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Posts Made By: Rod Mollise

February 28, 2009 12:36 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Best non-televue eyepiece collections

Posted By Rod Mollise
Greg Nowell said:

Suppose you were asked to put together a top tier eyepiece collection w/o any Televue products. What would you choose?


I could be right happy with just the WO Uwans. The four of them, a Powerswitch, and I could get along right well. There are the Pentaxes, but I just don't like their restrictive AFOVs, especially since I went ETHOS. LOL

February 28, 2009 12:42 PM Forum: Celestron

Wedge Orientation - C8 Deluxe

Posted By Rod Mollise
Walt Soderman said:

Any reason why it would be bad to rotate my wedge and use the 'other' set of holes to mount my C8? I'd like to sit directly behind the scope and observe, but the tripod leg goes straight back if I use the threaded holes for the wedge. The additional holes are not threaded, but I could purchase machine screws, washers and nuts to secure, I think. The C8 owners manual says to use the threaded holes, which I do realize are located directly above each tripod leg. I assume this provides the best stability, right? Anybody tried using the other set of holes?

Walt

No, there is no reason not to do this...so long as wedge and scope are securely mounted to tripod and don't fall off'n it. :-)

February 28, 2009 05:49 PM Forum: Eyepieces

13mm Ethos should i jump?

Posted By Rod Mollise
Yes.

March 1, 2009 03:02 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Registax 5 has been released!

Posted By Rod Mollise
Paul Maxson said:

You can get it and the manual at:

http://www.astronomie.be/registax/

Enjoy!
Paul Maxson

With the proviso that this is a beta which will expire in 30 days. Since it is continually cloudy here, I reckon I will just wait for the final. LOL

March 1, 2009 03:03 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Nexstar 8 Question

Posted By Rod Mollise
Yes. You will want either a 2-inch SCT diagonal or a 2-inch adapter/visual back and a refractor-type diagonal.

Most 2-inch Crayford focusers will screw directly on to the rear port.


March 2, 2009 03:14 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Can Neximager capture stars?

Posted By Rod Mollise
Timothy McDougall said:

Can the celestron neximager capture stars? To what magnitude can I expect with a 5" refractor/C11 sct? Can a "Star analyzer" be used successfully? I'm aware that its a planetary cam but can I stretch its capability to image brighter stars(>mag 6)? Thanks ahead for any advice or experiences. wink

No idea what a "star analyzer" is...a spectrograph? If so, yes, on bright stellar spectra.

As for just imaging stars, again, yes. In fact I used the NexImage to capture Comet Holmes and got a number of fairly dim 6 mag and dimmer field stars as well.


March 4, 2009 01:16 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Laser Collimator

Posted By Rod Mollise
George Maddox said:

Could a Laser Collimator be used on a SCT for Collimation? I have a Laser Mate
GEORGE M.

No. A laser is a recipe for MIS collimation on an SCT. Just use Polaris. It is effective and FREE. You might want to look at this if you've never done an SCT collimation before.

http://skywatch.brainiac.com/SCThp/collimation.pdf

wink

March 4, 2009 01:45 PM Forum: Audio

New format switch ...again

Posted By Rod Mollise
Tony Aguire said:

8 track....casette tape....CDs.....Now I have moved onto MP3 player for my music....What do I do with (several hundred) CDs?
Sun catchers? Coasters? Barbells? I like the flexability of the MP3, I can even play my music via bluetooth on my trucks system.

Do what I did:

Import 'em into iTunes, box 'em up and stick 'em in the garage, never to trouble you agin'.

Some people will be horrified at the prospect, that you'll _lose all that audio quality_ by switching to iTunes or MP3. It sure sounds good to me, though, even when I run the audio through a good amp. Yeah, I'll admit, the Strategic Air Command ruined my hearin' years ago, but even if it hadn't, it would be worth it to me to dispense with those annoyin' little disks and their jewel cases.

I suspect most folks feel the same way, and that "non computer" formats will continue to be ever more a niche thing. IOW, for a few people they will live on much as LPs do. For most of us, even those with an enduring interest in music/audio? Not So Much. LOL

March 4, 2009 03:51 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

SCT in a Fork or GEM? Pro's / Con's

Posted By Rod Mollise
Victor Amadio said:

I have decided definitvely that I will be upgrading to an 8-11 inch SCT. Looking in the used market and what it will cost to put a nice setup together for good general viewing and later astrophotography.

What are the differneces between buying a SCT OTA with a good tracking mount (HEQ-6) and USED units such as a fork mounted LX200 or CPC series unit.


As Roland says, if you're a visual observer, go for the fork. At least if we are talking a go-to fork that can be operated in alt-az fashion. Nothing is more comfortable for visual use than that.

Imaging? Not so much. Pound for pound, my experience is that GEMs deliver the goods better and easier than forks. Not to say that forks can't take pictures and good ones--thousands of folks have taken thousands of shots with forks over the years. But, still, IMHO, things are easier with GEMs. You can also go as far quality-wise as your wallet and needs allow...whether that be the EQ6, a Losmandy, or one of Roland's excellent GEMs.

Remember, too, that unless you want to stick to very short exposures, you will have to put that fork on a wedge for imaging. That adds shakiness IMHO, even if you invest in a sufficient wedge (i.e. something better than what Meade and Celestron sell). Finally, I will never, ever go back to visual observing with a wedge mounted scope. Y-U-C-K! LOL

March 5, 2009 11:23 PM Forum: Celestron

Computer conection CPC 925

Posted By Rod Mollise
You can't do it this way. There are only two ways to control your scope with a laptop:

1. Serial connection on PC to serial port on _hand control_.

2. Nexremote connection via the celestron programming cable to the PC port.

Not only will none of what you are trying work, you can potentially damage something by connecting the scope up this-a-way.

wink

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