Posts Made By: Eddie Casey

Daryl, I'm not sure I fully understand your question but If I'm right you are asking how big the image of a given star appears. From what I understand magnitude isn't indicative of actual apparent size. The star long known to display the largest apparent size was betelgeuse, I cannot remember how big this figure was but it was way below the resolving power of very large scopes, 0.05 arc seconds rings a bell. R Doradus was measured to be bigger than this in recent times but not by that great an amount. In short the image we see when we look at any star is derived by a point source, the extent of this image when viewing any bright star is the result of atmospheric effect, eye abnomalities and telescope short commings. I'm sure someone has a more technical answer for you but this is how I see it fundamently.


Ed

Jim, like most things in life, its more of a 'nice to have' than necessity. I would say its very useful for imaging work where you are trying to locate, say Jupiter, on the small toucam chip. Accurate goto helps here too.

Ed.

The LX200 has been meades flaghip scope. I have a 12gps and I'm very happy with it. How do you all reckon this new scope will effect it? Some have used the phrase lx200 killer. Just curious what folk thought.

Ed

Very nice Jim, those C8's really deliver if this forum is anything to go by. I'd opt for a clear night with poor seeing, been cloudy for ever here in the UK!

Thanks for sharing.

Ed

I have a 12gps and agree with a lot of whats already been said. If you wheel a flight case to the tripod and restrict the 'portable' aspect to one lift its pretty easy. I think the 'get-a-grip' handles are a must have, they simplify the lifting immensly. That said the routine of doing this soon wears off, I quickly tired of lugging the thing outdoors, setting everything up and waiting for the inevitable cool down (if you keep the thing in an unheated shed that helps here), and repeating this all again many hours later. I've decided if I am to keep the scope the only way is an observatory, which I'll hopfully complete in a month or two. Failing a full observatory I think I would have opted for a permanent pier and wedge. As I've said, carrying the OTA is no big deal with the peterson handles fitted.

Ed
UK

Mark, have you tried a webcam for planetary imaging? Far and away the best images have come from the philips toucam. I know that doesn't exactly answer your question but I did note you mentioned planetary astrophotography.

Ed
UK

Great Image Karl, especially considering the angular size right now. Look forward to your images later in the year. At least this time us northern folk get a better deal!

Clear skies, Ed

A statement from Dr Clay regarding central obstruction:

"Central obstruction in this day and age is almost a non-issue
with
computer generated optics".

Am I missing something here........

Thats very nice Raymond. I've just got the 350d myself and that shot really gives me confidence. It has very little noise for a 5 minute exposure, though I'm no expert!

Thanks for sharing.
Ed
UK