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Posts Made By: Dave Adams

January 9, 2006 01:52 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Software for obervation planning

Posted By Dave Adams
I haven't tried any software programs for planning an evening of observing and wondering how the better programs stack up against star charts and guide books. I currently use the NSOG and a seasonal star chart. Thanks!

Dave Adams

January 17, 2006 09:12 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Eyelash oil on eyepieces

Posted By Dave Adams
I have a new TV zoom and wondering if I should clean any eyelash oil off the glass? Is it better to just leave it alone or will this eat away at the coatings over time? On the other hand will cleaning the oil after each use cause far more problems? Thanks.

Dave Adams

January 18, 2006 11:50 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Scratch on binoviewer prism

Posted By Dave Adams
I bought a new binoviewer and noticed a 3/4" long scratch about an 1" below the top (eyepiece side)surface on or in the glass. The scratch is about 2/3 of the way from the center to the edge of the glass that I can see looking down through the binoviewer. Attached is a photo showing the scratch. Wondering if this will affect performace?

Dave Adams

January 19, 2006 03:44 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Binoviewing in small refractors

Posted By Dave Adams
I have been thinking of getting a Sky90II and wondering how well it works with a binoviewer? I currently use a binoviewer in a TV-76 for high power viewing with a TV barlow in front of the binoviewer and supplied corrector. I can't achieve focus with my TV-76 and the 1.6x corrector only so am limited to binoviewing at high power which is great for the moon and planets. I have read that some don't like to use a binoviewer in smaller scopes on deep sky objects because the light loss through a binoviewer hampers a small scope more than a big one. Has anyone compared the views at low power through a small refractor and binoviewer to single eyepiece viewing and preferred the binoviewer? Thanks.

Dave Adams

January 27, 2006 08:59 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Digitec artificial stars

Posted By Dave Adams
Has anyone tried either of the following?

http://www.astrovid.com/prod_details.php?pid=132&querystr=artificial

http://www.astrovid.com/prod_details.php?pid=124&querystr=artificial

I have a Borg 101ED that I would like to collimate indoors (30 ft) and not sure if either of these would work. I could put either in my backyard which would give me about 150 ft. Thanks.

Dave Adams

February 4, 2006 04:32 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Fujinon 16x70 vs 4" refractor

Posted By Dave Adams
I have a 4" refractor that I use of deep sky observing from my suburban location and wondering how the Fujinon 16x70's would compare in light gathering ability. I mainly use a 24 panoptic in a Borg 101ED which gives ~26x and gives a nice 2.6 deg fov.

By the following calculation for comparison of light gathering; 70^2 + 70^2 = 9800 square mm in the Fujinon 16x70's while the Borg gives 101^2 = 10201 square mm which are about the same for light gathering. I know the above is a big oversimplification and wondering if anyone has compared views between binoculars and refractors of similar sizes to above. It is a hard comparison I'm sure with different magnifications and the factors of single eye vs both eyes. Basically there open clusters viewable from my location with the Borg 101ED and wondering how much more difficult they will be to detect and view with Fujinon 16x70's. Thanks.

Dave Adams

February 21, 2006 12:58 AM Forum: Refractors

Pinched lense- can it deform lense?

Posted By Dave Adams
I have a Borg 101ED that I recently collimated and after checking it using a Pico Star indoors, the diffraction rings indicate a small amount of pinched optics. I prefer to leave the collimation screws slightly on the tight side in order to avoid having to recollimate. I am wondering if leaving the lense with stress on it could deform the lense over time? If there is any risk of this, I will loosen up the screws and take my chances on having to collimate more often. Thanks.

Dave Adams

February 21, 2006 11:00 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Good field guide for beginner?

Posted By Dave Adams
I live in Michigan and wondering what would be a good field guide for birding? I am a beginner and looked at Sibley's but finding bird seemed time consuming since I don't know many birds by name. Would it make sense to get a field guide and something like Sibley's as a desk reference? Thanks.

Dave Adams

March 13, 2006 02:09 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Looking for a log book

Posted By Dave Adams
I am a new bird watcher and would like to find a log book to record the birds I identify. Are there any with pictures? I have Kaufmans' field guide which seems very good and live in Michigan. Thanks.

Dave Adams

April 10, 2006 11:09 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Canon rebate

Posted By Dave Adams
I noticed that Canon is offering rebates on their binoculars. I ordered a pair or 8x25's after having the 12x36's and enjoying them a lot.

Dave Adams

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