find, the screws on the Icarus mount are 1/4 x 20 and spaced 4" apart center to center. If you want to post a picture of the bottom of your clamshell ring that came with the scope along with a ruler we could probably offer suggestions on how to make it work.

Joplin

March 29, 2007 01:16 PM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

New PST... Tips???

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I tried a number of different eyepieces with my PST and found that my U.O. 12.5mm ortho was the best/ easiest to use overall eyepiece under most conditions. The "sweet spot" of the view is too small for a widefield eyepiece to be of much use. The best way to see surface detail is to check often and use a sun shield or dark cloth which will allow lower contrast details to be seen. As far as adjusting the filter I would say just play with it until you get the most detail. A mount with easy to use slow motion controls is very useful for getting the position just right (a perfectly centered image isn't necessarily the best).

Joplin

April 4, 2007 03:39 AM Forum: N.A.S.A.

Cassini Photo Essay

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
That was really cool!
Thanks for posting the link.
Joplin

April 4, 2007 12:57 PM Forum: Mounts

Celestron C80

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I'd suggest posting a wanted ad on Astromart along with the picture. Those little insert screws were only used with the original rings on the C80 and a few other models. Many people use the Polaris mounts with regular style rings so there are probably at least a few people with those inserts laying around.

Joplin

April 12, 2007 08:33 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

What is the latest word on Galaxy Filters?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Just posted on Cloudynights:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1646

Joplin

April 19, 2007 01:25 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Inexpensive digital camera upgrade for astrophoto

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Here is a direct link to the article:

http://tinyurl.com/2pvlnz

I think this mod would be most useable for webcams which are more easily disassembled than digital cameras with integrated zoom lenses. The allelectronics.com site mentioned for supplies has a bunch of neat stuff, will have to add it to my favorites. For example they have large diameter shrink tubing (great for covering truss poles)

Joplin

May 28, 2007 01:46 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Piliated WP

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
I've never seen one at a feeder before, that's pretty neat. I saw several Pileated woodpeckers on a recent camping and roadtrip through the Ozarks. This one was about 50 feet from my campsite at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky.

Joplin

June 14, 2007 10:15 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Snake ID?

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Looks like it could be a Texas Rat Snake.

Joplin

July 14, 2007 05:55 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

SkyView Deluxe mount troubles

Posted By Joplin Motisher-Chittenden
Have you checked to see if the allen screw that holds the knob in place is tight on the flat part of the worm shaft ? If the knob is tight on the shaft then the worm gear probably needs adjustment.

Joplin

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