Posts Made By: Tom Bourg

Hello Bill,

Probably all of the above compared to when I was a teenager.

This happens all the time at the observatory, btw. Us old guys are always talking about how much better the youngsters eyes are compared to ours and how good our eyesight was when we were younger..

I remember last year a buddy and I were using one of the observatories Meade 10" gps units on Jupiter. The four Jovians were visibla and we could just barely make out a dim star next to jupiter. A kid about 10 looked through the eyepiece and casually said that he saw five moons. He could see the star very easily.

I understand that if one can't focus to a point the light of the stars will appear spread out and thereby dimmer I also know that maximum pupil diameter also decreases, but I suspect more is working than that.

I didn't need glasses until I was in my mid-forties and my eyesight corrects to 20/20 but the kids can see better than all of us old guys. I think I can say that and no one will disagree with me.This weekend when I go I am going to take a poll and see for sure.

Good luck and clear skies.

Tom B.

Hello,

Great post, Jim.

A buddy of mine owned the largest photo store in town. He built the business over 60 years and even though he was past retirement age and had more money than the Pope, he still worked in one of his stores as often as he could.

He told me that virtually every day customers would walk in and ask for demonstrations on some camera or other and then walk out to save a few bucks through mail order, etc. He said it wasn't unusual for someone to come in with a mail order gray market, no warrantee camera and ask him to spend 30 minutes explaining how it functioned or to repair it for free if it didn't work correctly.

My point is, of course, if we use the site we should use Anacortes.

My dealings with them have been more than positive, btw. Good prices, super service, super nice people.

Clear skies.

Tom B.

Hello,

I've never seen that beautiful little bird around here in Louisiana.

Thanks for posting the great photo.

Tom B.

Dave,

It looks like a great feeder. Congratulations!!

Please tell me how it is squirrel proofed. When I first looked at your photo my immediate concern was that a squirrel might gnaw through the clear plastic to get to the seed. I've had squirrels do that very thing and since then I have used only the feeders protected by metal screen or lattice.

Good luck and I hope it gives you and the birds many years of pleasure.

Tom B.

Curt,

I teach physical and environmental sciences and I am going to use your diagram when explaining the moon's phases to my students, if that is okay with you.

Thanks and clear skies.

Tom B.

Hello,

Without a doubt the worse scope and the worse buying experience of a scope I have had was my 8" Dynamax Cat. It was so terrible that I would have trouble listing all the things it did poorly.

Fortunately, a burglar stole it. As I've said before, if he had been an astronomer he would have broken back into my house and returned it.

I was a Criterion supporter because my first scope, a 4" Dynascope, was my introduction to the stars when I was a young teenager. It still bothers me that the company had fallen to the point where they produced that junk.

Clear skies.

Tom B.

Hello,

I had an ORION 127 and lots and lots of lenses stolen from my car at the Baton Rouge Observatory one night. My homeowner's insurance covered everything but the deductible which was only $100 and change.

I've got to add that dealing with the insurance company was beyond great. At one point the adjuster told me, in so many words, not to worry so much about the replacement cost of some of my eyepieces that were no longer available and just buy a similar eyepiece.
I was honest and for instance, when the person from Christophers' phoned me and gave me the choice between a very good Meade or a Nagler that cost three times as much as the stolen lens I chose the Meade, which has becomwe one of my favorite and most used eyepieces. I have never regretted taking the "high side" with the replacements.

Anyway, I am sure laws vary by state. I believe you should check with your carrier to see what you need.

Clear skies.

Tom B.