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Posts Made By: Kevin Beebe

September 29, 2005 04:55 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Coronado PST CaK or H-Alpha

Posted By Kevin Beebe
I would stick with the H-Alpha. I've never looked through a CaK scope, but from the pictures I've seen, the CaK pictures are OK but not as interesting as the Ha. Also, I have heard it is more difficult to see the CaK images because it's in a range of the visual spectrum where our eyes are less sensitive. (violet, I think) This is OK for photography. A CCD chip picks up light in even the UV range.

Personally, I thought it was strange that Coronado came out with the CaK in the PST version. The first CaK scopes had disclaimers saying they were mainly for photography.

Kevin


September 30, 2005 05:14 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Televue 85 with a nextstar go to mount?

Posted By Kevin Beebe
Baader makes dovetail clamps for the smaller Nexstar mounts. Check Alpine Astronomical

http://www.alpineastro.com/mounting_accessories/mounting_accessories.htm

Kevin

October 20, 2005 04:06 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Equatorial platforms

Posted By Kevin Beebe
[QUOTE]Bennett Burbank said:

... but paying twice what what the scope cost to purchase one also seems silly. ...
/QUOTE]

Sounds like you need to buy an expensive telescope. grin (just kidding)

I use a platform and love it. I chose to buy rather than build, mainly because one came up for sale on Astromart at the right time.

October 31, 2005 10:48 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Aperture Fever

Posted By Kevin Beebe
I would recommend doubling your mirror size, if you want to go bigger. That gives you almost a full magnitude of light gathering ability. In my experience, that's where I see a notable difference. If you are doing a side by side comparison, I bet you could see a smaller difference.

I think what may be more important are the ergonomic issues. A 15" scope with a 75" focal length is fairly good sized. An 18" seems only a little bigger, but it is 15" longer and taller.

October 31, 2005 10:59 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

How to prioritize these upgrades...

Posted By Kevin Beebe
1. Observing chair (only if you aren't using a ladder)
2. EP's
3. filter slide
4. tracking platform
5. 2-speed focuser (and the tri-knob)
6. Finder EP (don't need it, but could be fun)
7. RA finder

I don't really like DSC's
Paracorr is optional at f/5

November 1, 2005 07:36 AM Forum: Landscape Photography

Late Rainbow

Posted By Kevin Beebe
Here is another view from the backyard.

November 2, 2005 06:10 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Mass Produced Truss Dobs

Posted By Kevin Beebe
I wouldn't be surprised if Meade made the product announcement just to beat the others to market. And that Orion (or whoever) will actually deliver scopes before Meade.

But I think the scopes are a good idea. Now (hopefully) all a buyer will have to do is rebuild the base and ground board. And maybe replace the altitude bearings. smile

February 26, 2007 06:44 PM Forum: Telescope Making

What Do Amateurs Do For a Living?

Posted By Kevin Beebe
I got my degree in electrical engineering and worked for a few years as a software engineer.
Now I'm a part owner of a company that builds trusses for houses and other structures.

Kevin

March 2, 2007 05:18 PM Forum: Refractors

As long as it's not EQ!

Posted By Kevin Beebe
And while your are checking out all these options, don't forget the Giro mounts. They make about 3 sizes of mounts.

I went through all this last year, but I was looking for a mount to carry a larger scope. The size of eq. mounts and counterweights get really big and heavy fast, while the alt-az mounts are still quite portable. (I'm comparing say a G-11 to UA, Stellarvue M7, or a DM-6)

Kevin

March 3, 2007 09:38 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Opinions Needed - Paint Color

Posted By Kevin Beebe
I like the purple.

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