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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Stanley Feather

April 16, 2005 04:24 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

mount polar finder for southern hemisphere

Posted By Stanley Feather
Orion has a polar finder for the SVP, but the manual implies it does not support southern hemisphere use.

Losmandy's and Vixen's polar finders both support southern hemisphere use, but I don't know if either fits the SVP.

I'd expect the Vixen has a better chance than the Losmandy, since the Vixen GP and GPDX mounts are more "standard" (ie, copied). Also, Orion used to sell the Vixen mounts so maybe they have common accessories with the SVP.

Perhaps you could borrow one and try it. Good luck.


May 21, 2005 03:30 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

How to use #777 off axis guider with ccd?

Posted By Stanley Feather
Frank,

If you're trying to use the DSI as the main imager you need a T-thread to 1-1/4" eyepiece port adapter. I've seen those on the Scopetronix website. Much less expensive than a separate guider.

sf





June 26, 2005 12:57 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

SCT 2" visual back

Posted By Stanley Feather

I'd rather have a 2-screw back when connecting cameras and guiders and extension tubes. Those configs add a lot of weight and length.

But, for strictly visual use with an ep and diagonal, a 1-screw should be fine.



November 13, 2005 08:06 AM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

storing slides and images

Posted By Stanley Feather
Mike,

I use archival binders and pages for storing slides and negatives. Each page holds 20 slides, or 36 negs.

The pages are plastic sleeves, with holes to fit a 3-ring binder. The binders are hard plastic, and can be snapped shut. Each binder holds about 100 pages.

It's not a very expensive system, and it works really well. They should be available at most camera suppliers. I bought some of this from Freestyle photo, and some from a local camera shop. Look under 'storage and presentation'.

There are also binder pages for prints and CDs, if you want to archive those as well.


sf

January 28, 2006 05:35 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

Using the Meade ETX series for photos

Posted By Stanley Feather

Google 'weasner etx'. Looks like a good resource for ETX stuff, and includes some photography.

sf

December 22, 2007 03:01 AM Forum: Solar System Observing

Confusing Mars Impact Predictions

Posted By Stanley Feather
I just spent a couple of hours at a JPL website, comparing the data on 2004 MN4 and 2007 WD5.

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi#top

Just enter each object name (2004 MN4, and 2007 WD5) in the search bar to get the orbital data.

It looks like several of MN4's orbital elements are known to much better precision, about 100 thousand times better, than WD5's.

Also, play with the Orbit Diagram viewer for each object. The close approach to Earth for WD5 is around April 13, 2029. I had so much fun with that viewer, I forgot to eat dinner tonight.

sf



March 1, 2008 06:58 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

GM-8 vs GPDX

Posted By Stanley Feather
I suspect both the GM-8 and GPDX will be slightly overloaded, for photography, with the load you describe. Disturbances will cause vibrations that don't settle quickly. So it will be more challenging to get sharp photos.

I have a GM-8, C9.25, Nikon D80, and an off-axis guider. The GM-8 is slightly jittery in this configuration, for photography. Of course, this load includes counterweights for both RA and DEC, and some accessories. It still works, its still fun. Its just more sensitive than with a lighter scope.


--sf

September 20, 2008 04:05 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Unable to get shutter release

Posted By Stanley Feather

Check the focus mode selector. It should also be Manual.


November 11, 2008 05:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Polar Alignment With no DEC Markings

Posted By Stanley Feather
Zero degrees declination is the celestial equator. Celestial north is 90 degrees north declination.

To help locate zero, you can sight a star near the celestial equator. zeta Aqr has a declination of less than 2 minutes north.

September 4, 2010 01:29 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

ngc max pinout

Posted By Stanley Feather
Bing 'ngc-max encoder pinout'. Look for a pdf file from jmitelescopes.com. It should be in the first few hits.

Info you need is on page 1.


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