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Posts Made By: Larry Janowicz

March 17, 2006 06:17 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Re-coating objective lens

Posted By Larry Janowicz
If you can find a copy of Amateur Telescope Making Vol 3 by Albert Ingalls you'll get an idea of what needs to be done.
You'll need a vacuum chamber to start.
Larry

March 17, 2006 06:29 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Re-coating objective lens

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Let me explain a little further, Terry.
The process generally used for coatings is the depositing of metal compounds in a high vacuum chamber. The coating materials are vaporized and then they condense on the glass surface(s). The procedure is usually done under very high temperatures.
Larry

May 25, 2006 11:53 AM Forum: Telescope Making

lens spanner wrench

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Another option:
http://www.skgrimes.com/span/index.htm

Larry

October 31, 2006 12:24 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Astronomy Clubs - How to start one?

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Mark Mittlesteadt said:

I have been thinking about getting a local astronomy club going.

Utilize that local writer! It would be so much more more productive than a classified ad!

Do you have a any local County or City Park Departments? They can be most helpful.

Don't forget the local library system(s). They also might be a great source for a meeting room which will become important as the group grows.

Do other hobby type clubs exist in your area? ( Chess, Numismatics, Radio, whatever). Contact them and see how they got the snowball rolling.

Volunteer you and your scope for some short programs to the parks, library, schools. A person/one scope star party ( or even a talk) can be a great kick start. Don't think deep sky and total dark are required. Think public and accessible locations for the beginning. And think fast before your winter arrives!

Larry

May 29, 2007 10:08 AM Forum: Refractors

Who built this scope

Posted By Larry Janowicz
David,
It's a exact twin of my Sears Tower model...and of the Mayflower 815 model...and a twin of some other importer/house branded models from 30 some years back I'm sure.
I remember trying to seach the diamond SYW mark some time ago without success. My Sears has the same mark. Now I'm reminded to resume that search.
My Tower is a very nice scope with very good optics and I have little doubt yours will match. Good luck with getting it back into full working condition.

[edited addition]: John Siple writes in the Rosette Gazette that the Orbit 2264 is a also a twin of the venerable Tasco 7TE. A large number of these imported scopes had 60mm/910mm specs. Mr Siple further states that he thinks the lenses are of Carton origin and the mounts are of GOTO origin.

Larry

June 6, 2007 02:10 AM Forum: Telescope Making

what kind of refractor is this?

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Here's another request for a few photos, Todd.
Can't tell much from the limited description but if I had to take a pure guess from what you wrote I'd be leaning to a Jaeger's rich field homemade "kit". For many years they marketed their 5" f/5 objectives combined with their S3205 38mm military surplus erfle as a great rich field scope combination. I've seen a few of these and some had that "mutt like" look.
See if you can get a few pics posted ( especially front and rear views)!
Larry

January 23, 2009 10:30 AM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

REgistration Address info does not match

Posted By Larry Janowicz
I have the same problem. Because I'm transitioning to a new ISP I went to pay my change registration fee and, after entering the new e-mail, encountered the same error message. I was not using a debit card ( don't even own one). I tried everything I could think of - changing spacing, upper/lower case. etc - I even tried a copy/paste of my address direct from my credit card account site into the Astromart screen with the same result.
I even thought my card account might have been hijacked but it appears safe and sound.
I had one other wrinkle. Since I've been on Astromart since day one I'm registered as Larry. I also changed my first name on the registration screen to Lawrence to be sure everything did match my card.
I'm still stuck.
Larry

April 26, 2009 04:20 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Collimation. Can't see diffraction rings. Why?

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Light pollution and sky clarity shouldn't hinder collimation efforts. Seeing (atmospheric stability) and tube thermal currents can. You didn't mention if you tried on "twinkling star" nights or how long you let you scope adjust to the outside temperature. Those could both effect what you're seeing.
I usually start on a bright star and defocus until I'm seeing a larger plain circle of light and the CO shadow. I then rough collimate until the CO is centered. Once I have a centered CO I then use a tighter focus until I see the fresnel rings and adjust from there. The final tweak is at focus using the airy disk and the true diffraction ring(s).
I don't recall ever having a problem at the first stage, even on bad nights.
You might have something more going here..a bad diagonal or an off center secondary holder. You check for the latter by using a fine marked ruler and measuring distance from the tube perimeter from several locations.
Larry

January 9, 2011 01:53 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Tripod / Mount for AT-66 Refractor

Posted By Larry Janowicz
A Bogen/Manfrotto 3011 tripod plus a 3126 fluid head plus a little bit of work
( http://www.homebuiltastronomy.com/stool/EasyAltAzMountModification.htm ) makes a great compact and lightweight combination. I have used my version at 120x with no problems.
I also own a Porta Mount (scopes other than my WO 66mm) and have been very satisfied with it. It can get a bit shaky at higher magnifications but overall it performs quite well. The slow motion controls are a big plus.

January 9, 2011 09:07 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: C8 Dovetail for a CG5-gt mount

Posted By Larry Janowicz
Rod Mollise said:

No...a Losmandy D dovetail _will not work_. You need a Vixen compatible dovetail. They are commonly available, including from scopestuff.com


Rod is right. The Vixen spec dovetail is a match for that mount ( 1.75" wide). To make it confusing Losmandy actually makes both sizes: The "D" (3" wide) which is commonly referred to as "Losmandy dovetail" but they also make a "V" series that are Vixen spec.

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